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June 23, 2024

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Country music legend, Hank Williams Jr. brought his latest tour to Blossom Music Center on a hot and steamy summer night.  

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Williams and his crack seven piece backing band gave a great lesson on how old-school country does it right.  Opening the show with a cover of Neil Young's "Are You Ready for the Country?" the band was off and running.

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Dressed in a black denim shirt and sporting a baseball hat and a guitar strap that had ICON written across it,  like the audience didn't know that they were seeing a true country icon.  But hey, a little self promotion never hurt anyone. 

 

Hank was in great voice and seemed to be in a great mood.  He prowled the stage while he sang "The Blues Man" playing an air guitar and pointing out to the audience.  

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Before he played perhaps his biggest hit, Hank stated, "Thirty three year, seven Super Bowls, three Emmy Awards and I'm the guy who wrote the fuckin' song!" as the band tore into a raucous "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight."

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Then it was time for a covers medley to show that he and his band can play country as well as rock and roll.  Snippets of "Give Me Three Steps," "Waiting For The Bus" and "La Grange" were expertly played.

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Williams showed his expertise on the fiddle as he played an amazing solo on his fathers song "Kaw-Liga."  Afterwards, Hank went over to the piano and proceeded to give the audience a little history lesson.  He said that when he was a little boy, everyone used to come over to his house to play with his dad.  He proceeded to rattle off such iconic names like Elvis, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash.  He then went into a Fats Domino song which segued into a great rendition of "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On" with Williams playing the piano just like The Killer, even playing with his boot on the keyboard.

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A chair and an acoustic guitar was brought out to center stage a curtain was drawn so Williams could do a solo acoustic set that included "Outlaw Woman," "All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down," "I Walk The Line" and "A Country Boy Can Survive."

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The band then returned to rock out on "Born To Boogie," "Rich White Honky Blues" and "Family Tradition" with a little "Hey Good Lookin'" thrown in for good measure.

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It was a master class of old school country.

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Marty Stuart and The Fabulous Superlatives opened the show with a fantastic set of originals and covers. 

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Both of these performers and their respective bands really know how to put on a show.

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Photos and review by Greg Drugan

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