As a Gen X American, especially one with a country music loving dad, Willie Nelson and his songwriting have been omnipresent throughout my entire life, and I can't remember a day when I wasn't already a fan. His music was always around me, even if I was well into adulthood before I started listening to him on purpose.
At some point in early 2024, it occurred to me that Willie was still touring, and had recently had his 90th birthday, so if I was going to finally get around to seeing him live like I'd always wanted to, I'd better get on it. But all the upcoming tour dates near me were festival-type stadium shows with a long list of performers, totally not my bag. So instead, I grabbed a ticket for a regular tour stop in San Diego, and booked a quick trip to hang with Shotgun Willie and Trigger in sunny California.
Except my first (and so far only) trip to San Diego that April weekend was grey and drizzly, with a bit of a chill in the air. Which wasn't ideal since the venue was outdoors, right on the water -- basically a beachfront version of the Hollywood Bowl, complete with weird shared tables and picnics down front. So my seat in the section nearest the stage got partial cover from the shell over the stage when a light rain started, but I was also stuck sharing a table with boozed up strangers who wanted to chat with me... Win some, lose some, I guess?
Anyway. The opening band, Asleep at the Wheel, was fun and enjoyable, doing all country standards. So much singing along to songs I wasn't even aware I knew the words to!
And of course I don't have to tell you that Willie was great. He still sounds good and has all the charisma, all the stage presence he's always had, even if he's (obviously) no spring chicken and now puts on a seated, more mellow acoustic show. The Family (his band) was a smaller version of itself, and included his son Micah, who also led a couple songs with Willie and the band backing him up, one of which was a particularly memorable moment of the show.
The song was prefaced by Micah telling a story of sitting around chatting and playing cards at home, when his dad offhandedly said, "If I don't get to Heaven, I won't have far to fall." Which Micah rightly recognized as a perfect Willie line, and replied, "You need to write that song." But Willie didn't want to, and suggested Micah should write it instead. So, then, Micah told us, "I smoked so much weed I felt like I was dying, sat down, and wrote a Willie Nelson song." And it really was exactly that... perfectly witty, with just the right guitar sound. I regret not recording it on my phone that night, because my wish that it will appear on an album has yet to be granted, and I'd totally settle for a crap version on my mobile if it never does.
Willie and Family started at 8:15 and only played about 70 minutes, but there was no messing around. One song went right into the next, so they still packed a lot into the set list. He did some of the biggest hits, but he has so many that he could have gone twice as long and still not included them all. I loved every second, singing and smiling the whole time, as it flew by in what felt like seconds. And then, even with the slow, crowded exit from the venue and a 20 minute walk to my hotel, I was back in my room by 10pm. I love gigs for old folks! More artists should do stuff that ends early. Or starts even earlier. I know matinees aren't considered very rock n roll, but I'd go see waaaaay more gigs if I didn't have to stay up past my bedtime to do it. Get that middle aged disposable income, rockers! It's there for the taking!
Postscript -
Because I bought my tickets long after the tour had gone on sale, the only seats left up close to the stage were 'VIP' ones that came with a package of swag and a year's membership to Willie's fan club. Yes, I'm a diva who refuses to watch anything from the cheap seats at this point in my life, but also, I like merch, why not? So I got my stuff and signed up for the fan club, where I ended the year winning their holiday giveaway contest, netting me a signed copy of Willie's book about his songwriting, Energy Follows Thought, a cool wooden tree ornament, and a gift certificate that I used to buy a t-shirt. Not a bad VIP bonus!
