I’ve Got the Music in Me. I’ve Got the Music in Me. I’ve Got the MUsic in Me.
As you read that line, did you sing along like the 1974 hit song "I’ve Got the Music in Me" by the Kiki Dee Band? Well, I did. Because, I’ve Got the Music in Me!
Here I go talking about music again. Can’t help it. You see, I’ve Got the Music in Me.
All kidding aside, Rob and I, as music lovers, have allowed ourselves to splurge on concerts recently. It’s part of our do-it-while-you-still-can-and-while-the-musical-artists-are-still-alive strategy. Because we love live music. Everything about it, except for the crowds. But, we can handle that, as long as we enjoy a great show.
We’ve been at it again. We’ve been to 3 concerts, seeing a total of 5 different artists. Some of the artists might be new to you. So, as I chatter on, I’m going to make a few suggestions about some of their songs that you might enjoy listening to, if you have access to streaming music services. Sorry I’m not including musical links to the songs—I don’t know how to link that up here and I’m not sure if it’s legal. But, if you don’t mind doing the work to pull up a few songs, I hope you will enjoy what you hear.
Not long ago we travelled to a small concert venue in Macon, Georgia, which is several hours from our home. Macon is a small town with a big music background. Birthplace of Otis Redding. FYI--my favorite song of all time is Otis Redding’s "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay." Macon is also the birthplace of Little Richard, Jason Aldean, and R.E.M.'s Bill Berry and Mike Mills. Not the least important, The Allman Brothers band got their start in Macon in the 1970s, as the town embraced their new Southern Rock sound and helped them on their way. While Macon currently has some small southern town struggles, it really leans into its musical heritage, so we wanted to see a special concert there.
And it was. Special, I mean. Bonnie Raitt put on a stellar concert full of heart in a small venue in Macon. She said that she was excited to finally perform in the town whose musical history was so rich. And, we were excited to be part of her audience. Such a powerhouse. Every song was sung from deep down in her soul. It was an outstanding concert in every way. Bonnie Raitt rocked the house. We just loved her. No photos were allowed during the show. OK, full disclosure, I snuck a few pictures with my camera phone, but they all turned out blurred and grainy, so you won't be seeing those.
The next concert was another powerhouse singer who sang from deep down in her soul. I snagged tickets to see Grammy and Emmy award winning singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile at a small venue in Atlanta. I’m a big Brandi Carlile fan. Rob was like, “Who? What does she sing?” But he agreed to go along with me, because he’s such a good sport.
Getting to that concert was a bit of a struggle. What should have been a 45 minute drive became a 2.5 hour drive because Atlanta was popping that night. Besides hosting the USA National Soccer Team vs Panama in a Copa America match at Mercedes Benz stadium (fans streaming into town from all over), Atlanta’s CNN Studios was host to 2024’s Presidential Debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, back when that was the matchup. Turns out, that debate was pretty much what sealed the deal for Biden to end his re-election campaign. To accommodate AirForce One, et all, "just a few" streets were closed, traffic being diverted from here to Kingdom Come. And we were caught in the fray. Note to self: Never get in the car without going to the bathroom first, no matter how short the trip. If there are delays and yall find yourselves in the car way longer than expected, with no bathroom facilities around, yall might have to improvise. Use your imagination. That’s all I’m gonna say about that. We finally made it to the concert hall, but not in time to eat dinner before the show. Correction, we PAID for our dinner, but decided to bail before the slow kitchen sent it out to us, because the concert was beginning. We let the music feed us that night.
The Brandi Carlile concert was sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank, so us Wells Fargo customers had been given dibs on buying tickets. As best we could tell from the promo and from the concert-goers discussions, everyone at the concert was a Wells Fargo banking customer. One guy yelled out a hearty “Go Wells Fargo!!” when Brandi came on stage. Funny stuff.
Brandi really delivered on her performance. Her acoustic band, consisting of the Hanseroth Brothers on guitars and Sista Strings on strings, were dynamic and skilled. Brandi seemed to be such a genuinely nice person, feeding off the crowd and interacting with everyone there. Our tickets were Standing Room Only, which put us right up by the stage. The energy in the concert hall was super-charged. It was everything we could have imagined, and then some. Rob loved it too. If you aren’t familiar with her music, you might come to appreciate her meaningful lyrics, beautiful voice, heartfelt delivery and versatile range by listening to a sampling like: "You and Me on the Rock", "The Joke", and "The Eye." Maybe you’ll become a fan too.
Our third concert was billed as a festival, but not in the tradition festival sense. There were 3 big name acts on schedule at the outdoor venue. There was assigned seating up near the stage, and there was room for blankets and bag chairs on the lawn way in the back. So, not the free-spirited roaming-around experience that some festivals present. I'll admit that I have spent a lifetime avoiding country music. But, I am starting to soften, so we bought tickets to the Outlaw Music Festival. And, here’s why: Willie.
