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Review: Willie christens ACL Live
Alberto Martinez AMERICAN-STATESMAN
It took Willie Nelson a little while to get comfortable with his new home in Austin on Sunday night. Maybe it was the full orchestra seated behind him and a conductor to his side. Or the tux he wore over his black T-shirt (a bowtie and guitar strap just wouldn’t work).
He didn’t smile until he got to the end of each song, happy he’d made it through the slowed-down and multi-layered renditions of his classics and less familiar romantic standards. The 10th number, his own “Valentine,” appropriately cemented the special-occasion mood and he seemed relieved when he announced, “We’ll take a short break and then do ‘Whiskey River’.’’
That he did, and 29 other songs. Returning in jeans and cowboy hat, Nelson ditched the orchestra for just four longtime bandmates. It was like the 1980s again when the last local joint he owned, the Austin Opry House, was the site of so many exhilarating Willie marathons. Only this time he has a stake in some decidedly finer downtown digs.
The new Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater is getting a formal two-night christening by Nelson with a 35-piece orchestra. It’s a fitting way to show off how $40 million and a partnership with the “Austin City Limits” television series can produce a classy, state-of-the-art hall for live concerts and recorded shows. (Reports from Thursday’s first how, kid-friendly Imagination Movers, and Friday’s soft opening with Cody Canada.)
The sound was perfect Sunday. Every instrument could be heard in crisp, clear tones, from the violins to Nelson’s rapid-fire turns on his old acoustic guitar. (The much-repaired Trigger never looked so worn as it did in these shiny surroundings.)
The moveable floor seats felt solid and comfortable, though they could stand a few more inches between rows. In the modest-sized mezzanine and steeper balcony, the seating curves around the big stage to bring the audience in closer than one might expect for a hall holding its maximum 3,000 people.
Bars tucked into every corner and hallway left no one thirsty from long wait lines. Plentiful lobby couches and a big fresh-air porch off the main floor made for easy group loitering. Ushers were helpful and omnipresent. The only common complaint heard was about the many stairs to be climbed from sidewalk to balcony seats.
If there was a statement to be made, it came with the fancy opening orchestra segment, ably conducted by arranger David Campbell, who’s worked with Nelson on the Hollywood Bowl stage. Nelson’s staples of “Nightlife” and “Crazy” fit nicely alongside even older songs such as “Oh What It Seemed To Be” and “I’ll Be Seeing You” from Sinatra’s romance repertoire.
After the intermission, Nelson made it clear that he’s most at home in Austin with his own small band - sister Bobbie on piano, Bee Spears on bass, Billy English on drums and Mickey Raphael on harmonica. Raphael had helped guide Nelson through the orchestra songs. Veteran drummer Paul English even made an increasingly rare appearance for “Me and Paul.”
What followed the delayed “Whiskey River” opener was an hour and a half whirlwind of nearly every great song Willie has written or borrowed from the likes of Hank, Ray, Billy Joe, Waylon and Kris. He turned furious on Trigger at times, strumming harder than players a third his age and proving once again that it’s not just his voice that matters.
Nelson appeared to like his view of the new joint when the house lights came up during “On the Road Again” and he surveyed the audience on all three levels for familiar hometown faces. “I hear you and I see you,” he confirmed. He’s played every kind of venue in his decades on the road, from palaces to dumps, so he didn’t need to say anything specific about the place.
The name of Austin’s favorite music legend is not on the big new building at West Second and Lavaca streets next to the W Hotel. But a signpost on the corner reads Willie Nelson Boulevard and a bronze likeness of him will be erected soon at the foot of the stairs leading into the ACL Live concert hall.
All kinds of acts will play here in the years to come, but they should know that Willie Nelson got here first and played his heart out.
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Comments
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By Casey Fischer
February 14, 2011 4:29 PM | Link to this
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HIM IN SARASOTA, FL. LOVE YA WILLIE!!!!!!!
By Jim Fred
February 14, 2011 5:08 PM | Link to this
Good piece, wish I was there for Willie and myself. I saw him years ago at the Opry House, he was great then and from the sounds of it great now. Good luck to the new Austin City Limits digs. Next time I’m in Austin, down from Massachusetts I will make it a point to go see a show there.
By John
February 17, 2011 10:30 AM | Link to this
Show was great except for those who bought floor seats with completely obstructed views on the left of the stage. Willie sounded great but the ticketing office has completely ignored their promise to rectify the situation.
Venue - good Willie - great Ticketing Office/ACL Live Management - Terrible
Buy tickets to future events with caution and good luck getting a response!
By Gracy Han
February 28, 2011 6:38 PM | Link to this
Great show….and great venue, but has anyone commented on just how uncomfortable the seats in the balcony are? Nearly unbearable!