Submitted by Elvistra
Dale Watson is one of country music’s true remaining outlaws. His name is usually included in the company of the other outlaws, Merle, Johnny, Lefty, Willie, etc. Dale Watson flies just under the radar and his fans wouldn’t have it any other way. He doesn’t gauge his career by the country music industry’s standards. He plays by his own rules and follows his own path to a sound he has termed “Ameripolitan”. Dale defines this as original music with prominent roots influence, and he has been told “he plays country like country was when country was country. If you can follow that, you know what a huge compliment it is to be told you sing country the way it was meant to be sung, with heart and muddied philosophies and sadness like the way country music sounded when I was a kid.
As most people in Richmond last weekend, I went to the Folk Festival. I went to the Saturday performance of Dale Watson with my elbows on the stage, dead center, best seat in the house, and enjoyed about a 45 minute set of mostly newer songs. Dale played 2 shows that Saturday and another on Sunday.
As great as the folk festival show was, it was the Monday show at my neighborhood hangout, Shenanigans that I was really looking forward to. It’s Dale’s home away from home when he’s in Virginia. I knew before I walked in the door and paid the $15 cover that it would be the best show of the weekend and worth every penny. Considering how much the bands that play the National and Toads charge for their shows, the show Monday night was worth more than the price of admission.
Dale feels so at home at Shenanigans he treats everyone as either a new or old friend and will cater to you every whim, whether its pictures, autographs, shots of tequila, more shots of tequila, actually about a shot per every third or fourth song is how many I determined his “friends” brought to the stage before the first break. Dale’s fans are devoted to him, men and women alike, the gender status is split pretty much down the middle. The band played 2 sets, and with the rounds of drinks coming at such a fast pace, by the second set, things usually get interesting at a Dale Watson show, and this show did not disappoint.
The material covered was varied. Older favorites such as “Don’t Rock No Cradle”, “Exit 109”, and my personal favorite “Country My Ass” along with his special cover of my favorite artist Elvis’ “Viva Las Vegas”. The latest material covered was from “From the Cradle to the Grave” which included “Justice for All”, It’s Not Over Now” and a very interesting version of the Wizard of Oz.
After meeting Mr. Watson for the second time now, I am even more convinced that this band is one of the most loved and yet undervalued group of musicians making that great music we call country.
Band Memebers: Dale Watson - Lead vocals, guitar
Don Pawlak – Pedal steel guitar
Don Raby – 5 string fiddle
David Bowen – Drums
Band website: http://www.dalewatson.com
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1 comment:
Cool post as for me. I'd like to read more about that topic. The only thing your blog misses is a few pics of some gizmos.
John Stepman
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