Willie Nelson was the main headliner. How can you not love Willie? The nonagenarian is a legend. His music stands the test of time, he is engaging and one feisty SOB. We felt that it was our duty to see him while we still could. I’ll tell you how that went in a minute. The other headlining festival acts were not really part of the country music genre, but, being legends, it seemed fitting for them to tour with Willie.
One of the headlining legends at the festival was Bob Dylan. I’ve seen Dylan in concert before. I won’t go again. I know he’s earned the right to do whatever he wants, but I don’t like his presentation on stage. He cares so little about what the audience is doing and he doesn’t engage with anyone. He almost never plays the songs you know by heart. At this performance he mumbled songs which we could not identify. We heard clearly and understood only one word—“everybody,” just the once. The music sounded exactly the same from song to song. But nothing familiar. We had no idea what he was doing. The big-screen camera angle was terrible, so we couldn't see what was happening on stage. All of us fans rose with enthusiasm when he took the stage, but soon everybody just sat down, waiting for it to end. The whole set was very boring, as evidenced by all the people who were talking loudly and scrolling through their phones. Read the room, man. Not a good night for Dylan.
Also billed as headliners was the duo of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Being a rocker at heart, I was so excited to see them together in person. Robert Plant, lead singer from Led Zeppelin, and bluegrass country singer Alison Krauss have developed a magical, almost hypnotic sound with their blended voices and consolidated styles. We were, unfortunately, in the direct line of fire for the setting sun, which almost blinded us at times during their set. But we still managed to give it our all as appreciative audience members. Plant and Krauss went full throttle and showed their enthusiasm for being there. Besides playing songs from their collaborative albums, they sang multiple Led Zeppelin songs transformed into a rockabilly, bluegrass vibe. Plant maintained the style that he has cultivated for decades. Urgent and commanding. And, he produced his signature Led Zeppelin high pitched yowls to bring it all home. Alison Krauss's delicate voice rang crystal clear in the air and she played the fiddle artistically. The music was awesome. So so so so good. We were enchanted. That was a great, great set.
If you aren’t familiar with Robert Plant and Allison Krauss as a combo, take a listen to some of these songs: "Can't Let Go", "Trouble With My Lover", and "High and Lonesome." Their unique style is captivating.
The main headliner—Willie Nelson. Who we all came to see. Wish we could have seen him. As we entered the venue at the beginning of the night, we were informed that Willie was sick and would not be performing. Huh??? What??? Nooooooo. Are you kidding me???? But, his band would perform and do their best to show us a good time. We didn’t know it at the time, but this concert, the kickoff to the Outlaw Music Festival summer tour, was the first of 8 concerts that Willie would have to miss because of a respiratory issue. I mean, you can’t hold it against him—he is 91 years old.
Everybody was more than disappointed, truly bummed, but we were hopeful that the final act could make good on their promise to show us a good time. Oh, did they ever. Willie’s son Lukas, previously unknown to us, took the lead and drove that baby home. His voice sounded eerily like his dad’s, and he sang with energy and passion. The band was incredible. Lukas, who would have normally been accompanying his dad, sang some Willie songs and some of his own original material. Then halfway through the set he announced that some surprise friends were going to join them on stage to finish out the concert. Here came Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, who are two of our favorite musicians ever. We were stunned. The rest of the concert was lively, rockin’, jammin’, kickin', and spirited. And fabulous. It was an absolute blast. Too bad for the naysayers who left the venue when they heard that Willie wouldn’t be performing.
Side note: in a HUGE circle-back, Derek Trucks, nephew of Allman Brothers Band drummer Butch Trucks, was a child prodigy on the guitar. He played with various bands as he grew up, and in 1999 joined the Allman Brothers Band, which had moved away from Macon, Georgia. Derek played with the band for about 15 years, and then ventured out with his own band with his wife Susan Tedeschi. That's a good tie in to the connectivity of music. So, now you know.
Were we disappointed that we didn’t get to see Willie Nelson perform? Yes, very. However, sometimes, one could argue, it’s time to pass the torch on to the next generation and give them a chance to shine. (Another circle-back: Biden?) There’s no denying Willie’s catalogue and Willie’s success over the years. But, listen up people, you should take notice of Lukas Nelson. He’ll be going places, too. And we were there to see it in the beginning. There aren’t as many recordings of Lukas Nelson online, but here’s a few you might be able to track down and listen to: "Just Outside of Austin" and "Fool Me Once". Also, "I'm Movin' On" from the album Willie and the Boys, Willie's Stash Vol. 2, showcases Lukas and Willie singing together.
I sound like Dylan—I’ve droned on longer than anyone could imagine. But, to close I'mma circle back to some lyrics from the song I opened with. I think they are incredibly relevant to those of us who feel the music so deeply.
"I've Got the Music In Me" by The Kiki Dee Band
Ain't got no trouble in my life
No foolish dream to make me cry
I'm never frightened or worried
I know I'll always get by
I heat up (heat up), I cool down (cool down)
When something gets in my way, I go 'round it
Don't let life get me down
Gonna take it the way that I found it
I got the music in me
I got the music in me
I got the MUsic in me, yeah
I got the music in me
I got the music in me
I got the MUsic in me