MUSIC

Fans cheer shooting suspect Shaver

By Michael Corcoran
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, April 03, 2007

About 200 wildly supportive fans and half a dozen TV news cameras packed Waterloo Records early Tuesday evening for an appearance by Billy Joe Shaver, who less than four hours earlier had surrendered to authorities in McLennan County on charges of aggravated assault and possessing a firearm in a prohibited place. He posted bond — the bail amount was $50,000 — and was released.

The warrants were issued Monday night in connection with a shooting at 8:30 p.m. Saturday outside a bar in Lorena. Shaver's lawyer, Joe Turner of Austin, said Shaver shot in the cheek a man who had followed the songwriter outside with a knife.

"It's just so great to be anywhere," an animated and smiling Shaver told the crowd before a half-hour set featuring songs from his "Greatest Hits" album, released Tuesday.

If the 67-year-old Waco native was feeling much stress over recent events, he didn't show it, flapping his arms during "When the Fallen Angels Fly" and shadowboxing near the end of "Honky Tonk Heroes." Soaking up all the love, he ended the set by saying, "Don't forget to pray for me, and tell your kids to pray for me, too."