The legendary outlaw threw a big party in Doswell, VA
On a cool and cloudy October night, thousands of diehard fans received a real lesson in country music history from a man who knows a thing or two about it: Hank Williams, Jr.
Hank Jr. took the stage at Meadow Event Park around 8:30 for a tight 77-minute set. The southern rock god barely addressed the crowd, but when he did it was always with a wink and nod to his famous father.
The venue itself is nestled in the greenery of middle Virginia, right next door to the Kingโs Dominion amusement park. More festival fairground than amphitheater, the field was lined with vendors selling everything from whiskey to fried Oreos. The openness of the venue โ replete with dance floor behind the โtech worldโ stand โ lent itself to a party atmosphere that seemed to allow Hank Jr. and company to crank it even harder.
Fan favorites โO.D.โd in Denver,โ โWeathermanโ and โKaw-Ligaโ were present. Thousands sang louder than Hank Jr. on โWhiskey Bent and Hell Bound.โ Every three or four songs he would change his hat. During one hat change, he poked fun at family friend and collaborator Kid Rock. โThis Ainโt no Kid Rock bullshit hat,โ he said. โThis is a Hank Williams Senior 1950 F**kinโ model Stetson!โ
The crowd loved hearing Williams tell it like it is. Hank Jr. shredded on guitar with the intensity of someone fed up with the country music posers that have cropped up of late. And, he took shots at those who had wronged him in his career. Before โAll My Rowdy Friends Are Coming over Tonight,โ Junior told the crowd plainly: โThirty-two years, three Emmy awards, eight Super Bowls, and Iโm the one that wrote the f**king song!โ He was referring to โRowdy Friendsโ long use as the NFL theme.
For those that are unaware, Hank Jr. is a multi-instrumental genius. He switched from guitar, to fiddle, to piano throughout the evening. He makes southern-rock shredding look effortless.
Williamsโ setlist was a true education in country music history. He schooled the crowd on the lineage that bore him, with a rendition of โYour Cheatinโ Heartโ on the piano. He also paid homage to Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash with โWhole Lotta Shakinโ Goinโ Onโ and โWalk the Line,โ respectively. He also nodded ZZ Top โ who recently lost bassist Dusty Hill โ with a fiery rendition of โWaitinโ on the Bus.โ
Indeed, Hank Jr. does occupy a unique space in country music. At once considered an outlaw, he is also looked to as the protector of his fatherโs legacy. No more is this more obvious than the song, โThe Conversation,โ with its line โDid your daddy really write all them million-dollar songs?โ The Hank of in that song refused to answer. But the Hank onstage is clearly proud that his Daddy did, indeed, write those songs.
This write-up is part of a new series called โReviews on the Road.โ TMU is traveling to report on the return of live music across the country. We are proud to be documenting this important time in the history of entertainment. Check out our podcast for more detailed discussions on this topic, and stay tuned for more concerts in more states. Please email matt@themusicuniverse.com with venues you think we should check out.