Willie Nelson on USA Network - Ouch

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 1 Jun 2004 12:00 am

There was some nice steel by someone(?) and a fluid, lucid slide solo by Joe Walsh, but it had a definite "kitchen-sink" aspect to the programming - how does Kid Rock keep getting invited to perform in public? Listening to Willie trying to sing reggae was only exceeded in painfulness by listening to Bob Dylan trying to sing at all. I turned it off before Keith Richards even had a chance to save it, I'm sure there'll be 17 million repeats anyway.

Nicholas Dedring · Post by **Nicholas Dedring** » 1 Jun 2004 6:53 am

I think every time I've seen willie nelson televised with a steel player it's always been Greg Leisz over the recent years... the multi-artist tribute, as well as the crossroads thing he did with Sheryl Crow. Great sounding stuff from Mr. L every time.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 1 Jun 2004 7:20 am

My thoughts as I was watching the TV performance last evening was that band timing and tightness was being given a lot of leeway.[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 01 June 2004 at 08:27 AM.]

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 1 Jun 2004 7:28 am

Yeah Greg played good as did Keltner,Jim Cox,Hutch and most of the backline pickers.But quirky singers are best listened to one at a time.Listening to Dylan and Willie both quirkin' simultaneously was painful.And you don't see Jerry Lee get upstaged every day but Kid Rock managed that dubious distinction. Of course over on stage right was backup singer Donny Gerrard - easily 100 times better than all the other singers on stage put together. I spoke to Keltner right after it was shot a couple weeks ago and he told me there was gonna have to be a lot of editing of endings and that there were some trainwrecks which were simply gonna have to be cut.I heard from Waddy that Keith almost walked off the stage at several points and after hearing Willie butcher "Homky-Tonk Women" He requested to have it excised from the final show - which it was.So folks we saw the best of it..... -MJ-

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 1 Jun 2004 7:36 am

I'd have been happier if Willie had written 'Crazy' and 'Nightlife', sent them to the publishers, then stayed at home....

RR

Terry Farmer · Post by **Terry Farmer** » 1 Jun 2004 9:48 am

Who was the little guy in the big hat that played a lap steel for a couple of numbers?

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 1 Jun 2004 10:43 am

Ben Harper

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 1 Jun 2004 11:06 am

The video "trailer" for the show was enough for me..I didn't need anymore than that..

I'm thinking.."What we're they thinking?"

I can tolerate Keith..I can even tolerate Bob Dylan..these guys come from monumentous backgrounds..so sometimes just seeing them still capable of breathing is ok.. but Kid Rock on my TV, in my family room..thats not gonna happen..He hasn't earned any points for me to spend my relaxing time watching his dumb butt..while he was probably holding is lower frontal mid section..(being kind)

I'm still baffled as to why the Country TV supposed Producers/Execs are still trying to force this guy into everyones face..I don't get it...they must truly believe that he has a very strong following in the XXX Rock world and will bring them over to the Country side as well..

Merle in Sunglasses holding a Bound Tele'..now theres a class act thats hard to beat anywhere..can we spell L E G E N D ?

the re-runs are not in the cards either..

But I'm sure if you ask the Execs they will tell ya the show was a smash success..

t[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 01 June 2004 at 12:11 PM.]

Auset Sarno · Post by **Auset Sarno** » 1 Jun 2004 1:47 pm

I completely, without hesitation, absolutely & respectfully AGREE with the above comments. Even without the musical trainwrecks, pretty much any time you have that many players on stage, regardless of individual talent, you lose the MUSIC. In fact, it really has very little to do with the song at all - just personalities all playing and singing FULL-on, with no dynamics, no breath or space ...

I, too, asked the same question "what in the world is Kid Rock up there for" - how in the world does he compare musically ... I don't get .... just happy that I had the remote near by....

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 1 Jun 2004 3:28 pm

The Lakers looked good.......

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 1 Jun 2004 3:50 pm

Kid Rock was there for the rock young-girl demographic. Willie and Hag are as old as the rest of us here, so they took care of the 50-70 year olds. Dylan ain't far behind, but he still has a lot of fans in the 45-55 year old category. Looks like they had all bases covered...except for the 30-40 year-olds.

KISS would have fit right in.

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 01 June 2004 at 04:51 PM.]

Sidney Malone · Post by **Sidney Malone** » 1 Jun 2004 4:12 pm

Just a minute Donny, I'm 40 and would like to jump in with the Willie/Haggard group if I could.

I agree it was a pretty rough ride most of the way through. I did enjoy the Hag/Willie/Toby Keith sets and would have like Jerry Lee's much more if Kid Rock would have stayed out back doing what he does best!!

