We dropped off the kids to the most wonderful in-laws a Lone Star Mama could ever have.  We headed down US 75 in stop and go traffic.  We finally got to Sons right at 7 p.m.  Friends Steve Fox and Tom Geddie (who writes wonderful articles and reviews for Buddy Magazine) were already there, as were "chefs for the evening" Bobby and Julia Wilbanks.  We put in our orders for cheeseburgers and fries, and were soon greeted by Tiner Canary, then Cherie Chester and Chris Buhles.  Our burgers were great, we washed them down with some cold Lone Star and some fun conversation.  Y'all can ask Tiner about her Woody sometime! ;-)

Several other list members and friends trickled into the downstairs bar.  We were joined by Don Landis from Kansas a little later than originally anticipated, so when he walked in the door we were all doubly excited to see him!  We headed up the stairs, paid our money, found seats, and anxiously awaited the show to begin.  Upon getting situated, I got a good hug from Shaver list member Trena and greeted several others we recognized from various previous shows.

Eleven Hundred Springs took the stage, and began their all acoustic show.  I must say, I have seen this band several times this year as well as hearing them all the time on the radio.  They always put on a great show, but tonight was the best I have seen them, bar none.  For a band who recently lost all their equipment to theft, they played as though every piece had been theirs from day one.  I almost wonder if their trauma has brought them closer, even more in sync than they already were.  They’ve always been really good before, but they were great on this night.  For a bunch of "Long Haired, Tatooed, Hippy Freaks", they are a fine bunch of guys both musically and personally, and it showed in their performance.  I think they have a shot at making it big……..I’d sure love for them to show Nashville what good music, originality and style are really all about.

They did several songs from their latest CD, as well as other tunes.  Perhaps they are best described as a band that’s hard to just sit and listen to……you almost feel obligated to get up and dance ‘til ya can’t dance no more.  When Eleven Hundred Springs comes to your town, give yourself a real treat and go see them.  Get yourself a CD to hold you over until then.  I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

I must confess that as fabulous as they were, when they finished, I was hungry to see Billy Joe and his band.  I really didn’t know who would be playing with him, and when Bob Brown stepped on stage, I was delighted.  He is perhaps one of the best multi-talented musicians I have ever seen.  I think he plays just about everything, and plays them well.  I then spotted Tall Tom, the drummer, and Chris the bass player, whom we saw with Billy Joe in August.  And then I saw them……..Jesse "Guitar" Taylor and Billy Joe Shaver.  I was a bit overwhelmed with emotion just at the sight of them.  It was then I fully realized, Andy and I were where we were supposed to be, exactly where we were supposed to be.

Billy Joe and the band were never introduced, they just took the stage and opened with "Love is So Sweet".  I could immediately tell these guys had played together a lot since last August.  As good as they were then, they were even better this night, tighter, more comfortable, as close to perfection as the soundboard would allow.  I know Bob had some "technical difficulties" but they didn’t slow him down.

Billy Joe and the boys did quite a variety of tunes, from older to newer, faster and slower.  Something I always forget about, until I’m watching Billy Joe LIVE is how much I enjoy him "playing" with the band……..as in play like a child plays.  They never know if during a solo he’s going to tease them a little, much like a favorite uncle would do.  He might act like he’s going to turn guitar knobs, or act like he’s going to "get" one of them. It reinforces how close he feels to these people in his band, and one can tell he really respects their talents as well.

At times, Billy Joe seemed so spiritually high in the music, I wondered if he’d come back down to us.  Jesse’s guitar playing, coupled with Bob, supplemented with Chris and Tom has that effect even on the listener in the audience.  Sometimes my heart was filled with laughter and joy.  Other times his songs sparked memories.  And when he said "Thank you, Eddy", then played "Live Forever", my heart automatically felt plugged in to those of my compadres there listening along with me.  I felt my eyes fill with tears, and then they spilled down my cheeks.  Part of me was sad Eddy wasn’t on stage, part of me was overjoyed at being at this place in Billy’s presence with my music family, part of me was taking to heart each and every word in the song, and a big part of me felt very loved, fortunate, and comforted.

Side note here: Perhaps I have gotten really spoiled to smaller, more intimate venues, but I really got perturbed again at the crowd noise.  It’s even one thing if it’s only at the back of the room (where a lot was) but some of it was people with the VERY best seats in the house (not our listers or friends).  How folks can sit in spitting distance of a band, and TALK LOUDLY with their friends (seemingly ENDLESSLY )about God only knows what, is beyond me.

I’ll interject here, I can’t remember being at an OKOM show, where there were at least three standing ovations DURING the show.  It happened this night, and it may have been more than three.  That’s pretty amazing, if you ask me.

As the show wore on, those of us who love and feel like we "know" Billy Joe could tell he was growing tired.  I’m sure much of the audience didn’t notice, because he kept smiling, dancing and playing just like he always does.  But we could tell.  As Billy and the band played what I’m sure he hoped was their final tune "Tramp on Your Street", I found myself crying again.  It was as if my Shaver family and I were the only ones in the room who mattered to me...and to Billy Joe.  I thought of another one of my favorite artists, Audrey Auld, who in her song of Billy Joe said, "If you’re a Chunk of Coal, I’m a grain of sand."  And that summed up how I felt. I felt I was the luckiest person in the room to hear this song, at this moment, and I was overwhelmed with tears.  The whole crowd sang along.

When the song was over, the crowd demanded an encore, even though Billy Joe had put away his guitar already.  He came back to the microphone, explained he’d do one more song alone, but hoped the audience understood it would be the last, and he’d happily stick around for autographs and such.  He stood at the microphone and sang, "Son of Calvary", as heartfelt as he ever has, and it was the only time I remember the ballroom being somewhat quiet.