DECEMBER 2002/JANUARY 2003 VOL. 20 NO. 6 Season’sSeason’s Greetings!Greetings! George Strait’s “Road Less Traveled” Tour Continues Into 2003 George Strait’s highly successful “Road Strait and his “Ace In The Hole Band” back and end in Louisville, Kentucky on February Less Traveled” Tour will continue to roll into to many markets they haven’t visited in sev- 28th. Other cities that the tour will visit will the early part of 2003 with twenty new dates eral years as well as several cities that include Birmingham, AL; Shreveport, LA; added. In addition to the twenty new dates, haven’t been played in recent memory. Strait Austin, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Las Vegas, NV; Strait will also perform the first show at will be joined on the 2003 portion of the tour Dayton, OH; E. Lansing, MI; Washington, Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas during the by Epic recording artist, Tammy Cochran, DC; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on who scored a huge hit in 2002 with the song Moline, IL; Kansas City, MO; Evansville, IN; February 25th. “Angels in Waiting.” The tour will begin on N. Charleston, SC; Atlanta, GA; Raliegh, NC The 2003 leg of the tour will bring George January 16th in Greenville, South Carolina and Ft. Wayne, IN.n STRAIT TALK George Strait Team Roping Tickets On Sale December 1st Tickets for the 21st Edition of the orders for $16.00 per ticket to: The 2002 GSTRC also introduced an George Strait Team Roping Classic will exciting new feature as H.E.B. Food George Strait Team Roping Classic go on sale to the public on December 1st. Stores sponsored the H.E.B. Challenge. PMB #452 Once again, fans using a credit card will Each round a number of random ropers 24165 IH-10 West, Suite 217 be able to order their tickets online was given the opportunity to rope one of San Antonio, TX 78257-1159 through the George Strait Team Roping the red wrapped steers. Ropers that won Classic website at www.gstrc.com. Fans GSTRC 2003 will take place on Friday the round on one of the red wrapped steers may also access the site from a link at and Saturday, March 14th and 15th at the earned an additional $2500 for the round. www.georgestrait.com. Ticket prices for Rose Palace in San Antonio, Texas. The H.E.B. has agreed to return in 2003 and each day will be $16, including shipping 2002 GSTRC, sponsored by Chevy Trucks increase the Challenge prizes which and handling. Fans who would prefer to and Tractor Supply Co., awarded almost should make it even more exciting. order their tickets by phone using a credit $300,000 in cash and prizes to contestants. In 2002, ropers came from all across the card may call 210-698-0791 Monday The 2002 Champions, Speed Williams and country to compete as 562 teams were through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tyler Mangus, each won Chevy dually entered in the event.n Those wishing to order their tickets by pick-up trucks and Bruton trailers and mail may send their checks or money shared more than $46,000 in cash. Strait and Messina: Magic and Fire Written by William Kerns near-perfect Thursday night - more than 90 Hole Band. A-J Entertainment Editor minutes, more than two dozen songs, more To the point where musical phrases earn Submitted by Wanda Boyd, Lubbock, TX than even die-hard loyalists probably applause. (The Ace in the Hole itself Country music superstar George Strait expected. enjoyed a partial standing ovation.) obviously doesn’t give a lick about the Whereas Strait once simply sang the And the sadness or sweetness within complaints of many critics over the years. lyrics, there now are some pauses and Strait’s story songs sometimes is reflected In many ways, Thursday’s concert by emphatic moments that find him closing to every arena seat by individual musi- Strait at the United Spirit Arena — his his eyes, reaching deeper inside for the cians. first trip back to Lubbock in an amazing meaning behind the words. Face it, there are times when Strait might 10 years — was completely predictable. Oh, it’s obvious that he’s also having fun as well be Tevye, with an expressive fid- So let’s just get all that out of the way on stage. There was a time when he was dle player following him so often. first. shy about the screams and camera lenses, His drummer is excellent, and his pianist A “concert-in-the-round” simply means a and now he gives an easy grin at the cam- and steel player work miracles together. few more places for Strait to stand in eras that will project his face in close-up Strait’s