| Merle Haggard Concert Review | |
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Most of the concerts that I've been to have been with contemporary country artists. Merle is my first concert of a legend, and what a treat it was! I must say that I don't recognize all the songs he sang, but every one of them was excellent, and I'd most definitely go see him again in a heartbeat. While some stars tend to lose their vocal ability as they age, Merle has it all just as he did back in the 50s. He sounded incredible!
The concert took place in the indoor showroom at Konocti Harbor Resort in Kelseyville, CA. With the show, yuo get a meal if you sit at the front or middle tables. I was in the third row of tables from the stage, and would have had more pictures if the lighting had been better, but the ones I did get look pretty darn good.
Opening the show was a friend of Merle's named Kenny Burton. Kenny recorded for Capitol Records for a time, but by his own admission, never really had a big hit. He was enjoyable to listen to, and he sure did appreciate the warm welcome he received.
Merle opened his show with "Big City," then went into "Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Star." From there, Merle performed one of his newer songs, "Motorcycle Mama." He told us that he had a cold and couldn't hit the higher notes that night, so no singing like Buck Owens.
Merle related a story about when they were coming in to the show they got a ticket on the road with the S-curves. (This is the same way I have to drive to the resort, and it does have a ton of these curves.) He said that he was sure there were 20 cars behind him from Modesto coming to the show.
Merle said "What do ya wanna hear next? Some fast songs, or slow songs?" At that, lots of people shouted out the many great hits that Merle has put out. He chose one that is perfect for this time our Nation is in, "The Fightin' Side Of Me." I'm not sure of the title of the next song, maybe "Goin' With the Flow?"
A couple Merle met earlier from Arkansas had requested the next song, which was called "I Got That Old-Fashioned Love In My Heart." Then, Merle said someone wanted to here "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow." He said unfortunately, no one knows the words. He joked about the Lake being so grey, calling it "Unclear Lake." (The name is Clear Lake.)
Merle told us that the next song was one he'd never done on stage before, but he wanted to try it, "Runaway Mama." And he closed the show with a song he says he doesn't do much anymore, "Okie From Muskogee." He said someone asked him "Why did you write that song?" to which he replied "I was the only one that knew the words."
The show was just over an hour, and a real enjoyable time. I'm definitely gonna see Merle again, if he comes back this way, and highly recommend his show to anyone.
Set List:
Sound clips courtesy of Barnes & Noble
From there it was on to "I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink," and "Swinging Doors," which got the crowd into it, clapping and singing along. Then "Heaven Was a Drink of Wine," and then Merle dedicated the next song to "all the drunks in the house," which was "The Bottle Let Me Down." During that song, a guy went up to the stage with a beer in his hand. Merle didn't see him holding out the beer, and a security guard came to take the man back to his seat, but before he left, he put the glass of beer on the stage, which Merle picked up and drank some before the next song.
Next, Merle said it's time to introduce his band, The Strangers. At that, all the band members introduced themselves to each other, shaking hands, and everyone chuckled at that. After the real introductions, Merle picked up his fiddle and sang the great Lefty Frizzell song, "If You Got The Money, I Got The Time."
"Are The Good Times Really Over For Good" was next, and I noticed in the balcony, some people with their lighters on for that song. He followed that up with an instrumental I didn't recognize. Then, "I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am" and "If I Could Only Fly."