Once in a blue moon, we get the chance to host true country music legends on our stage. Wednesday night the Blue Light hosted Billy Joe Shaver, blowing through Lubbock in a whirlwind of stage presence and wit.
Even with a slight delay of showtime due to the band’s bus having broken down in New Mexico, plenty of people stuck around to watch the 70-year-old performer capture everyone’s attention. Wearing his seemingly trademark denim shirt and jeans, he rambled through a fabulous set, playing all the favorites from his extensive catalogue.
Saying, “God loves you when you dance,” to entice people onto the floor, Shaver spent the entire night smiling, dancing and singing the songs he has probably performed hundreds of times. He cracked the audience up with That’s What She Said Last Night, and even handed the microphone off to two different band members for their chance at the spotlight. Black Rose was played to cheeky perfection, singing, “The devil made me do it the first time, second time I done it on my own”. It was a phenomenal showing from beginning to end.
I heard several times from different people during the past few days that this was one of the best shows they had ever seen at the Blue Light, and I cannot help but agree. The energy and fun that radiated off of this man was intoxicating, and we eagerly await his return to our city.
