the hum / By Bob Doran

The Outlaw

Willie Nelson in SoHum and a guide to Humboldt rock for new students

(Aug. 28, 2008)  What do you say about Willie Nelson? He’s an icon, an American treasure, a songwriter with a beat-up guitar who transcended the world of country music he came from, and transformed it in the process.

Willie was a Texas boy who made the leap to songwriter-central, the country music capital, Nashville, in 1960. His song “Night Life” was a hit for Ray Price (and many others) and Willie joined Price’s band, the Cherokee Cowboys. More hits followed: Faron Young recorded “Hello Walls,” Roy Orbison cut “Pretty Paper” and Patsy Cline went gold with “Crazy.” But Willie wasn’t cut out for Nashville. He moved back to Texas, settled in Austin and through the ’70s and into the ’80s basically established an alternative form of country music, something a journalist dubbed “outlaw country.” He’s been messing with the borders of country, pulling it in new directions ever since.

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This morning I sent a note to a couple of guys in The Delta Nationals, a genre-hopping local band who will be among the opening acts when Willie plays at Dimmick Ranch Sunday. I wondered what they had planned, and learned from drummer Paul DeMark that they’ll play their usual mix of covers and originals. (They have two rehearsals scheduled between now and Sunday.) Paul also noted, “It is a great honor and privilege to open for Willie Nelson, one of the truly great American musical artists and one of the most amazing musical crossover artists of any era.”

I’d say it’s the crossover aspect that impresses me most. Not long ago Willie released Countryman, a collection of country songs done reggae-style and countrified reggae songs. This summer he came out with Two Men With The Blues, an album that pairs him with jazz icon Wynton Marsalis. It includes yet another version of “Night Life,” this time with Willie singing as Wynton and company play slow jazzy blues with a New Orleans feel. It fits perfectly — his songs and his voice cross all borders and helped obliterate some of them. You understand that Willie does not write country music — he writes timeless American songs.

It’s worth noting that he’s also more than a musician. As one of the founders of Farm Aid, he’s worked to save the family farm. He tours in a biodiesel bus, but that wasn’t enough. He started Willie Nelson Biodiesel, a biodiesel production company. He’s open about his use of pot and serves as co-chair of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. His icon status was cemented last year when Ben and Jerry’s created “Willie Nelson’s Country Peach Cobbler Ice Cream.” (Any money he gets from it goes to Farm Aid.)

So, you’re wondering, what’s the plan for Sunday? Gates open at Dimmick Ranch at 2 p.m. Music starts at 3 with The Human Revolution, an eco-minded “mystic country jam rock” band from Mendo led by a guy who calls himself Human. The Delta Nationals follow at 4:45, then at 6:30 it’s Priscilla Ahn, a rising star from Hollywood’s singer/songwriter scene who just released an album for Blue Note. Expect Willie Nelson and Family to take the stage at around 8:30 p.m. about an hour after the sun sinks west of the Mendocino County line. Don’t worry, he’ll keep you warm.

College is back in session and the students are getting a big welcome. Thursday evening HSU’s Associated Students present HumWeek 2008, an outdoor show on the soccer fields near the gates (which will soon be torn up to make way for student housing). Multi-culti funksters Ozomatli headline the mini-fest, a multifaceted affair that includes punky dance band !!! (pronounced “chk, chk, chk”) and my favorite neo-folky, Brett Dennen, with the dark comic troupe Upright Citizens Brigade doing tweener skits and serving as emcees.

More student stuff Friday afternoon: from 2-6 p.m. local rock station K-Slug has something they call a “Registration Celebration” in Wildberries’ parking lot with a couple of Arcata’s top bands: the alt. rockers Strix Vega and cow-punk bad boys The Rubberneckers, and DJ Itchie Fingazspinning this and that in between. The whole thing will be broadcast live on K-Slug if you’re the virtual type.

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