Review: Merle Haggard

This was about as perfect as a night of music could get.

I suppose if you were some of those patrons among the 1,000 people in attendance whose seat was in the blocked-off street outside Knuckleheads you could have complained about the view. And a few times I wished the volume was higher on Merle Haggard’s vocals. Otherwise, Thursday’s sold-out show was a master class in songwriting and performance, delivered outdoors on a comfortably warm late-summer night.

Haggard, 75, is one of country music’s greatest songwriters. He burnishes his legend with a no-frills, common-man attitude that belies his stature. He was in good voice Thursday, backed by a steady six-piece band and two singers who assisted him through a 90-minute set stacked with some of his best-known material.

He opened with “Ramblin’ Fever,” appropriate for a guy now in his fifth decade of touring. Haggard is the rare songwriter who doesn’t fuss much with the arrangements of his songs. For the most part, he plays them like he recorded them, like everyone remembers them.

Some of his most popular songs came early: “The Bottle Let Me Down,” “Silver Wings,” “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink.” During “Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Star” a train roared by, and Haggard imitated its whistle with a few hard riffs on his guitar.

During his cover of “Folsom Prison Blues,” a woman ran onstage, then initiated a pursuit through the crowd by two of the doormen. Haggard continued singing through it all, unfazed. Two other covers were highlights: “Take Me Back to Tulsa” and Townes Van Zandt’s “Pancho and Lefty.”

A slight lull or two set in during tracks like “Are the Good Times Really Over for Good.” Otherwise the vibe was upbeat all night.

Not too proud to give his crowd — which ranged in age from 20-somethings to people Haggard’s age — what it came for, he reprised two of his standards: “The Fightin’ Side of Me” and “Okie From Muskogee.” If he’s weary from having played them a hundred dozen times, he never shows it. That’s another facet if his charm: He seems to have as good a time performing his stout and stellar catalog as his admiring fans have hearing it.

Set list: Ramblin’ Fever; The Bottle Let Me Down; Mama Tried; Silver Wings; Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Star; Folsom Prison Blues; I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink; I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am; Today I Started Loving You Again; Are the Good Times Really Over; That’s the Way Love Goes; The Fightin’ Side of Me; Pancho and Lefty; Workin’ Man’s Blues; California Blues; Honky Tonk Night Time Man; Old Man From the Mountain; Working in Tennessee; Take Me Back to Tulsa; Okie From Muskogee.

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Comments

[student]

great review Tim!

[Sam]

I saw Merle open up for The Rolling Stones in Little Rock on their last tour(2006) and although I usually hate (new fangled)country music Mr Merle Haggard was A-OK with me... He is a legend.

[Corky]

We had a wonderful time.

I've grown to respect and embrace a variety of country artists over the last few years, and Merle is certainly one of them.

Having seen both his dates opening for Dylan at the Midland, and his most recent spot at Music Hall with Kristoferson, I've learned he's more a song stylist than many..

There were song phrasings that just clobbered me. (It's embarassing to say I swooned, but it was close to that) Heartfelt vocal phrases or
'colorings' that just really did make me greatful to be there.

His guitar work, when he stepped in to drive the tune, was just killer.

As I've had some hours now to reflect, it really was an amazing show.

There was a lovely couple we'd met who traveled from Sweden, Mittias & Alexandria, who summed it up for me:
'Merle, he's simply the greatest! And this venue is heaven on earth..'

Thanks for coming, Mr. Haggard.

[Rise Up]

I wish Knuckleheads would stop seating people in the street. I've been stuck out there twice and it's a horrible experience. Knuckleheads needs to focus on improving the audience experience instead of solely focusing on their profits. We need to stop supporting a venue that treats their patrons as poorly as Knuckleheads treats us.

