| Merle Haggard |
| Reviews - Show Reviews |
| Written by Jim Youngson |
| Sunday, 04 October 2009 16:33 |
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Santa Barbara has never openly embraced country music. Down the road in Ventura and up north in Santa Maria a gritty country lovin' crowd can be garnered with the snap of fingers. But in SB a rare act rolls through: Willie Nelson and Clint Black come to mind in recent years, but that is all. So, it wasn't entirely a surprise that the crowd did not reflect that 'Santa Barbara.' Sure, there were some typical crunchy granola types, but mostly a plaid shirt, silver-haired crowd politely and quietly awaited the show's beginning. The patio bar was another story. A much younger crowd, just in town for the evening, or maybe taking a night off from line dancing at the Creekside (Santa Barbara's only true haunt to country music), it was a chain-smokin, wrangler sportin', cougar community with a smattering of tattoos and cowboy hats. .jpg)
Chris and Taylor Malpass
The show began with a pleasant short set from brothers Chris and Taylor Malpass. Young, tall and handsome, this duo of strong voice and their crack band played it straight, with great renditions of old classics from the Hag himself and Bob Wills, with the highlight being Hank Williams' incredible "Long Gone Lonesome Blues." Harkening back to the Grand Ole Opry era of sequins and nice shirts, these boys warmed the crowd nicely. White Line Fever  Merle Haggard and his crack band the Strangers didn't disappoint his fan base, playing many of the semiautobiographical songs that have made him a legend, including "Mama Tried," and "I'm A Lonesome Fugitive." The always pleasant "Silver Wings" and some new songs, he says found only on his website as radio won't play him anymore) show that time hasn't counted out his writing skills. Haggard's view of the world is ultimately in sharp contrast to his friend and mentor Cash, who talked often of the downtrodden, and those in need. Haggard views life through the blue collar values of hard work, integrity and a plainspoken view of things. Like "Workin' Man Blues," "Okie from Muskogee" (written about his daddy), his words are infused with a deep sense of loyalty to America and its traditions. This becomes melancholy at times, no more so than in "Are The Good Times Really Over (I Wish A Buck Was Still Silver)" when he laments: Wish a buck was still silver. I hear people talkin' bad,  Overall it was a lighthearted affair. When he first introduced his band, he said, "Now I'd like to introduce my band, The Strangers." Then all 9 of them turned to each other and shook hands amongst another, as if meeting for the first time. Having played together for years, The Strangers are top-notch musicians. The fiddle, slide guitar and horns fill out the basic bar band honky tonk sound. And it's become a family affair, with his sons playing lead guitar (Noel or Ben, who both play at different times). To the delight of many, Merle also picked up a fiddle and jammed to the Wills written swing classic "Take Me Back To Tulsa." As a newcomer, it's easy to under appreciate the magnitude of Merle Haggard. He's not a colorful showman, like his kindred spirits Willie and Johnny. He plays it low-key and straight. No doubt his natural element to play would be an unassuming yet noisy long neck roadhouse. But listen to him on CD, and the nuance and talent emerge. His vocal phrasing, the timeless lyrics, the unmistakable sound of his twangy Fender Telecaster, and subtle twists in the country music and western swing beat are all there to rich effect.  He certainly is a living legend, and his influence on country music is gargantuan. An example last night was "Kern River," Merle's classic about life and death in the Central Valley. Emmylou Harris made it her own hit. And he pioneered the California-roots sound that rocker Dave Alvin has capitalized upon in recent years.If you like Merle Haggard, see him while you can. Even icons like Merle and Willie (76!) don't live forever. With a successful outcome from a bout with lung cancer last year he has emerged for the long haul. So stop by the new roadhouse over the hill, the Chumash Casino, when he drops by next April. You won't be disappointed. |
Johnny Cash once said to Merle Haggard, "You're the man people think I am." Indeed, The Man in Black became the icon of the outlaw, but as Johnny was performing "Folsom Prison Blues" to an audience of early 1960s inmates in San Quentin, Merle was watching...from the audience. 