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The kids, my sister and I loaded up and got to Love and War in Texas for another installment of Shiner Sunday, which is broadcast live on KHYI radio. We arrived about 2:30, and our beloved friend, Steve, had arrived an hour or so earlier to reserve us a table in the shade. Talk about indebted, because in the 100+ degree temperature, we couldn't have kept the kids outside in the sun. Texas Cindy was already at the table with him!

Our favorite waitress, Callie, immediately came over and hugged my kids. I'm not sure of the four who was happiest to see whom! She had cold drinks to us in no time. As per usual, one by one, more of our friends came to join us or at least stop by and say hello. I think there were about fifteen (not counting my family) that I knew pretty well, ten or so I had met before, and probably another ten I met for the first time. That's a lot of folks! Andy came straight from work and joined us, and we ordered our first ice filled bucket of Lone Star. I'll just add for the record, it was HOT out...had we not been in the shade, the heat would have been unbearable.

It wasn't too long before the first performer was "warmed up" and ready to go. Kevin Deal and his band took the stage by storm. I have seen Kevin several times already this year, and despite the intense heat, he was the best I have seen him! He played many of his crowd favorites, such as "Boomtown", "My Father's Redneck", and the title track from his CD, "Kiss on the Breeze". I don't think any of them ever missed a beat. It was high energy, and the crowd loved it. Kevin is a favorite in our house, not just the adults either.

Our children LOVE Kevin Deal. While on a "nose powdering" trip with Sarah, I asked her what she thought about another artist that was playing. She said, "Well, he's good, but I like Kevin Deal better!" Spoken like a true critic! When Kevin finished playing, our friend, Steve, took her over to see Kevin, she came back all smiles, because she'd given him a hug. I spoke with him later, and had him sign my scrapbook. He was once again very nice.

Thanks to Tom Geddie, I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting for a few minutes with Kevin's wife, Kim. It's obvious to me she's Kevin's number one fan. I love how supportive she is of him, and you'll often see the entire Deal family at Kevin's gigs. If you ever get a chance, be sure and say howdy to them. Again, OKOM artists seem to be good people.

Ed Burleson took the stage with his band next. I think they would best be described as "high energy honky tonk." Sure made me wanna get up and do some boot scootin', but it was too damn hot. So, instead, we all sat and sang along, and did lots of toasts when he said the words "Lone Star Beer"! Every time I see or hear Ed's band, the first thing I think of is "there aren't enough fiddle players in this world!" You just can't go wrong with listening to this bunch play. I don't have Ed's new CD yet "Live at the Sons", but it won't be too long before I do. Kevin also joined him and the band on stage for a bit...perfect honky tonk!

The final performer, Rusty Wier, joined Ed and the band onstage, since his own band was stuck in Waco. He was dressed in the finest bright blue with orange flower shorts I have ever seen. There's just something special about Rusty that I can't put my finger on. I think maybe it's purely the fact that when he's on stage, EVERYONE is having fun. If you look at all the people, both band and crowd, when Rusty is on stage, you'll see big smiles on the faces of everyone around. And I think Rusty is somehow the one having the BEST time of all. You feel good listening when you listen to him. It doesn't matter how few or how many beers, or 100-degree heat, or being packed on the picnic benches with sweaty kids climbing on you. All you do is have fun. What a great feeling it must be to know that you're the reason people are smiling. When he sings, "Don't It Make You Wanna Dance", it does.

I talked to Rusty briefly at the bar, and had him sign my book. He graciously posed for a photo with me later on. He came back and played another set, and was just as good as the first. He greeted and treated every fan as though they were an old, dear friend. It was a hot and tired brigade that headed home in our van. Shiner Sundays are pretty hard to beat.

Written by Dana Jones

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Concert: Shiner Sunday, July 8, 2001

Venue: Love & War in Texas, Plano

Visit Kevin Deal's website

Visit Ed Burleson's website

Visit Rusty Wier's website

Visit Love & War In Texas' website

Visit KHYI "The Range" Radio's website

Visit Shiner Bock's website