“The magic’s in the music, and the music’s in me.†— The Lovin’ Spoonful
Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan performed in a concert at Sauget in 2005. Willie was the warm-up. Dylan was the headliner.
Willie played one hit after another. The place was rocking. Dylan followed with an hour’s worth of songs I’d never heard. Now and then, there would be a hint of a familiar tune. Maybe it was a strange, unrecognizable new version of an old favorite, or maybe he had just borrowed a couple of chords. The crowd was restless. A few daring souls called out for favorites. Dylan ignored them.
“He doesn’t care what anybody thinks,†I thought admiringly.
Years passed. I always figured the next time I’d see either of those greats would be in Branson. It’s where all the legends go after they die. I’ve seen Elvis and Waylon Jennings there. They were rocking on a Tuesday afternoon in front of a few dozen senior citizens.
People are also reading…
“Who’s ready to party?†shouted Waylon. A half dozen of us tentatively raised our hands. “Well, all right!†Waylon shouted.
Two years ago, I went to the Blue Strawberry on Boyle Avenue for a show in which local musician Bob Case celebrated Dylan’s 80th birthday. He sang a lot of the old favorites.
Mostly, though, I don’t go out at night. I used to go to the track on Tuesday afternoons with John Schickendanz, a retired cop. One day I couldn’t make it on Tuesday and I suggested we go on an evening later in the week.
“At night?†he said. “Nothing good happens to old men who go out at night.â€
There are times when you hear somebody speak the truth and you think, Wow. Of course.
So I stay home most nights. Mary is more adventurous. She goes to Book Club. She came home from Book Club with some big news a couple of weeks ago.
Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan were coming back to ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Willie is 91. Dylan is 83. They were coming to the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre as part of the Outlaw Music Festival Tour.
We’re going with Tom and Vicky, Mary said. Vicky’s in Book Club. Back in 2005, the four of us went to Sauget together to see Willie and Dylan.
We would be joined at this latest concert, which was last Sunday, by Jane, another Book Clubber.
Vicky took care of logistics. She got five tickets in the lawn section and rented chairs. Tom drove. We got there shortly before four, picked up our chairs and lugged them up the hill. We were a long, long way from the stage, but that didn’t bother us. It was a beautiful late afternoon and we were with our people, Dylan and Willie people.
Many of these these old outlaws were walking around with tall boys of Liquid Death, which turned out to be a brand of water. “Murder Your Thirst†was the motto. Old people guzzling water or ageless outlaws laughing at mortality? Also, many of them wore Willie Nelson T-shirts. My favorite had a picture of Willie’s smiling face and the words, “Have a Willie Good Day.â€
Of course, not all the people were old. Some were not even qualified for Medicare.
The lawn chairs were low-slung. Getting down was going to be a challenge, but doable. Getting up might be another matter. Tom and I exchanged glances. We both made it down.
The women had no such problems. Mary was ready to pop up and dance. I saw her shoulders starting to twitch. She reminded me that we had once seen a Grateful Dead concert at this venue. My memories were vague.
Somebody got a program. The first act started at five. That act would go for an hour and then there would be a 30-minute break. Then John Mellencamp would play for an hour. Then another 30-minute break. Then Dylan for an hour. Another break. Finally, Willie.
That seemed like elder abuse. Mellencamp is only 72. So the youngest guy goes first and the oldest guy goes last. How do you keep a 91-year-old up past 9 p.m.? I wasn’t sure I wanted to be a part of that.
I don’t think I can do six hours in this chair, said Tom.
I might, but then I wouldn’t be able to walk, I said.
We decided to stay for the first two acts, and then catch an Uber home while the women stayed for the main acts.
That’s what we did. By the way, Mellencamp was very good.
I live only a couple of blocks from Tom so I decided to have a drink with him at his house and then walk home. We sat in comfortable chairs. Tom has one of those stereo systems you can operate with a phone. Let’s hear Willie, he said.
So one drink turned into a couple. You know how that goes. We sat in the comfortable chairs and thought wistfully about getting on the road again. Ah, Willie.
Tom and I agreed that it had been a very successful evening. Sometimes good things do happen to old guys who go out at night.
I’m just glad the girls had confidence we could do this, I said to Tom.
Branson will have to wait for another day.