Credit: Photo by Sandy Carson

Wanda Jackson

Zilker Park, Sept. 17

Snappily and uniformly outfitted in matching suits, Wanda Jackson’s band warmed up her entrance playing Link Wray’s “Rumble,” a reminder that the veteran songstress was once a rebel, too. Dressed in a sequin-trimmed hot-pink jacket with her hair lacquered coal black, Jackson looked the part – the “Fujiyama Mama” with a heart of gold who toured with (and dated) Elvis. The Jackson canon reads like a jukebox – “Shakin’ All Over,” “Riot in Cell Block No. 9,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Nervous Breakdown” – and without apology: These songs are part of her original career. And if the voice on “Mean Mean Man” isn’t quite as strong as on “Funnel of Love,” Wanda Jackson’s earned her wings and gets a pass just because she’s been there and done that.

This article appears in September 23 • 2011.

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