And so it is all over: George Strait, the country singers country singer has played his last gig and is done for one lifetime. I caught the tour when it hit New Jersey back in march and you can read my review here, and it was kind if odd that the first time I’ve seen the country is also the last time I’ve seen the country star, This is what I wrote: ” every song has a layer of pathos and Strait, whether upside swinging or down low brooding, sings them that way. As if this is the first time you will ever get to hear it and the last time you will ever get to hear it. But he keeps the stories at a minimum and the retrospection just an anecdote here and a date there. Mostly, for a guy known as taciturn, his affection for his audience comes through clearest of all.”
On Saturday June 7th, Strait played his final show ever, at The Louisiana Superdome in Arlington, Texas to an estimated audience of, get this folks, 105,000 people. According to Christina Vinson of “Taste Of Country”: “After playing ‘A Fire I Can’t Put Out,’ Strait invited his first special guest of the evening onstage to perform ‘Lovebug.’ It was none other than Vince Gill, who also performed ‘Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind’ with the legend. Jason Aldean hit the stage with Strait, performing ‘Fool Hearted Memory’ and ‘Nobody in His Right Mind Would Have Left Her,’ and Eric Church joined for ‘Cowboys Like Us’ and ‘Easy Come Easy Go,’ . Sheryl Crow, Martina McBride, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lamber and Kenny Chesny were also featured special guests of the evening, each performing two songs with Strait” I wonder what Brad Paisley was doing that as so damn important?
Looking at these stars, you wonder how much Strait is responsible for the fitful state of modern country (though I remain decrying what now feels like a golden age, the mid-1980s).
George played for three hours plus and here is the setlist, read it and weep
Check Yes or No’
‘A Fire I Can’t Put Out’
‘Lovebug’ with Vince Gill
‘Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind’ with Vince Gill
‘River of Love’
‘Lead On’
‘Fool Hearted Memory’ with Jason Aldean
‘Nobody in His Right Mind Would Have Left Her’ with Jason Aldean
‘Arkansas Dave’
‘I Saw God Today’
‘Cowboys Like Us’ with Eric Church
‘Easy Come Easy Go’ with Eric Church
‘The King of Breaking Hearts’
‘Marina Del Rey’
‘Here For A Good Time’ with Sheryl Crow
‘When Did You Stop Loving Me with Sheryl Crow
‘I Can Still Make Cheyenne’
‘Drinkin’ Man’
‘Jackson’ with Martina McBride
‘Golden Ring’ with Martina McBride
‘Give It Away’
‘I Got A Car’
‘A Showman’s Life’ with Faith Hill
‘Let’s Fall To Pieces Together’ with Faith Hill
‘I Believe’
‘Blame It On Mexico’
‘Amarillo By Morning’ with Alan Jackson
‘Murder On Music Row’ with Alan Jackson
‘The Chair’
‘Give It All We Got Tonight’
‘How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls’ with Miranda Lambert
‘Run’ with Miranda Lambert
‘You Look So Good In Love’
‘I’ll Always Remember You’
‘Ocean Front Property’ with Kenny Chesney
‘The Fireman’ with Kenny Chesney
‘Troubadour’
‘Unwound’
Encore (Strait was joined by all special guests):
‘All My Ex’s Live In Texas’
‘Folsom Prison Blues’
‘The Cowboy Rides Away’