[Lady Di]

The show and entire evening was magical. To the reader complaining about the seating....the venue owners do everything in their power to enhance the patron experience and spend loads of money EVERY week to make it happen. They spent tons of money to bring this event to the Kansas City faithful taking a HUGE chance on losing their shirt on this show. I suggest you get there early to secure a better seat or spend the extra for a reserved seat. You are way outnumbered by those who love the venue and will keep coming back for the best, most organic and REAL musical experience.

[Doug]

Everybody loves Knuckleheads, even DT does, and he seems to hate everything.

[wadkc]

I'm not a fan based on the location. I haven't participated in a concert outside, only in and it's always a cluster. Packed and tough to get around. I want my Grand Emporium back.

[S.A. Dat Agin]

I want my Grand Emporium back. period.

[Winslow churchill]

WOOO HOOO Jenson Button wins the F1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa as Sebastian Vettel comes in 2nd after a crazy start which knocked out 4 other cars/drivers... oh wait... This isn't the F1 message board... Damnit, what the hell was I thinking?

uh... ummmm... KNUCKLEHEADS RULEZ!!!!

[kcmom]

Yeah, because IF (big IF) Merle Haggard had played the Grand Emporium, it wouldn't have been crowded at all, and tickets would have been a reasonable cost...riiight...

Lady Di nailed it so I will just add that running a successful music venue (like KH's) requires not just taking good care of your customers (and they do a better job of it than anyone around here), but also the artists. I have talked to more than a few of the artists and bands who have played there and, bottom line, THEY LOVE THE PLACE. They like the location, the fans, the owners, how they are treated while they are there--all of it, and that's why he is able to attract the quality of talent he does, over and over again.

People who like REAL music, played live in a REAL place are extremely fortunate to live in Kansas City, home of Knuckleheads and Frank--thank him the next time you are there!

[Some dude]

I've always felt more comfortable at Knuckleheads then I ever did at Grand Emporium. I liked Grand Emporium, and will always remember seeing The Go-Betweens there back in the late 80's. Grant McLennan (R.I.P) and Robert Forster are two of the most underrated songwriters in Rock History, for me, anyway. I just like Knuckleheads better. I formed that impression the first time I went there. Definitely looking forward to Nick Lowe/Eleni Mandell later this month.

[wadkc]

I'm glad you all like it. That's why there's multiple venues. If I have a couple of beers, I have to drop bread crumbs, just to make it home out south. Knock yourselves out. I didn't say I wouldn't go, it just not a convenient place to go all the time. geez.

[Gene]

The Grand Emporium was a helluva lot easier to get to, but I love Knuckleheads... and I like pizza.

[Milton]

Happy Holiday all you BTR folks.

[Green]

Guess I need to visit Knuckleheads, seems to be a favorite here at rockville, not sure why I have never landed there. Maybe Nick Lowe will bring to that odd mysterious location where one's gps fails routinely, hmm, that would mean I skip Slash and Foxy at the Midland but Nick did lay down a lovely set before Wilco, ahh, decisions.

[Professor]

Knuckleheads has created a supper club atmosphere for their fans. Bit of a chicken/egg argument here. Not sure whether they created it or the fans demanded it, but a roadhouse of this caliber that honors people's laziest intentions is no roadhouse in my book. The indoor shows at least have an open space in front of the stage for folks to stand, boogie, etc. However, the arrangement for the Merle show was ridiculous. I was confronted at 3 different times by surly, fat, obnoxious people for "standing" in front of them. I'm sorry, did I miss the memo that told everybody to sit on their asses or be escorted out. Thankfully, I finally landed somewhere next to a kind couple that I wouldn't have otherwise met, had the jerks who kept complaining to me not driven me that way. If KH's continues to be a sit down supper club, I don't know if I am going to continue to patronize them. It's a haul for us southlanders who don't have any public transit to get us back and if I continue to get treated by the patrons of this "fine" venue like I did Thurs. night, I will never go to another show there again. If you can't stand for an hour long set of music, then maybe you shouldn't leave your couch in the first place. But, you say " oh you heartless bastard, I'm old, I have health problems, blah, blah, blah" Ok. That small percentage of fans w/ legit issues should have a table to sit at. That's fair. However, the majority of fans at this show were able bodied.

