I had never seen Willie Nelson. Recounting to my dad on the way home, we should have went to see in 2005, with Dylan and Mellencamp on their minor league ballpark tour in Sauget, Illinois. But he was always just one of those people, I was never super amped to see. Hell, he even played at the Midway fairgrounds on the other side of Columbia in around 2010. But when this Outlaw Music Festival Tour was announced, with Robert Plant and Allison Krauss being a part of it, it scratched the itch for me to want to go.
The festivities began at a little after 4 PM, with Particle Kid, which was Willie Nelson's son, Micah playing. Which, me and my dad weren't there for. We arrived for the last two mintues of Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway's set, who were the second act of the day. I hadn't been to Hollywood Casino Amphitheater or Riverport, since 2011 when I saw Brad Paisley there. And it was a scorching June day. Hence the not arriving til later in the festivites. And the Outlaw Music Festival site, had times which showed how long and when each act was playing.
We did see all of Trampled by Turtles set.
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They're a sextext in the Indie Bluegrass Americana vein. They jammed 14 songs into their one hour set. They weren't bad, but I was unfamiliar with them. They did a cover of Ooh Laa Laa and then were joined by Alan Sparhawk of Low, for two songs, including a cover of Low's, Days Like These.
Then came Allison Krauss and Robert Plant with their fantastic backing band, which was my prime reason, for attending this concert. They played in Kansas City at the Starlight Amphitheater in early May, but I didn't want to risk a concert in the rain, as Starlight doesn't have a pavillion or covered seats.
But in their 13 song set, 70 minute, which was almost perfect, they hit everything I wanted to hear. They hit the highlights from their two albums together, had some Zeppelin covers and some wicked musicanship. Stuart Duncan, a maestro is a part of the five piece backing band as well as JD McPhearson playing some hot guitar. The music is a rollicking blend of rock, blues, Americana, folk, bluegrass, roots, whatever you want to call it.
Plant in dialouging with the audience, mentioned it 'being a bittersweet day, as it was Elton John's last performance at Glastonbury', made many to assume something had happened to Elton.
And Plant's voice is still in great shapeat 70 plus. Combined with Krauss' amazing voice, you definitely want to see this pair if you can.
Then after a 25 minute set change, Willie Nelson and the Family took the stage. Thankfully by then it was dark and the breezes flowing it made it very nice and cool. His son Micah joined him on guitar, along with Mickey Raphael his long-time harmonica player and another three members of the backing band.
Willie played sitting down the whole time, but for age 90 his voice still sounded like it did 30 years ago to me anyway. And his guitar picking is still on point as well.
During his 21 song, hour long set, he hit a good chunk of his hits and well known songs, let his son Micah take a few turns, played various covers and couple less known songs. Basically doing what Willie's been doing the last 50 years. I think a lot of it is probably autopilot for him, but again at age 90, it's amazing the level that's he's still preforming at.
Upon leaving, the shitstorm of leaving Riverport, reminded me why I'm not fond of going to concerts there. It took almost an hour to get onto I-70, from getting out of the show a little after 10 PM. And with an I-70 detour, another 20 minute deviation on the way home.
