LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER | LEXGO.COM WEEKENDER: GOING OUT FRIDAY | JULY.20.2012 | 9 Billy Joe Shaver is amazed to be above ground

By Walter Tunis “Mostly, I just write about my life. Contributing Music Writer But, you know, I never run out of stuff. Among the many highlights of I think everybody ought to write a song. Emmylou Harris’ sold-out concert last It’s the cheapest kind of psychiatry there winter at the Lexington Opera House is.” was the moment when she shared her Shaver’s ’70s-era songs might have vision of what a country song should defined his career, but a new generation be. “When people ask me what country flocked to his music in the ’90s, when music is,” she told the crowd, “I tell he began touring with his son, guitar- them, ‘This is.’” With that, she sailed ist Eddy Shaver. The father-son team, into a regal version of Billy Joe Shaver’s billed simply as Shaver, released a series Old Five and Dimers Like Me. of exemplary albums including the land- It remains, 40 years after the great mark 1995 concert recording Unshaven: central Texas songwriter wrote it, one of Live at Smith’s Olde Bar. the most gloriously unaffected country The songwriter’s life was often as yarns of all time. That is probably why tumultuous as his songs. Eddy Shaver everyone from Bob Dylan to Waylon died of a drug overdose in 2000. The Rossi’s uses the freshest Salmon Jennings cut it before Harris did. elder Shaver lost his wife and mother available and prepares it three ways. The wild thing is, Shaver has a the previous year. In 2007, Shaver was Grilled with hollandaise, blackened, or the nightly special. truckload of similar works, including COURTESY OF CONQUEROO charged in a shooting outside a saloon Georgia on a Fast Train, Old Chunk Billy Joe Shaver is the opening-night in Lorena, Texas. He eventually was Salmon $15 of Coal, Live Forever and Honky Tonk headliner at the Master Musicians Festival. acquitted. (Expires 7/31/12) Heroes. Each one is a little epic, a tale “I had a fortune teller tell me once One Special Per Ad IF YOU GO of hard living and hard times invested I wasn’t going to make it to 21,” he ROSSI’S with a resilient sense of faith. And said. “Well, I busted that. The thing is, 1060 Chinoe Road Master Musicians Festival 859.335.8788 every one is told with a conversational though, I lost my wife, my son, a couple www.rossis-restaurant.com When: July 20-21 charm. There is no whimsy, no decora- of dogs. It’s kind of funny … well, not           tive poetic device at work in a Billy Joe Where: Somerset Community College funny. But it seemed like I should have 
            Shaver song. Nor are there the standard Festival Field, Somerset went first. I’m the biggest sinner of pop appropriations that clutter many Tickets: $25-$45 them all. It’s kind of hard for me to contemporary country tunes. Shaver’s Learn more: (606) 677-6000. believe that I’m the one left. But I’ve songs pack an elemental story line and Mastermusiciansfestival.org. actually become pretty responsible. I a hearty honky-tonk drive into a three- got to where I pay attention to what I’m minute frame. It exemplifies country doing. I’m just thankful I’m still here. SCHEDULE “I Love This Store!” songwriting at its most efficient and Every day above dirt is a good one.” July 20: effective. 6 p.m., Cuzin Earl. 7, Barry A new concert CD/DVD by Shaver “Songwriting, to me, should be sim- Mando Project. 8:30, Billy Joe Shaver. and his current band titled Live at Billy 9:45, The 23-String Band. ple,” said Shaver, 72, who will headline Bob’s was issued this week. The record- the opening night of this year’s Masters July 21: Noon, Borrowed Blue. 12:55 p.m., ing boasts more than 20 of Shaver’s Musicians Festival in Somerset. “That’s Outletdown. 1:50, Stephen Gordon. 2:45, tunes (including a pair of high-spirited because I’m real simple. I didn’t finish Mitch Barrett and Owen Reynolds. 3:40, new songs, The Git Go and Wacko from The Downtown County Band. 4:45, Ben high school, and I didn’t go to college, ) cut at a concert last September Sollee. 6, Abigail Washburn. 7:30, J.D. Waco so I don’t know those big $10 words. Crowe and the New South. 8:45, Jason at the famed honky-tonk in Fort Worth, I had to stick with simplicity. But it Isbell and the 400 Unit. 10:15, Punch Texas. winds up being the best thing in the Brothers. “You know, I’d like to play at With custom vinyl, world. I kind of got a corner on that. Carnegie Hall at some point. But I still there is no limit to what I feel songs don’t need to be greased love playing these little honky-tonks. we can create! like you grease a wheel. If it’s simple, it Shaver’s songs for his album Honky We call them ‘skull orchards,’ you know. will slide on in there and everyone will Tonk Heroes, thus kicking the outlaw Hey, somebody’s got to do it. And I’m understand it.” country movement of the mid-’70s into a Christian, so I enjoy saying a little also full gear. Old Five and Dimers Like Me something about my religion and pass- “It’s My Favorite Store!” was the title tune to Shaver’s first “I don’t know what it is about Texas ing it on at these shows. I wouldn’t tell album, issued in 1973. Since then, his and songwriters,” Shaver said. “It must you about it if it wasn’t good. No, sir. Bring in this ad to receive music has been recorded by Johnny be the weather or something. I think a If it wasn’t good for you, I wouldn’t tell 20% off one item. Cash, The Allman Brothers Band, Elvis lot of it has to do with how everyone you a word about it.” Offer good through 8/3/12 Presley, George Jones, Jerry Lee Lewis, walks around here and talks pretty Kris Kristofferson and many others. But much like the songs. So I guess we’ve 4238 Saron Drive possibly the most important interpreter kind of got a leg up before we even get Read Walter Tunis’ blog, The Musical Box, was Waylon Jennings. He cut nine of started. at LexGo.com. 271-9326