If you love Strait you had to be effected by the late “Troubadour” and closing “The Cowboy Rides Away”. What the album has going for it is it is a literal, all of a piece, live document, of one of the great Red Staters, a country giant saying goodbye. Is it enough? Sure, if your exes live in Texas.
Outside of Amarillo is a weird roadside attraction known as Cadillac Ranch – a line of ten Cadillacs buried nose first into the ground. Visitors are encouraged to spray paint graffiti on the Detroit relics. Noting one of the cars already was tagged with “Steve,” no work was required on my behalf.
Bill Bruisers – The New Pornographers – This is a nicely bruising pop rocker with vocal hooks on top of vocal hooks from a band who have been around forever but for whom I’ve never had all that much time, by this one they got right – B+
He could be catchy and clever at times, but his calling card was restraint, not emotion. He didn’t make me laugh or cry or belt out a chorus – at best, he just didn’t make me lunge to change the station when his latest hit was played.
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
Not much of a week, neither was last week after a month of big big releases. Off! are back, has it been two years already? Joan Osborne? John Frusciante is back but I am not sure we want him. I guess I’ll go with Martina McBride, her opening slot with George Strait was very good, even if album title Everlasting doesn’t promise much.
Bill de Blasio has started closing down Charter Schools and while my sympathies are with the schools in question, still I can see the Mayor’s point which boils down to giving public property to private enterprises. he might be doing it for the wrong reasons but it isn’t entirely irrational.
To say Strait gets Petty is to underestimate how Strait transforms it to the sort of country rock you just plain don’t hear anymore. For one thing, all you need to get Strait rocking is the word “ridin'” and he is off: “Tonight we ride, right or wrong”
I took a look at the setlist and I liked what I saw on the hitmakers no nonsense down to business hit song after hit song setlist. If you don’t see what you want from Strait here, check yes and no elsewhere because I sure do.
I’ll Always Remember You – George Strait – 30 years into his hugely successful career, Strait paid tribute to his audience in what amounts to a love song for us folks who cheer him on every day of his life. Nice to be appreciated – B+
Why did George Strait not play Madison Square Garden on his farewell tour? I realize the Empire State ain’t THAT big on country, but when the biggest name (if not the single best name) in country decides to hang up his spur shouldn’t he follow LCD Soundsystems lead and do it here? Nope, the crappola Prudential Center is what we get and trust me, we will take it this Saturday.
Janine Rostron is an acquired taste and I recommend seeing her live to get the full impact of her gender uncertain agitprop, though this song isn’t so out there the bass line doesn’t keep you in and keep you there – A-
However, to add to the buzz, Strait has announced that this is his farewell tour, a terrifying though that he would leave us to the tender mercies of Luke Bryan.
