Auntie B's Wax

This year for our birthdays Husby and I decided to buy each other tickets to a concert.  Not just any concert.  A concert that might never be presented again.  Willie Nelson & Family and Alison Krauss & Union Station.  A Toofer!  (That translates to two-for-one.)  Not only that, there was a special treat we weren’t expecting.  A guy named Dan Smalley opened for the two headliners.  A Threefer!

Before I continue, I want it known I’m not a huge fan of country music.  For example, I don’t tune into country music stations on the radio and have never bought country music albums/CDs.  If I’m going to listen to country music it’s got to be old school country and western music because someone makes me listen to it.  And if someone makes me listen to old school country and western music, I’ll probably like it.

Interestingly enough, the Target Center in Minneapolis (where the concert was held) is kitty-corner to my old stomping ground, First Avenue.  I took a picture and my heart went back almost forty years.  That’s a whole ‘nother post though.

Prince, Boy George, PIL, Morris Day, U2, The Suburbs, etc. etc. etc.  First Avenue in the ’80s was AWESOME!

After soaking in the city life for the first time in a long time (with all its reminiscing), I was ready for the Willie/Alison concert with Husby.

Dan Smalley has been performing for over two decades and I was impressed.  He’s written his own songs and they’re of the old-timey type.  Sad, lonesome, and drunk.  I love that stuff!  I couldn’t get a good photo or find an appropriate video for him as he’s up and coming, so I encourage you to find him on Facebook.  Google him too.  Videos on those platforms are available.

Alison Krauss is a mixture of bluegrass, country, and gospel.  She’s one of Husby’s all-time favorites.  I’ve heard some of her recordings and she’s also a featured musical artist in the movie O Brother Where Art Thou, one of my favorite films.  Her voice is clear like a sheet of freshly frozen ice on a Nordic lake.  If angels actually sing they’d sound just like her.  She also plays an excellent violin/fiddle.  (If you don’t know, violin and fiddle are the same instrument, played in different ways.  Alison plays the instrument perfectly no matter what.)

This isn’t the best picture, but I tried to get the whole band in it.  There’s Alison, shining like an angel, and I especially liked one of her back-up singers (also slide guitar player) looking like a dad who just got off of his day job at the office.  All of the players were so, so talented.

If you’d like to have a listen to a sample of Alison’s work, here is one of Husby’s favorites…

Plus, the girl’s cute as a button!

Then there’s Willie.  I’d say he’s as big of a legend as…I don’t know country legends too much.  But he’s up there for sure.

A sparse, yet superb, band.  Percussions had a snare drum, bongos, and shaky things.  Willie’s sister Bobbie (88 years old) is a master on the piano.  Bass and harmonica were awesome.  Willie’s guitar playing was spectacular, of course.

To see Willie Nelson at eighty-six years of age walk out onto the stage was a sight to behold.  He’s eighty-six frickin’ years old!  The performance he gave was stupendous and the fans were wild for him.

This is probably less than half of the arena, which was packed all the way around.

He sang the favorites, plucked the strings, gave way to his talented band, tossed his hat into the audience, tossed his bandanna (and several others) into the audience, and gave an excellent performance all the way around.  He even had some special back-stage guests (radio contest winners?) come out and sing a chorus with him.  He was entertaining and gracious.  He’s a true performer.

Husby and I were seated in a spot where we could see some of the backstage activity.  When Willie finished his performance he walked off and greeted several people backstage and stepped into his bus.  The end.

I don’t know how many concerts he did on his tour before Minneapolis, but he was going to Nebraska next.  After the Nebraska concert he cancelled some or the rest of his tour due to medical issues.  I hope all is well with Willie.

Not being a big country music fan I walked away from this concert with joy in my heart.  Dedicated and inspirational musicians, whether leads or back-ups, always make me happy.  Country music, classical music, punk music…it doesn’t matter.  Music, if done well, is the language of the universe.

And now, though it wasn’t done at the concert, I’d like to present my favorite songs*, Willie Nelson style…

Make me cry every time.

Thanks Dan Smalley, Alison Krauss, and Willie Nelson, for making a magical birthday for me and Husby.

*What’ll I Do was written by Irving Berlin in 1923.

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