For the Love of Willie

Willie Nelson sings at Luck's Revival stage

Willie's Luck Reunion was a rejuvenating optimistic world- -a delightful time warp of rustic retro fashion with characters that claimed the stage and my heart at the same time.

The messages the musicians told between the lyrics were gripping. Seeing musicians like The Wild Reeds perform blasted me with a take-no-crap kind-of ammunition.

Boot waltzing into Luck's gravel road led me along the courts of The Texas Gentlemen, Langhorne Slim, Paul Thorn & the McCrary Sisters, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Andrew Combs and many more rings of talent.

The Wild Reeds

With a variety of acts to see at Luck Reunion, there seemed to be as much diversity intwined as there was a sense of celebrated soul. At Luck, it was less about the flair and more about the lyrics spilling out on stage.

The most engaging part about Luck Reunion were these stripped down rawly real performances.

Langhorne Slim on the chapel stage was uniquely unscripted. Just a man and his guitar was enough. He sang about his grandfather's legacy. He sang about love.

Slim's words were as inviting as a wooden pier welcoming a sunset's boast.

Langhorne Slim

Of course, there was some dazzle. When Aaron Lee Tasjan's star-stamped suit took the stage, he was a live wire. And audiences appreciated the glare for sure. His daringly daunting confidence weaved through his music with charismatic flair.

But, nothing compared to the moment when Willie Nelson took the stage.

First, Trigger made his entrance. From that point on, the audience's hearts started to thump loudly.

And, when Willie began to sing, audiences reacted in instant glee confetti.

Everyone wanted to be as close to Willie as possible. At one point the lady behind me pushed me in so hard that it felt a little like the WWF.

I reminded myself to keep a sense of humor and remembered she'd lost her wits mostly due to her love for Willie.

Along the row of the Bourbon lounge, there were rivers of authentic and homemade trinkets. Luck was a place not overrun with capital glam. Shirts were made of hand-pressed ink. Rings were hammered out by sweat and smiles. And the food trucks included every kind of local taste imaginable.

The Slab BBQ was so good that I wanted to talk to the sandwich. And, the people behind the counter were equally enchanted with their work.

There were free drinks at Luck, perhaps that may have been a draw, but the free water was a pretty big gift too.

Willie and Trigger

Hiding away on the stairs behind the saloon, I met the water vendor. His pride to serve Willie was obvious. He, like the rest of the service crew, may have been serving long days, but his joy in being on Willie's grounds was untamed.

I thanked him for bringing the water. I told him it had kept me strong as I served too with all of my heart.

He asked if he could share my bench. He was a stranger, but it felt like we were already friends.

I said, "I have to tell you this terribly embarrassing story. I was standing on a staircase in the saloon. And as I tried to step down, my boots stuck to the stairs. I fell down hard.

"An older gentleman caught me and I am pretty sure he thought I had had too much to drink.

He laughed and said, "You're gonna feel that tomorrow!"

I said "Yeah, and I think I came pretty close to feeling more of the stranger than I wanted too . . . you can't unfeel that memory!"

The Texas Gentlemen

After nearly tearful laughs, we left each other's presence rejuvenated.

At the close of the Lucky adventure, I saw that I had walked nine miles in two days. I had taken more than 600 photos. And, it's not that the grounds were large, it's that under every branch, there was something new to discover.

Moving pews from the chapel

This year's Luck adventure felt deeper too because I had the honor to serve as part of the crew. I got to watch talented people weave together every detail.

I learned there were more than 400 people who contributed. And, a central crew of 100 worked all year to put things together piece by piece.

Among those who planned the details were local heroes like EMS, police crew, a variety of creative people, vendors and music enthusiasts.

Luck, Texas

The most poignant realization was that no one ever said, "That's not my job." Volunteers helped direct traffic. Volunteers ran food to the musicians. Volunteers helped to keep the grounds clean.

One of the Lucky residents

Leaving Luck, I realized that the people, the family, the crew, the love behind-the-scenes- - had engulfed me.  I was contagiously happy.

I left rich with bark-filled boots dusted in authentic music memories.

With so much unrest in the world these days, Luck Reunion had reminded me about the power of unity, the healing impact of music, and the exquisite kindness of a horse's smile.

A few Luck memories

Jackie Venson: a woman in love with her guitar

Jackie Venson rocks Threadgill's

All smiles, Jackie Venson's giddy joy radiated across Threadgill's Friday night.

Venson's performance was a delightful power-packed engaging experience with inspired charisma.

Her music, with an almost-jazz-meets-blues feel, was laced with a rock-in-roll guitar engine.  And, Venson, clearly,  was charged on her own terms.

She said she tries to date, but then the men in her life get jealous.

She explained she spends a lot of time with her first love- -her guitar.

She smiled widely, looked up, and hugged her instrument even closer to her body.

Venson, 27, said she had a love for learning her craft and keeping the way clear for women.

Venson joyfully celebrated that things had changed. She said her grandmother, now 93, lived in a different world. Her grandmother, when she was young, had trouble finding a job because of "these things!" Venson laughed and pointed to her breasts and other lady parts.

Venson paused triumphantly, smiled and said, "But . . . Look at me now!!!" Then, she rocked the stage with a magical guitar melody.

Venson had a way of creating the kind of peaceful music melody that brought audiences together. She sang how we were all one; she said her troubles were our troubles. And, in troubled times we could all walk as one.

Rocking the stage, Venson grabbed our hearts, challenged us and faithfully kept our attention.