We're still floating after a delectable double-header at The National down on Broad Street...Saturday night with the Del McCoury Band, and Tuesday night just past with American original Willie Nelson. Del and the boys did their usual fine job of crowd pleasing even though a goodly percentage of the six hundred plus on hand were in party patter mode and raised the conversational din to a distracting level. If there's a solution to this two-part audience dilemma...those who paid to listen to the music and those who could care less but paid their money just the same...I don't know what it is. It's obviously a bigger issue for those in the first camp and it will be a major point of contention going forward at stand-up venues like The National and Toad's Place. In a way, it's a lot like non-smokers having to suck in smokers' smoke...less dangerous maybe but an infringement nonetheless. Guess we listeners will cherish rooms like Ashland Coffee & Tea all the more.
That said, the atmosphere for the red-haired stranger was perfect. Full house in full party mode with Willie and his veteran band cranking out hit after hit with more animation and twinkle than we've seen from the grizzled icon in some time. He may have had a little boost from the camera crew there filming for an upcoming concert feature called Willie & Me. This was a big-league Hollywood-style production...three cameras shooting 35mm film... so it's cool that Richmond and our newest music hall will be so prominently featured. Willie spent what seemed like 20 minutes near the end of the 2-hour show at the front of the stage signing anything thrust his way, shaking hands and blowing kisses. It's still a thrill to be in the presence of such a mythic character who's had such a remarkable and durable career and see that he's actually real and not some figment of our imagination.
Hope to see lots of you at the Virginia Historical Society tomorrow (Thursday) night for our evening with the Country Gentlemen Reunion Band. Four guys who represent the full fifty-year span of this influential group will bring back the memories and premiere their new CD Adcock, Gaudreau, Waller & Gray. Again, it's an early start, 6pm and tickets will be available at the door. VHS' beautiful new auditorium is at 428 North Boulevard.
Friday night will be a tough call as AC&T plays host to Billy Ray Hatley and the Showdogs to debut their brand new project "Cryin' Shame" and Brad Spivey and his Honky Tonk Experience play a home game at Shenanigans. Don't make me make that call for you, but you really should catch one or the other. We had a terrific rehearsal at HTE guitarist Mike Lucas' place tonight to run-through some of the tunes they're doing for the Patsy Cline concert at VHS on April 4th. I'm really getting excited about it now and we're hoping concert-only tickets will be available the week of the show...it promises to be a memorable night.
Is it just me or did it always used to be this windy all the time? Especially outside of actual storms? Makes me nervous...TT
1 comment:
Maybe the wind is what's blowing all these great music acts into town....finally!
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