It appeared to me Toby was really enjoying getting to be up there with a couple of his heroes. A dream come true no doubt!!

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Fessy S-12U, Future MSA Millennium S-12U, Stereo Steel

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 1 Jun 2004 7:50 pm

I really don't like those kinds of shows... this is in the same category as the "all-star jams" at the HOF awards shows... sounds like a garage band free-for-all.

Things like that often come off well en vivo, but are painful to hear in recordings.

On the other hand, there's something comforting (in a sick way) in knowing that our musical heroes are capable of sounding that bad!

Rick

Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 2 Jun 2004 2:22 am

Chas, I'm with you, I flipped over to the Lakers mighty quick and thoroughly enjoyed a fantastic basketball game.

Jesse Harris · Post by **Jesse Harris** » 2 Jun 2004 1:37 pm

tru tru tru

that was some shakey stuff
but willie is notorious for having a terrible band, good lord, how bout that piano solo on i'll fly away, man that was bad, thank god they had the good sense to get keltner on some of it, because that other guy who plays with willie is a groove killer. the story I heard was that willie tried to fire him decades ago, then later that night willie woke up with a gun in his face, drummer said, "you fire me, Ill kill you", so willie says, "well I guess you got a job for life."

thats the story I heard anyway

seems like its that way with most of his band.

Patrick Ickes · Post by **Patrick Ickes** » 2 Jun 2004 8:57 pm

I haven't posted for a while, so I'll keep it simple....

KILL YOUR TELEVISION!!!!!

Pat

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 3 Jun 2004 12:57 am

The highlights of the show for me were Hag, the raggae guy and the slide guitar player, LeAnn Womack, Keith Richards (never heard him sing lead before, quite interesting), my main man - Joe Walsh, and Shelby Lynne (love her so much, I named my daughter after her) and Kid Rock (I actually like him). And of course, Greg.

The things that made me want to puke:
1. Willie Nelson
2. Willie Nelson
3. Willie Nelson
4. Bob Dylan
5. Willie Nelson
6. That horrible piano solo that Bobbie Nelson did.
7. Did I mention that nerve racking guitar playing of Willie Nelson?
8. Did I mention that I hate the out of meter singing of Willie Nelson
9. Willie Nelson
10. Willie Nelson.

Edited for spelling errors. Old age ya know.

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Carter D10 9p/10k, NV400
[This message was edited by Richard Sinkler on 05 June 2004 at 11:29 PM.]

Brian Davis · Post by **Brian Davis** » 3 Jun 2004 10:59 am

This is a joke, right? You guys railing on Willie Nelson...say it ain't so. To be fair, I did not see the TV show in question, but jeez haven't you guys ever had a bad gig before? Cut the guy some slack. And I happen to think he is a hell of a guitar player, singer, and songwriter. He's definitely got his own style going on, but he is on the TV isn't he? Where is your next gig? Sheesh.

Brian

Jesse Harris · Post by **Jesse Harris** » 3 Jun 2004 2:15 pm

Richard I agree, espeially about shelby lynne, man she is a great singer, opened for her as well she is super nice, and man amazing singer.

Brian I know what your saying, and I love willie, but a lot of this was really bad, you would have to see it to believe it.

and Kid Rock is such an ass.
just had to say that.

Auset Sarno · Post by **Auset Sarno** » 3 Jun 2004 6:36 pm

Brian - I, too, dig Willie's individual style. He has an amazing video with Daniel Lanois & Emmylou Harris (one of my all time favorites) called "Teatro" and his true guitar ability just shines ... very tasteful stuff. But fundraiser or not, with the true talent that many of those musicians have on their own, was just slop - not a bad gig - just a bad meal altogether. Too many cooks in the kitchen... And you just plain lose the music - then what?

Auset
'66 Emmons S10 p/p, Fender Deluxe Lap

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 3 Jun 2004 8:39 pm

Brian

I agree that anyone can have a 'bad gig' - I'm waiting for Willie to have a good one!

.....and as for the fact that he's 'on television' being some sort of qualification of competence!!!!!!.... words fail me, so Ill sign off!

RR
PS: I just got home from seeing Vince Gill - now THAT's competence!

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 4 Jun 2004 1:44 am

Willie's singing and guitar playing grate on my nerves after about 10 minutes. I have seen Willie on many occasions, even 3 times live (went to see the other acts, not Willie). He always sounds bad to me. But, I will say that he is one of the best song writers to ever live. He should put down the mike and guitar and pick up the pencil again.

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Carter D10 9p/10k, NV400