Billy Joe Shaver
Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth
September 17, 2011
Better than: many of the overly polished country whippersnappers who like to throw around the word "outlaw" these days.
Calling Billy Joe Shaver a character is a bit of an understatement. The country legend's life reads like one of the outlaw-themed tunes that made him famous.
Raised near Waco by his honky-tonk waitress mother, Shaver joined the Navy at 17; upon discharge, he worked in a lumber mill until a machine took off two of his fingers. During his recuperation, Shaver taught himself to play guitar and write songs, after which he hitchhiked to Nashville to pursue songwriting as a career.
Although Shaver himself isn't an altogether massive name, some of the artists who have recorded his songs sure are (e.g.,Waylon, Willie, Elvis). He's recorded consistently since the '70s, and is responsible for some of country music's most classic tunes.
Shaver's last album was released in 2007 -- the same year he was infamously arrested for shooting some guy in the face outside a saloon in Lorena, Texas, after the two got into an argument. Other artists have recognized the potential of the
Shaver's-life-as-a-country-song formula; Austin songwriter Dale Watson
wrote a song about the 2007 shooting, entitled "Where Do You Want It?"
after the phrase that Shaver reportedly uttered before putting a bullet
into the poor drunk bastard who dared mess with him.
Sure enough: Artists like Shaver bring out our inner crusty curmudgeon, and cause us
to start lamenting that they don't make 'em like him anymore.
Saturday's show at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth proved as much.
Saturday's show at Billy Bob's Texas served as an historic
retrospective, featuring tunes spanning Shaver's lengthy career. The
folks at Billy Bob's recorded the show, to be released as a forthcoming
live album and concert film; in accordance, the lights and sound were
spot-on, and a mechanical arm with an attached camera swung around stage
left during the show.
The slick presentation seemed almost at odds
with Shaver himself, who was the picture of the craggy cowboy in
head-to-toe denim. Combined with his white cowboy hat and ruddy,
sun-weathered skin, Shaver's color scheme was enchantingly, if
unintentionally, patriotic.
He began his set with the 1993 crowd-pleaser "Heart of Texas,"
originally recorded as a duet with Waylon Jennings. The seasoned
professionals in Shaver's band plowed through classics like "Georgia on a
Fast Train" and "Honky Tonk Heroes," nimbly backing up the 72-year-old
legend, who took a couple songs to loosen up and find his groove.
However, once Shaver launched into "What She Said Last Night" (which,
for the uninitiated, is a three-minute montage of "that's what she said"
one-liners), he hit his stride, cracking jokes, delivering ad-libs, and
basically charming the stuffing out of the mostly middle-aged,
overwhelmingly cowboy-hatted audience. He ably guided listeners
through a set that ran the emotional gamut. During his powerful a
capella performance of "Star Of My Heart," which Shaver dedicated to his
son and longtime guitar player, Eddy, who died of a heroin overdose in
2000, several folks in the crowd wiped away tears.
There is a certain reverence shown by audiences towards singers of
Shaver's age and legendary status. As such, any weaknesses in Shaver's
performance were a non-issue to the adoring crowd. Throughout his
career, Shaver's vocals have always played second fiddle to his
irresistibly unique lyrical genius. Although his voice shows his age,
he knows how to work with what he's got; the 2007 hit "Live Forever"
just wouldn't sound right without the character and charm added by
Shaver's weathered, unpolished voice.
This opening-act-free
set that clocked in at over two hours. The only break came halfway
through the set, in the form of a drum solo during "Thunderbird." Although the four-minute solo seemed a bit out of place in a country
set, the audience remained patient, murmuring amongst themselves that
they understood the septuagenarian singer needed a moment to sit down
and rest.
Saturday's show exemplified just why Shaver is given such respect. He's
a peerless lyricist, an appealing performer, and a true Texas
character.
Critic's Notebook
Personal Bias: Little to none. I was familiar with a few of Shaver's
songs from the radio. When a friend invited me to this show, I did a
little research, and was blown away by Shaver's impossibly interesting
life story. We got to meet Shaver backstage before the show, while he
was putting his famous stub-fingered handprints in concrete for Billy
Bob's commemorative concrete-handprint wall. He was incredibly kind and
down-to-earth. I now count myself as a rabid fan.
Random Note: Shaver did deliver some choice comments about the infamous
2007 shooting incident: "That guy shot at me first," Shaver growled,
"so I pulled out my gun and shot him right between the mother and the
fucker." He then launched into the new tune, "Wacko from Waco," which is a
musical synopsis of Shaver's side of that story. Like we said, this
guy's life story reads like a country song, and he takes full advantage
of this.