vocals of course anchor the place. With four microphones at four cen- on a quartet of screens surrounding the songs, which is worth mentioning only ter-stages, the entire show was “two songs stage. because they don’t have to. In short, he in place and a step to the left.” The fact But then there are renditions of such does not have to put forth the effort. that the first 16 songs were delivered in songs as “Meanwhile” (admittedly a per- He is the gladiator that the masses have less than one hour is a pretty fair indica- sonal fave) and “She’ll leave You with a come to cheer. Many stand for his perfor- tion of what Strait thinks of musical Smile” which find him temporarily living, mance, and some raise their hands to the detours and spontaneity. or at least better interpreting, the songs as sky almost as if they were in a holy place. His fans buy the CDs, and his concerts he sings them. Other women scream as though he were are the CDs live. At other times, the musicians provide the the second coming of The Beatles. Pure and simple. flavoring. And Strait, strumming an The headliner is aware of the adulation Well, almost. acoustic guitar during tours around the and has to know he could hold back and Heck, even Strait’s fans have heard what stage, has been smart enough to hire some still be rewarded with the same applause. naysayers have had to say all these years. of Texas’ best players for his Ace in the Contunued on next page They just shake their heads, a little sad that those critics don’t get it. Because, let’s face it, there’s something magical about a George Strait concert Visit The Official George Strait Website • www.georgestrait.com these days. His shows are not just con- certs; they are must-see events. And to Strait’s credit, his vocals were user name: winter • password: season STRAIT TALK STRAIT COUNTRY - Singer Delivers a no-nonsense, Texas-sized show at the Forum Written by Robert Kreutzer Even tunes that sounded a little overpro- style “I Just Want to Dance With You,” The Press Enterprise duced on CD, like “Stars on the Water,” which helped some couples leave their Submitted by Fran Nakayama, came out sounding like good down-home seats to do some twirling on the aisles. Sun City, CA stuff. Western Swing also colored the show in a Some things were missing from George It’s difficult to overestimate the impor- big way, with Strait doing, among others, Strait’s show Saturday night at the Great tance of Strait’s backup band, Ace in the “Take Me Back To Tulsa.” Western Forum. Hole, whose tones were perfect through- Adding some pointed moments, Strait There weren’t any blazing rock guitars. out. But Strait didn’t use the group as a performed the scathing critique of the There weren’t any big-haired posers or crutch. With Strait’s perfect nasality, and country industry, “Murder on Music jocks with cowboy hats anywhere near the his willingness to let the fiddle or pedal Row,” which was recorded with Alan microphone. There weren’t any American steel have its say-so, it was a one-two Jackson. Some stations that are open- flag backdrops nor any attempts to cash in punch with few equals. minded about what constitutes country on 9/11. In an unusual move, the stage was a plat- music weren’t quite as open to hearing What was there was a Texas-sized supply form erected in the center of the Forum their playlists questioned, and refused to of great country music, with Strait doing floor, allowing a lot more eye contact and air the song. Alas, no surprise appearance his reliable bull’s-eye of a show, traversing intimacy. Strait took turns doing a couple from Jackson this time, but Strait still his career from the early ’80s to releases of songs facing out each direction, with delivered it sting intact. from the past few years. Plenty of others the band arrayed around him at various Strait always throws in a bunch of cov- are doing traditional country music, and angles. ers, but always picks great songs that most of them aren’t embarrassing them- The Texan stayed right on tradition for highlight his own strengths. This time out selves, but Strait’s concert showed why the entire show. While most country included lively version of George Jones’ he’s as strong as ever. singers can toss out a decent honky-tonk, “The Love Bug,” and well-built Mr. Pure Country isn’t the most over- Strait did it like he owned the style, per- blues/western, standard “Milk Cow powering stage presence in country, since forming wonderful tunes like very old- Blues.”n he leaves the gyrating and chit-chat for others.