Capitol Salute to Texas Music
Velvet Spade, Wednesday, March 15
Willie Nelson and Gov. Rick Perry may not have much in common politically, but judging by the entertainment at the Sixth Annual Capitol Salute to Texas Music, they share a taste in music. The headliner of the AT&T-sponsored show at the swanky Velvet Spade was none other than up-and-coming Houston native Angela Peterson, a rodeo sweetheart with pipes that would put most American Idols to shame. The show, in turn, was a warm-up for Peterson’s gig this weekend opening for the Red Headed Stranger himself. “The girl can sing – and she ain’t bad looking to boot,” Perry averred during his intermission appearance before retreating to the VIP-only patio. Conspiracy theorists allege that the set list might have had something to do with Perry’s hasty departure. Peterson kicked off the second set with a tune called “Clean Break,” followed by a lament concerning a “two-faced, second-rate real fake.” Independent Texas gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman could not have put a finer point on it. The crowd on the main floor, however, didn’t seem to have politics on its mind. As Peterson shimmied and flirted her way through the modern sounds of country & western – with a couple of Bon Jovi worthy tunes in the mix – she had the endorsements she needed wrapped up.This article appears in March 17 • 2006.