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Willie Nelson
The Fillmore | San Francisco, CA | 02.10.03
words and photos by John Croxton | BudsLounge.com
Willie showed no signs of holding back on Monday night. With a four-night run
ahead of him at the storied Fillmore in San Francisco, who would
have blamed the 69 year-old if he eased into things? But after two-plus hours into
the evening, following a rousing version of "Whiskey River" (the second time he
played it that night), Willie quizzed the crowd, "OK, is there anything we
haven't played tonight?" The crowd responded with shouts of a dozen or
more classics. At first Willie seemed to be straining to hear the names of
individual requests, but after a moment he just leaned back and laughed.
"Well OK!" he said, and ripped into another series of tunes.
Willie was all smiles throughout the evening. He seems to genuinely love the
well-deserved attention and adoration he receives from his fans. He showed
thanks with his youthful vibrance and by occasionally slinging a red bandana
to the lucky ladies in front of the stage. Before playing his final encore,
he thanked the fans once again by spending almost 15 full minutes signing
autographs and shaking the hands of those who fought their way to the stage.
Besides being a legend in his own time and a symbol of Americana, Willie
Nelson is a true gentleman. And he still rocks the house.
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