{"id":225,"date":"2014-09-11T20:00:19","date_gmt":"2014-09-11T20:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/216.71.127.204\/wordpress\/?p=225"},"modified":"2015-10-05T19:48:04","modified_gmt":"2015-10-05T19:48:04","slug":"lyle-lovett-robert-earl-keen-woodlands-pavilion-woodlands-tx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/houstonmusicreview.com\/wordpress\/2014\/09\/11\/lyle-lovett-robert-earl-keen-woodlands-pavilion-woodlands-tx\/","title":{"rendered":"Lyle Lovett \/ Robert Earl Keen – Woodlands Pavilion – Woodlands, TX"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Written by Dave Clements <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Image\"We headed to one of our favorite venues, The Woodlands Pavilion, on yet another warm as summer September night.\u00a0 It was a Thursday night and the date was 9\/11.\u00a0 On this 13 yr. anniversary of those historic and shattering attacks no mention was made of the significance by either performer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tonight was officially billed as Lyle Lovett and his Large Band & Robert Earl Keen.\u00a0 Robert Earl got things started for his college buddy, Lyle.\u00a0 Before REK took the stage folks around us were pointing out to each other multiple sightings of many of Lyle’s family members.\u00a0 I actually worked with Lyle’s mother Bernell back in my corporate days before retiring from ExxonMobil.\u00a0 It would have been nice to run into her but I did not have that pleasure.<\/span><\/p>\n

The demographics of the crowd seemed decidedly upper spectrum of the baby boomers.\u00a0 REK was late getting started but proved he was worth the wait.\u00a0 He strolled out in a 3-piece suit and fancy suede cowboy hat…and sunglasses.\u00a0 He quickly promised his fans he would take them off as soon as the sun went down.\u00a0 He opened with \u2018Corpus Christi Bay’ (my wife’s birthplace, btw) and the crowd cheered.\u00a0 The 4 band members backing REK up sounded tight and the steel guitar was outstanding.<\/span><\/p>\n

Early in this set, midway through a song, Robert said “I always wonder if this is the end.\u00a0 Is anyone going to show up? Where am I gonna get another job? But inevitably you DO show up.\u00a0 And thank you!”\u00a0 Then he went on to dedicate his song \u2018Mr. Wolf and Mamabear’ to his college history professor, Dr. Quincy Adams, who was in the audience.\u00a0\u00a0 REK gave us an excellent cover of Townes Van Zandt’s \u2018Flyin’ Shoes’ and let us know how meaningful Van Zandt’s influence has been on him.\u00a0 He told a few stories about his days growing up in Houston and trips to Conroe with his brother to clean up an old hotel owned by his parents.\u00a0 He was apparently bribed and seduced by the promise of Conroe’s Tex-Mex food!<\/span><\/p>\n

The crowd loved \u2018Feelin’ Good Again’.\u00a0 Then, of course, we were treated to \u2018Merry Christmas from the Family’, reminding us how scarily close we are to the holidays.\u00a0 And next, up on their feet and shouting out every lyric, the crowd got into \u2018The Road Goes on Forever’.\u00a0 That brought an appreciative standing ovation.\u00a0 For his encore, REK sang \u2018I Gotta Go’.\u00a0 But \u2018the party never ends’…<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Lyle Lovett took the stage to join his Large Band and gave us the excellence we have come to expect.\u00a0 The crowd chuckled their enjoyment as he began his now well known cover of Tammy Wynette’s \u2018Stand By Your Man’.\u00a0 There is definitely something amusing about hearing that distinctive southern male voice singing \u2018Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman…’.<\/span><\/p>\n

Next a beautiful cello solo lead us in to \u2018Cowboy Man’.\u00a0 He dedicated \u2018Cute as a Bug’ to his Aunt Sheila in the audience.\u00a0 Then as he sang the perplexing but enjoyable \u2018Penguins’, Lyle and his band members performed synchronized leg movements.\u00a0 They weren’t The Temptations, but it was fun!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Image\"Robert Earl Keen came back out on the stage to sing \u2018Long Tall Texan’ with longtime friend Lyle.\u00a0 REK let us know that his cowboy hat came from Canada…and the crowd, of course, booed.\u00a0 Then he introduced former Texas A & M quarterback David Walker who was in attendance.\u00a0 These two guys, REK and LL, met in college at A & M.\u00a0 They have an obvious affection and respect for one another and it makes for a great performance.\u00a0 Their duet of Lyle’s \u2018This Old Porch’ was terrific!<\/span><\/p>\n

When REK exited again, Lyle went back to his solo performance giving fans \u2018My Baby Don’t Tolerate’, \u2018That’s Right (You’re Not from Texas)’, \u2018San Antonio Girl’, \u2018I Know You Know’, and other favorites. We were also introduced to another audience member, Lyle’s 10th<\/span><\/sup> grade English teacher, Mrs. Fricke.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two other standout performances tonight I want to mention are the amazing drums played by Mr. Russ Kunkel, and the amazing words sung by Lyle’s longtime backup singer Ms. Francine Reed.\u00a0 When Ms. Reed belts out \u2018Wild Women Don’t Get The Blues’, you just have no choice other than to believe her!<\/span><\/p>\n

Robert Earl Keen joined Lyle back out on stage to sing another one of the crowd’s favorites to sing along to, \u2018Church’.\u00a0 They concluded with another Van Zandt cover, \u2018White Freightliner Blues’.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen threw a Texas sized party tonight for old friends, family, and the rest of us fans who were willing to pay the price of admission.\u00a0 And a good time was had by all!\u00a0 Well done!<\/span><\/p>\n

Until next time remember there is no time to kill,<\/span><\/p>\n

dwc<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by Dave Clements We headed to one of our favorite venues, The Woodlands Pavilion, on yet another warm as summer September night.\u00a0 It was a Thursday night and the date was 9\/11.\u00a0 On this 13 yr. anniversary of those historic and shattering attacks no mention was made of the significance by either performer. Tonight… <\/p>\n

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