Robert Earl Keen sells out.

[tanyev]

Below are some of the performers scheduled for the Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball. I am so disappointed in Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett and Asleep at the Wheel. I have been a fan of REK's since I saw him open for Nanci Griffith in Austin in the late 80's. Maybe the fact that he and Lovett went to Texas A&M should have been a clue. It just seems like artists whose music is more insightful than the standard country jingoistic crap would be able to see through the * illusion. I may have to send off a few emails.

Among the scheduled entertainers are Lyle Lovett, Asleep at the Wheel and country music songwriter Robert Earl Keen.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2927756

The gala will be a Lone Star-studded affair -- Lyle Lovett, Asleep at the Wheel, local Austin band Duck Soup, gospel singer Lee Greenwood, Tanya Tucker, the Texas Two Bits (singing, pint-sized twin girls) are slated to perform, among others that include the Kilgore Rangerettes and the Katha Black Dancers.
Lone Star state entertainers soon began begging event organizers to let them perform. Brooks and Dunn called, and although they hail from California, The Beach Boys reportedly scored a last-minute gig.
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/stories/01/19/blacktie.ball/

[Philostopher]

1. Lovett played the last one, too.

I'm done with him. Once is one thing -- playing both tells me far more than I wanted to know about the guy.

[tanyev]

2. Yes.

I can almost overlook the first one. Texas pride, and so forth. But to witness the evil that has been wrought in the last 4 years and agree to play another one? Shameful.

[Gman]

3. The sorry bastard Bush

wasn't even born in Texas.

[TexasBushwhacker]

4. I don't know about Lyle

but I went to high school with REK. Here's what he has to say about his politics:

This story will run after Election Day (the interview took place in mid-October). Do you care to give any reactions, before you even know the results?

"As if I'm on the other side of it? I'm a life-long Democrat, so there's only one place that I stand. The irony there is that President Bush is quoted as saying that I was his favorite singer at one point. I'm in kind of a pickle in that whole world. I have a very broad politically diverse group of people that like me. Including (Bush's) daughters. Whoever wins needs to start paying attention to what the hell is going on in this country. God bless the troops, but there are a lot of things that are coming unraveled in this country and it's going to be way sooner than later. I don't think we have time to spend on foreign policy all the time. I keep reading things about how it's a diversion from what's really going on, but I hope that's not the case."

http://www.gotriad.com/article/articleview/12359/1/17/

As for A&M, unless you're in the Corps (which is very conservative), it's just a good university and it's closer to Houston than Austin. If you don't live in Texas, you may not understand that, but that's the way it is.

[tanyev]

6. Thanks for that link.

It makes me feel better about him, but this still bothers me.

"Whoever wins needs to start paying attention to what the hell is going on in this country."

Robert, if you know that President Bush likes your music then you are in a position to call some attention to what the hell is going on in this country. You could have thanked him for the honor of asking you to play at the ball, but politely explained why your conscience would not let you.

[TexasBushwhacker]

8. IF he was selling records and making money ....

like George Strait, I'd love for him to "politely decline", but I just don't think that he or Lyle, and certainly not AATW, are in the position to do so. If they were invited to play and declined the offer, you'd better believe that Bushco would make it known and that strikes right at probably more than half of their fan base.

Honestly, I doubt that Lyle is any more conservative than Robert, he's just higher profile (it's the hair!), and I doubt that he's "wealthy". I looked up his record sales on the RIAA site and Lyle's had 4 gold records in his career and the last one was in 1998. I'm sure he still makes a good income from touring, but rich enough to kiss his music career bye bye and retire? I doubt it.

I'd rather they keep making their music and someday maybe they'll get a sympathetic ear from a reasonable Republican country fan (not the neocon variety).

[tanyev]

10. On the other hand...

'Bush Monkeys' painting transforms young artist.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1085881
This artist now has publicity and attention he could never have dreamed of a few weeks ago.

The Dixie Chicks weathered their storm, and I heard a lot of stories right here about how people who had never listened to their music decided to check them out because of the fracas. I would guess that the majority of Keen, Lovett and ATAW's fans are not the jingoistic country top 40 type, anyway.

If you've based your career on playing it real, you lose something when you start playing it safe.

[johncoby2]

5. Is that what they call "star studded"?

What are they expecting? A couple of hundred of Joe "six teeth"?

[tanyev]

7. Oh, come on.

That ticket price is worth every penny for a chance to see the Texas Two Bits. :evilgrin:

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. Maybe Lyle can sneak Robert Altman in to film it all ....

think of all the characters. It would TOTALLY be an Altman film!

[johncoby2]

11. I couldnt name one single song either of these guys

play. I know one is from Texas A&M which should say something right there. (and I should know, I am the class of '78)

*uck em.
*uck em both.

[fudge stripe cookays]

12. I'm disappointed too, tanyev.

Knowing that Robert Earl is also good buddies with Joe Ely (who is a helluva good Democrat and played the redistricting rally in Austin last year) makes this double annoying.

I love Robert Earl's music, but this really pisses me off. I don't think as much of his fan base is yahoos as he'd like to think. He's worshiped on KGSR in Austin, and I'd say a ton of his fan base comes right from there.

As for Lyle, I've listened to him, but I've never loved his stuff the way I have Robert Earl's.

More reason for me to go out and buy Joe Ely CDs to remember what a REAL Democrat sounds like (even though he does some REK songs in there).

FSC

[tanyev]

13. I shook hands with Joe Ely!

One of my most embarrassing moments, actually. A friend and I had gone to see him at Gruene Hall. Ever been there? Well some guy started chatting up my friend, claiming he was a writer for Texas Monthly. My friend was believing it; I had my doubts. So to prove it, he says, "You want to meet Joe?" Friend says sure. He starts taking us at backstage, which at Gruene Hall, is essentially the men's room. He sees Joe and says, "Joe, these two girls wanted to meet you." Joe was very nice and shook our hands and we stumbled through some awkward small talk, the whole time I have a pretty good view into the men's room. And I didn't see any evidence of acquaintance between our magazine writer and Mr. Ely. Joe probably would have done the same if a total stranger walked up to him with 2 fans who wanted to meet him.

[fudge stripe cookays]

14. That man will be sexy when he's 90, I swear.

When I hear people diss Texans, I think of him, and all bad feelings wilt away, because he's so amazingly cool. No one would diss Texans if we were all like him.

Can you believe I lived in Austin (and San Antonio) for much of my life and have still never been to Gruene Hall? I know...I know....I've driven PAST it, just never been inside, dammit!

:D
FSC

[2bfree]

15. I love Gruene Hall!

We have gone up there for Lucinda Williams, JJW and Bruce Robinson's wife (can't remember her name!) Didn't Gary P. Nunn play at Bush's inaugural 4 years ago?

[tanyev]

16. I bet you saw Kelly Willis.

She's great.

GP Nunn may well have played 4 years ago. I really don't blame anyone for playing then. Although I didn't like W even then, I only expected to spend the next 4 years rolling my eyes at his idiocy. I didn't expect I would be asking, "What fresh hell is this?" every time I turned on the news.