Gruene, TX
September 21, 2002
~ Gregg
I had even bigger plans for Saturday …… since Saturday was a big road trip weekend. Ever since the Gruene Hall show was placed on the calendar months ago, I had planned for the 21st of September.
Nothing in my mind was going to be better than seeing my favorite band at Gruene Hall on my birthday weekend. When the Sons of Hermann Hall show was added, it was icing on the proverbial cake … I knew I had to go to both shows.
7:00 AM came mighty early. Why 7:00 AM, you ask? Well, part of what made me look so forward to the Gruene show is that I was going to share it with my 6-year-old daughter who I affectionately call the “The Squid.” I wanted to give her the full Gruene experience, which meant spending the day taking in all that is Gruene and a 3 ½ hour drive takes a good part of the day up. After getting breakfast taken care of, the car loaded and a full tank of gas, we were on the road.
We had made plans to meet up with Tracy and Brandi as they bravely signed on for a full day with us. Knowing that The Squid loves convertibles (but never having had ridden in one), I knew she’d
Old Gruene Market Days were a hit as we wisely fortified ourselves with a snow-cone before sampling the various vendor’s wares. The Squid quickly had the most orange tongue in the whole town. We took in everything that the market days could offer and knowing that the evening was going to go late, I took The Squid back to our hotel room to try and get a nap in. Easier said than done, of course …
A full Gruene experience isn’t complete without the Gristmill so we get there in time to have a leisurely dinner and still make the show with plenty of time to spare. Dinner was terrific as usual and the staff even brought me some strawberry shortcake a la mode to share with The Squid for my birthday.
With dinner out of the way, it was time for the raison d’etre. The hall was pretty empty but it was early … After killing some time by wandering around the hall, we took up at the stage but in front of Willy, instead of Cody. It was unintentional but worked out for the best. There were some cases (monitor cases maybe?) right in front of Willy’s mike that would allow The Squid perfect viewing of the stage since she could stand on them.
It was during the waiting that I got to meet Jules, and her friends.
The waiting was getting the best of The Squid but fortunately, the Sopranos walk-on began just in time. “Baby’s Gone Blues” found Willy looking and singing just to her for a line or two. As many of you noticed, there was a crew video taping the show for a project that Willy says is due in the spring. Like most children, The Squid is a natural born performer and the camera found its way to her several different times. I don’t know if she noticed it or not, but she gave it her all dancing and having a ball. I’m pretty sure it was after “Tommy & Marla”
As the show continued, I began to be able to better put my finger on the difference between the SOHH show the night before and tonight’s show. There were the obvious differences like Jay all dressed up and in a hat …
Gruene Hall is special and probably does have its fair share of good musical karma floating around the rafters … Willy and the rest of the band captured it all that night. There were several moments where Willy stood on the upper part of the stage, grinning ear to ear and soaking up every second of playing for a full house. The crowd loved every note, every bar, and every second of the performance. The set was extra long … 24 songs plus 2 during the encore and included “Hurricane”, “So Lonely”
It was a homecoming -- a triumphant homecoming for a band that is, before we know it, going to hit it big. Since this show, RK has officially announced their new deal with Sugar Hill Records. Now I don’t profess to know the first thing about the record business but Sugar Hill seems like the perfect fit for a group who unflinchingly carry the banner of, in their words, Hick Rock. From my perspective, Sugar Hill is an artist friendly label that won’t try and place the band into a promotional and musical model that was conceived by “marketing guys” and focus groups.
The wise and everlovin’ REH said it better than I ever could: “I know this, RK is a group of guys that I envy, admire, support, and cherish as friends and musicians … And I know that I speak for everyone on MILLICAN and beyond. You need any thing boys, we are right here…” Amen Brother!!
However much I loved having the band play SOHH on my birthday the night before, it was merely a warm-up for tonight. As I said, the Dallas fans didn’t give it all back that night … everyone who came to Gruene that night left them both exhausted and floating on a musical cloud all at the same time. And then, there were those who gave it their all …
choose the girls’ car over my truck any day of the week. After a quick lunch, we headed down to Gruene to take in Old Gruene Market Days. The drive down proved to be quite amusing as I followed the girls down IH-35. The Squid took full advantage of the convertible by waving to every car she passed like a homecoming queen.
I also got to meet Darcy Hardy and her great family. All the Hardy family members are superfans and Darcy and Rick are the kind of parents that everybody wishes they had growing up. Kristi and Rikki are being brought up with fantastic music filling their nights and sharing it with their family. I can’t say enough great things about these great people.
Before you worry about The Squid’s delicate eardrums, I secured a pair of earmuffs for her at Academy back at home. While waiting, we again saw Jenni, Donnie, & Zack who was also outfit in his best earmuffs. As you can see, the youngest fans at the show were ready to rock. If our children grow up to be rotten little shits, don’t blame us indeed!
that she spun around and gave me the biggest, most genuine hug I’d had in a long time … it melted my heart and made the entire trip worth it in just 2 seconds. The full day that began at 7:00 AM finally took its toll on her after “Desolation Angels.”
but there was also an energy that seemed to possess Willy and the rest of the band.
and “Wild Horses” as some of the covers. David broke out a beautiful new Gretsch guitar and Jimmy was solid as usual. He even came down to the lower part of the stage and let loose a bit … Way to go Jimmy! Even Jay celebrated the evening in literal fine style as he played with the power of John Bonham and the sartorial savvy of Stevie Ray Vaughan.
