Willie Nelson & Family 80th Birthday Tour

Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson, the famed actor, author, country musician, and activist honored the Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, Tennessee on Thursday, April 4th, 2013. Considering that his 80th birthday is coming up on April 30th, Willie still has more energy and talent than 99% of all other musicians out there today. Aside from his music, Willie is probably best known as an activist for the reform of cannabis laws and the use of hemp and biodiesel as an energy source. He has been doing this for the better part of forty years, since long before marijuana was widely accepted for medical treatments or even popular. Willie Nelson's strong stage presence affirms his cannabis use has had no detrimental effect on his health and ability.

Pegi Young and The Survivors

Pegi Young

Pegi Young and The Survivors were an unexpected opening act for Willie Nelson at the Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, Tennessee this past Thursday, April 4th, 2013. Pegi, who is Neil Young’s wife of thirty years, sang her collection of mostly melancholy tunes. Mrs. Young was accompanied by her
band, The Survivors, which includes Rick Rosas on bass, Kelvin Holly on guitar, Phil Jones on drums, and Spooner Oldham on keys.

Victor Wooten at the Madison Theater

Victor Wooten is hands down one of the best bass players alive. He has won "Bass Player of the Year" in Bass Player Magazine three times in a row and shows no sign of slowing down. Victor started playing at the age of two and by the time he was six was opening for Curtis Mayfield with his families' band on a national tour. He was also well-know as the bass player for Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Victor is as nice and humble as pro-musicians come and a pleasure to interview.

On this particular evening, the other bass player on stage (Steve) is the head of the bass department at the famed Berkley School of Music. There was a good half-hour of dueling basses and plenty of drums, guitars, and keys. He and his band delivered two great sets of music ranging from funk/soul to long instrumental jams. Victor is on tour for a few more weeks and then starts sessions up at his own Bass Camp.

Images by Doug Siegel

Channel Cats Rock the Whippoorwill

By Butchie (Butch Worrell)
     Nashville, TN

     The Nashville, TN area is well named “Music City, USA”. Home to countless great musicians and hundreds of cool, small venues there is never a night where you cannot go see/hear some great music of any type. In Gallatin, TN there is one such venue, “The Whippoorwill” and recently a group of great musicians named “The Channel Cats” appeared.