Live music review: Asleep at the Wheel 50th Anniversary featured George Strait
Friday evening Austin Western Swing legend, Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel (AATW) celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the hallowed Texas band that has won nine Grammy awards and put out over 20 albums, charting 21 singles on the Billboard country charts since forming. It was a special evening of music that felt like the old-school Texas country crowd were putting their stamp of approval on the beautiful new Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park.
Last weekend’s celebration was delayed a year due to the pandemic, but featured special guest George Strait to make up for the wait. Americana singer, Brennan Leigh opened the show. Local singer Kat Edmonson was also on hand as were members of the original 1970 lineup; vocalist and fiddler, Katie Shore, singer Chris O’Connell, steel guitarist Cindy Cashdollar, bassist Tony Garnier (Bob Dylan), multi-instrumentalist Danny Levin, pianists Floyd Domino, Leroy Preston and John Michael Whitby, fiddler Jason Roberts and drummer David Sanger. O’Connell, Domino and Preston all appeared on The Wheel’s 1973 debut, Comin’ Right At Ya. The record put Benson and company on the country music map nationally with their upbeat brand of Western Swing.
O’Connell’s contributions to the performance were significant, as AATW featured her gorgeous vocal delivery. The venerable singer is a singular talent perhaps lost in the shuffle of amazing musicians who have worked with Asleep at the Wheel over the years. Vintage Guitar Magazine recognized O’Connell’s talents back in 2013 when she released her first solo record, “If the Wheel had been dubbed the Chris O’Connell Band, instead of being one spoke of a multi-pronged whole, she would’ve probably been recognized for what she was – the greatest female country singer of her generation.” Sounds like hyperbole but O’Connell has the pipes to back up that claim. She stood out among a bevvy of talented performers on stage Friday.
Both Shore and Jason Roberts dazzled fans with adept fiddle work as they joined AATW to kick off their 50th Anniversary run that takes the venerable band on a 17-city tour that runs through mid-December. The show kicker was special guest George Strait who came out onto the Moody Amphitheater stage to cheers after headlining his first Austin City Limits Music Festival this month. Strait mostly stuck to the hits during his relatively brief appearance on stage garnering the largest audience response with “All My Exes Live in Texas” and “Here for a Good Time” the later of which aptly described the mood inside the venue.
Strait looked tiny next to the statuesque Benson who stands a full 6’7″ ((6’10” with boots). But the two, together on stage made a formidable duo of Texas country music royalty. While King George’s guest spot was the highlight for most fans, it was The Wheel’s formidable experience, a half-century of constant touring that truly shined during the concert like the Texas legends they are.
All photos Michael Maly
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