Two more Minnesota shows on tap this week.
By: Ryan Gueningsman
Minnesota still pledges allegiance to The Hag, as was evidenced by the crowd Friday night at the State Theatre in Minneapolis.
Though he has done two shows at the State Theatre in as many years, this is the first where he didn’t have a special guest (last year included Kris Kristofferson).
Haggard’s six-piece band The Strangers performed “The Road to My Heart” and “Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone,” before the legend himself emerged from the side of the stage. There is no word other than “cool” to describe Haggard’s entrance – dark shades, trademark hat, and standing ovation included.
“Big City,” “Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star,” “Silver Wings,” and “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink” all quickly followed before 76-year-old Haggard quipped to the audience that they should have heard him when he had his own teeth.
“Going Where the Lonely Go,” another quip about his teeth, and “That’s The Way Love Goes” led into a fun band introduction when Haggard “introduced” The Strangers, allowing them time to shake hands and introduce themselves to each other, but not (yet) introducing them to the audience.
Haggard had a way of showcasing each member of the band, while still remaining the star of the show. That star shown bright when Haggard yodeled on a Jimmie Rodgers “Blue Yodel.”
A hell-raising time with “It’s Been a Great Afternoon” showcased the California native’s guitar chops, while “If You’ve Got the Money” and “If I Could Only Fly” kept the show rolling along.
A little Teleprompter trouble didn’t give Haggard the “Workin’ Man Blues.” In fact, it seemed to help him as he humorously threw out the name of a potential song, “Smoke a Beer.”
A song that always gets one of the biggest responses during any Haggard show, especially one this writer saw at Grand Casino Hinckley not long after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, is “The Fightin’ Side of Me.” At Friday night’s show, Haggard said he does that song for the soldiers.
His classic Willie Nelson duet “Pancho and Lefty” was filled in nicely by Stranger Scott Joss, and the well-covered “Milk Cow Blues” showed that Haggard is a country staple.
One of his newer songs, “Working in Tennessee,” prompted him to share a story about a Martin guitar he had given to the Country Music Hall of Fame that had been damaged in floods that hit Nashville. It also led to nice harmony vocals by wife, Theresa Haggard, who was on stage with The Strangers for the entire show.
Haggard received very little backing or harmony vocals, which allowed for his voice to be dominant, even though not overly powerful. It was refreshing to actually hear the main vocalist instead of it being overshadowed by heavy backing vocals.
“Old-Fashioned Love,” “Mama Tried,” and “The Fugitive” led Haggard to arguably his best known hit, “Okie From Muskogee.”
An encore, or even a couple more hits would have been about the only requests for the night, but then again, how does The Hag follow “Okie From Muskogee?”
As he sang in “The Fugitive,” the highway remains his home, as Haggard’s website shows many shows booked into the early part of 2014.
It is evident the Country Music Hall of Fame member truly does love this part of the country, as his website lists two more Minnesota dates in the near future – Wednesday, July 24 in Mankato, and Friday, July 26 at Mahnomen.
There are also several dates in Wisconsin, Iowa, and South Dakota while Haggard and the Strangers are spending some time in the North Country.
Other country shows at the State Theatre include BJ Thomas Saturday, July 27 and Hunter Hayes on the CMT on Tour “Let’s Be Crazy” fall tour Dec. 4-5. Ashley Monroe will open for Hayes.
For more Merle Haggard information, click HERE.
For more information on The State Theatre, click HERE.
Contributing Writer: Ryan Gueningsman
*Note* – The photo above was not from the show. This was obtained at www.merlehaggard.com.