MARCH, APRIL, MAY 2013 VOL. 31 NO. 1 George Strait Bids An Emotional Farewell To Oklahoma City On His “The Cowboy Rides Away Tour” By Brandy McDonnell…The Daily McBride opened her 70-minute crowd- declared McBride, who looked sassy in a Oklahoman warming set with the feisty toe-tapper red leather jacket over black jeans, a black The King of Country took on the role of “When God-Fearin’ Women Get the Blues” scooped-neck top and tall black boots with “The King of Broken Hearts” Saturday skinny skyscraper heels. night, bidding an emotional and engaging The Kansas native told the packed house farewell to Oklahoma City. that one of her favorite parts of planning George Strait embarked on his “The Cow- a tour is choosing cover songs, and she boy Rides Away Tour” Friday night with a wowed the crowd with her crystalline coun- home-state show in Lubbock, Texas. The try version of Etta James’ “At Last” and got second stop on his 2013-14 farewell trek fans wailing along with a medley of the Cat was the sold-out Chesapeake Energy Arena, Stevens classic “The First Cut Is the Deep- where he has reigned as a top concert draw est” and Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’.” since the venue opened in 2002. “We’re not clapping; we’re snapping. It’s As usual, Strait put on a frills-free show the new thing. All the cool kids are do- designed to spotlight outstanding singing, ing it,” she quipped before launching into songwriting and musicianship. He and his a lively rendition of “King of the Road,” excellent opening act, Martina McBride, paying double tribute to her tourmate and along with their strong respective bands, the late, great Erick-bred singer-songwriter performed in the round on a massive Roger Miller. diamond-shaped stage in the center of the She even broke out a harmonica for her arena floor. Employing just a few light ef- bluesy ballad “Love’s the Only House.” fects and video screens primarily used to But the songstress was at her best belting show the performers, the concert was a far soaring love songs and heartbreaking an- cry from the high-tech spectacles favored by thems like “Whatever You Say,” “A Broken many contemporary country acts. Wing,” “Concrete Angel” “I’m Gonna Love With their long, platinum-gilded careers, and kept the proceedings sassy with “Wild You Through It” and her big finish “Inde- Strait and McBride could have made their Angels,” “My Baby Loves Me,” “This One’s pendence Day,” which not only highlighted sets veritable hit parades. Instead, the for the Girls” and her recent top 20 single her big voice but her skill at delving into the veteran vocalists mixed in playful covers “Teenage Daughters.” emotion of each song. and deep album cuts with the expected fan “I’m the luckiest girl in the world ‘cause The night only got more emotional as favorites. I get to tour with George frickin’ Strait,” Continued on following page... STRAIT TALK George Strait Bids An Emotional Farewell To Oklahoma City Continued from previous page... Nashville, punctuated with deep album cuts “Troubadour” and “I’ll Always Remember Strait and his Ace in the Hole Band took like “80 Proof Bottle of Tear Stopper” and You.” the stage following a pair of video tributes, “Honky Tonk Crazy” and classic hits like “I really wasn’t thinking about retiring or one featuring country superstars like Reba the gorgeous heartbreaker “Marina del Rey.” slowing down. I don’t know, maybe it was McEntire, Blake Shelton and Alan Jackson “That brings back some pretty good in the back of mind,” Strait said during the wishing King George well on his farewell memories,” said Strait, who was dressed in latter, which seemed to bring tears to his tour and another highlighting his myriad a pale checked button-down shirt and his eyes. “I just wanted to say how much you career accomplishments. usual cowboy boots, black hat and tight guys have meant to me over the years. So The Country Music Hall of Famer, 60, Wrangler jeans. “Y’all like those old songs? I figured the best way to do that was in a got his final Oklahoma City show off to a Me, too.” song.” spirited start with the title track of his 2011 He smiled widely and wistfully has he In keeping with tradition, Strait closed his album “Here for a Good Time” and the title reminisced about his 1980s beginnings, set with his first hit, 1981’s “Unwound.” cut from his 1987 record “Ocean Front Prop- recalling songwriters he worked with and Although he and his Ace in the Hole Band erty,” setting the tone for his career-spanning his early plans to incorporate his last name didn’t leave the stage for long, the crowd two-hour-plus set. into all his album titles until “luckily I wised welcomed them back for the encore with “Hello, Oklahoma City. It’s so good to be up.” ear-splitting screams of joy. here tonight,” Strait