Seeing Willie play again
Saturday is going to be one of those great days.
Why? Because I get to see Willie Nelson play another concert, 20 years after I last saw him at the old La Villa Real near Bentsen and the expressway in McAllen.
It’s a motorcycle shop now, but in terms of having the most musical history related to the RGV, it was the king of concert venues back in the day, from its first concert in early December 1977 to late July 2006.
If you grew up in the Valley, and you’re past a certain age, you probably saw at least one concert there when the Villa Real’s founder, “Nano” Ramirez, still owned the property.
He and his son both have books for sale, so it’s worth a story when I can get in touch with them.
Viva Willie
Last time I saw Willie Nelson play was Feb. 12, 2005. We were both younger.
He turns 92 on April 29, so the fact that he’s still putting on a show, with his family, despite the loss of his sister and pianist, Bobby, three years ago at the age of 91, is a miracle of sorts.
Like Bob Dylan, Willie’s a national treasure, so you want them to keep playing concerts forever. The fact that Willie’s still doing it, and Dylan, too, who turns 84 next month, not to mention the Stones, for us Baby Boomers and younger generations who came to love their music, too, the chance to still see them live is one of life’s great delights.
The Stones, by the way, especially Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, are proof positive that good genes are the deciding factor when it comes to longevity. Jaggar has lived a pretty healthy life, but if you have read stories of the abuse of substances (plural) practiced by Richards and Wood, and realize that not only are they still alive (hello, Jim Morrison), but have the stamina to do a two-hour show, then it has to be good genes. (They cancelled their planned 2025 UK/ EU tour due to logistical problems.)
Figure the irony, though: Bill, the health nut, runs three miles every day, has 3 percent body fat, doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, doesn’t eat sweets, but dies of cardiac arrest at 49.
Keither Richards and Ronnie Wood snort coke, drop acid, drink and smoke most people under the table, and are still seemingly fit at age, respectively, 80 and 77.
In a September 2023 article published at Consequence Sound, Keith Richards had this to say about health in general as it pertained to him:
“The cigarettes I gave up in 2019,” The Rolling Stones guitarist shared. “I haven’t touched them since. I gave up heroin in 1978. I gave up cocaine in 2006. I still like a drink occasionally — because I’m not going to heaven any time soon — but apart from that, I’m trying to enjoy being straight. It’s a unique experience for me.”
Which means, basically, he quit cigarettes at age 76; heroin at age 35; cocaine at age 63; but he still has the occasional drink.
Yep, good genes.
The Pot Debate
Willie has said in interviews that what kept him alive was giving up cigarettes and hard liquor years ago and switching to pot instead.
Ironic in a state that will never pass a law legalizing the personal use of pot but glamorizes, promotes, and advertises the use of alcohol on almost every street corner (hyperbole, granted).
Not only that, but this legislative session, the Republican majority is trying to shut down all those vape shops we’ve seen pop up over the past five years or so, which sell the 0.3-percent-or-less THC hemp-related products, Delta 8, CBD.
Seniors use those products for pain, as do younger people dealing with pain from things such as rheumatoid arthritis, but many in the Texas Legislature, backed by the alcohol industry lobbyists (just a guess), are trying to pass a law that would shut down hundreds, if not thousands, of these mom-and-pop THC stores across the state.
People already spent money to get them up and running, but because Texas is pro-business, let’s shut them all down?
Former radio talking head and current Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick (why, Lord, why?) is leading the charge. Over martinis just the other day (just a guess), he was discussing the dangers of substances that alter one’s thinking.
Can’t have that. If people want help with moderate to severe chronic pain, and if the doc won’t prescribe pain pills that really, actually work (schedule 2), then just stop at the corner store and buy you a big bottle of peppermint schnapps.
Down the hatch. “Hey, Wendorf, in a single column, how did you get from writing about Willie, the La Villa Real, to the Rolling Stones, vape shops, alcohol, and Dan Patrick?”
Have no clue. All I know is, I’m looking forward to Saturday night in New Braunfels and seeing Willie live again.
I go to one concert a year. Last year it was blues great, Joe Bonamassa.
Willie for 2025. A Texas Treasure.
“On the road again….”