[Brian]

NO!! Green, DO NOT!!!! skip Slash at the Midland, are you kidding, or what?

[Brian]

Professor,
Sold out shows are a pain in the ass, always have been.... you know that, I know that even my dog knows that.

It has gotten to the point (unless I AM JONEING to see someone) that I wont buy tickets until day of show/at the door, and if it is sold out, I do not want to be there anyway.

Good for artist and venues selling out, but I want nothing to do with sold out shows anymore.

I have made it an art form to pick shows which no one goes to... some of the best shows I have ever seen were shows where very few went.

I hate most people, and the older i get the more I hate them all (except for the hot women)(they can do whatever they want)(of course)... but the other people need to STFU!!! GET OUT OF MY FACE!!! BUT BEST OF ALL... JUST DONT BE THERE!!!

bottom line___Dont blame the venue.

[Brian]

unless the venue is Crossroads KC, in that case, of course it is the venues fault, that place sucks!!! and hot women dont go there, high heels and wood chips dont mix.

[pellboy]

Love Merle AND Knuckleheads, but this seemed like a show better suited for a theatre, that's why I avoided it. Well, that and the price tag, which was more than fair for an act like Hag, just too high for that type of setup, at least from my perspective. Kudos to Frank for bringing him in but Knucks seems to be at it's best at 500(?) or fewer people.

[The end is nigh]

"Knuckleheads has created a supper club atmosphere for their fans. Bit of a chicken/egg argument here. Not sure whether they created it or the fans demanded it, but a roadhouse of this caliber that honors people's laziest intentions is no roadhouse in my book."

What the f....!? Would you prefer a bar with chicken wire protecting a slew of Skynyrd cover bands from flying beer bottles and meth-fueled fights requiring pool cues and brass knuckles? I'm sure there are a few biker joints in town to give you those cheap thrills, but your assessment of Knuckleheads based on your bad experience there seems unfair.

Also.....

"I hate most people, and the older i get the more I hate them all"

Yeah, DT, this explains what we already knew. But why take it out on us? Shouldn't you be ranting to a therapist or a priest??

Jeez, people hating on Knuckleheads, DT now claiming his hatred for all people, in addition to his daily dose of tired Crossroads rants, Todd Akin STILL running neck and neck with Claire McCaskell in the polls, Dirty Harry babbling to empty chairs......it's friggin' Anarchy around here!

[Professor]

Brian, agreed on sold out shows. However, sold out @ Uptown for example means asses and elbows and every rookie amateur drunk in town talking in my ear during the show. KH's sold this show out, but in my opinion they did not oversell it, which is to their credit. My friend "The End.." has mistaken me for some sort of hedonistic charlatan. Next thing I know they'll be telling me "love it or leave it..." Filling the place w/ tables and chairs just leads to a bunch of uptight motherf**((ers playing swords w/ each other and sparring over who's blocking who's view. No thanks. Hell, even the holy rollers stand up when they play music. Give me wood chips or give me death.....

[Dexter]

Agree Professor,
People who sit at concerts, like that ass monkey who posted above you probably does, are ass monkeys and should be kicked out... unless of course they are in wheel chairs, or hotties.

It is cool to hate http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkRJzErnRmY

[onthemark]

Anybody see Leon Russell?

[Harbey]

Yeah, last I saw of him, Leon was hiding behind the bar.

[gsp]

Tim, your September calendar link is broken

[Scot]

The link is still now working.

[Scot]

Still NOT working that is.

[LiveMusicFan]

The September link hasn't worked yesterday or today for me.

[Bart]

...isnt the real question...
!!!!!R U READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!!!
!!!!!NFL 2012 STARTS TONIGHT!!!!!