greeted the crowd, who “We’re moving into the ‘90s and old “Thank you very much. Yes, we’ll play showered him with deafening praise for Dusty,” Strait said as he pulled up his stool on,” Strait said, grinning as he strapped virtually every song. “(It’s) probably my last for the final time to play “The King of his guitar back on and launched into the one here and that’s sad because I’m gonna Broken Hearts” and “Where the Sidewalk party-time love song “Same Kind of Crazy,” miss you. Thank you for coming and thank Ends” from his 1992 film “Pure Country.” followed by the hilarious hit “All Exes Live you for coming all those years, too.” The Texas troubadour left the stool behind in Texas.” There’s a curious formality to a George for his next trip around the stage, which He gave his Ace in the Hole Band, which Strait concert. After he straps on his black ironically started with his 1985 smash “The started in 1975 and has backed Strait acoustic guitar, the superstar performs two Chair,” a favorite that got the whole crowd throughout his career, a prime showcase songs at one point of the diamond-shaped wailing along and ended in a standing ova- with a raucous extended cover of Johnny stage before methodically moving on to the tion. Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” which got next point and two more songs. Fans in each “Thank you so much. What a great crowd the superstar grinning as broadly as his quadrant inevitably get to their feet as the you are. I’m really, really gonna miss that,” dancing devotees. king moves to their point on the stage. Strait said. Alas, nothing lasts forever, and many fans On his first turn around, Strait offered a The superstar graciously shared the groaned when they heard the opening of mix of hits and cuts from the latter half stage with retired Gen. Leroy Sisco of the Strait’s customary closer, “The Cowboy of his three-decade career: “Check Yes or Military Warriors Support Foundation, who Rides Away.” Folks were singing and sway- No,” “ I Saw God Today,” “A Showman’s invited Strait to present an Iraq War veteran ing, waving their arms and holding up their Life,” “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright” and and his wife with the ceremonial key to their lighted cell phones. “Drinkin’ Man,” which he proudly an- new house as part of the Homes 4 Wounded When the ballad was over, Strait gave a big nounced he co-wrote with his son Bubba Heroes program. Naturally, King George sigh as he made one last circle around the and longtime collaborator Dean Dillon. He followed up the presentation with the lively stage. The emotion was obvious in his face quickly proved he still has the worn-leather “Give It Away.” as he waved and pointed to the fans, bowed rich voice and potent country charisma to Through old favorites like “Amarillo by and patted his heart. hold an audience in his thrall. Morning” to his newest single from his “Good night, everybody. Thank you,” he The Academy of Country Music Artist forthcoming album “Give It All We Got To- said, spreading his arms wide and basking in of the Decade didn’t have to switch up his night,” from the peppy dance number “Stars one more collective cheer. tried-and-true show format, but he did it on the Water” to the lovely piano ballad And then he was gone, striding off the anyway on his second rotation around the “Living for the Night,” Strait seemed deter- stage and proving the lyric true: “The last stage. At each point of the diamond, he mined to savor every moment and emotion. goodbye’s the hardest one to say.” pulled up a stool and regaled his fervent Emotion almost seemed to overwhelm him Still, it was a great ride, King George. fans with tales of his early days recording in on the all-too-appropriate recent tracks STRAIT TALK Strait Kicks Off Final Tour With Memorable, Record-Setting Concert in Lubbock By William Kerns…A-J ENTERTAINMENT greeting Strait’s follow-up rendition of “All wanted the Red Raider basketball team to EDITOR My Exes Live in Texas.” fill those seats. Strait certainly had no dif- Singer-songwriter George Strait delivered Strait ably communicated varied fun and ficulty pulling that off. a consistently entertaining musical thank sad tunes throughout his show. He also Also having a great time were a number you to West Texas fans for their past 32 seemed to share more personal background, of female fans attending in small groups of years of support — kicking off his final whether mentioning an early songwriting friends, so excited when cameras captured concert tour Friday night with a two-hour, effort by his own son, Bubba (George Jr.), or them singing and swaying while Strait sang, 29-song performance at the United Spirit getting a kick out of how many of his own “How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls?” Arena.