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27 September ~ 2007
I went to see Billy Joe Shaver in concert last night at a small place here in town. The crowd was big for a Wednesday, although it wasnt sold out. I walked right in and sat at a table to the right of the stage.Shaver is sort of an enigma - He loves honky tonk's, and he loves Jesus. His latest cd's are a mix of songs about both. I wasnt quite sure what to expect, but I was very impressed. He is 67 years old, but dances up there on the stage like he was a 20 year old. He has a good rural western style - wranglers and blue work shirt and brown western hat with a lot of character.
Shaver is outgoing and knows how to perform. I have to contrast his style with Willie Nelson, who sells out venues 20 times as big as the place Shaver was in. Willie Nelson runs through his songs, talking only sparingly, and to be honest I was bored watching him. Shaver has figured out what it means to be a performer and have people feel like they have gotten something for their ticket.
He has been playing in roadhouses all his life - explained that his mother worked in a honky tonk called Green Gables in Corsicana Texas when he was a child, and that was were he was introduced to music. His mother saw he had a talent, and encouraged him to write poetry. Shaver says songwriting is a hobby, but his songs have been recorded by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Patty Loveless. All but one song on Waylon Jennings album 'Honky Tonk Heroes' was written by Shaver.
Shaver is prove positive how you should maybe think about cutting down on drink when you get older. He was in a honky tonk near Austin in March this year and got in an argument with somebody he had been talking with. They went outside and apparently the guy pulled a knife. Shaver had a gun and shot him in the face. The man survived. Shaver is out on bail while a grand jury is looking in to the shooting. The problem is some witnesses heard Shaver say 'where do you want it?,' as he and the man walked out of the bar.
Somebody in front of the stage last night offered Shaver a shot of whisky. Shaver said 'shot, I am not going to shoot anybody.' He thanked the man but said no, I am only drinking water - that the Lord made something good when he made water. Shaver said 'you don't want to see me after some whiskey.'
Man I can relate. You do things under the influence that are darn hard to figure out the next morning. The fights I got into at the honky tonks stopped when I gave up alcohol almost eight years ago. Alcohol is trouble for some of us, never mind the fact that its health benefits are a myth. You can get just as good health benefits from drinking grape juic
I bought a cd and chatted him a little bit after the show. I wished him good luck and He thanked me like he knew what I was talking about. I hope he avoids jail, but its all not settled yet. Here is what Shaver said about the incident in a recent interview in the Huffington Post:
"Despite the cloud over his head, Billy Joe was serene when the incident was brought up. "God's taking care of it," he said. "I'll take whatever He says I'm supposed to take. I'll accept it. God's in charge. It's taken care of. It's covered."
Shaver talked about what happened in detail in an interview with the LA Times.
In honor of Billy Joe Shaver I am going to head to the Grizzly Rose tonight, on Ladie's drink free night and dance up a storm, sober and high on life and the touch of those honky tonk angels.
Austin Chronicle Christian Life Article
Here are some Billy Joe Shaver songs: (enter userid of 'music' and password of 'music')
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"God Loves You When You Dance" - Billy Joe Shaver, September 26, 2007, Soiled Dove, Denver