Who: Willie Nelson & Family
When: Summer of 1977
Where: Austin Opry House
Why this particular show as the first? First that my parents let me go to without them escorting me. I grew up here in Austin and my father “threatened” he better not catch me at the Armadillo World Headquarters when I was younger. When I finally came of age, the Armadillo became a beloved spot to go see my favorite artists.
How was it? I was a huge Willie Nelson fan, and at 15 or 16 I couldn’t wait to be old enough to go to his legendary Fourth of July picnics. For now, I had to be happy with a show at his Austin Opry House.
Willie was known for lengthy shows with numerous well-known artists on the bill, and this one was no exception. He came onstage around midnight and played half the night. Somehow I convinced my mother that it was a good idea to let me and my friend go to the show.
I was in heaven. This was back in the Waylon and Willie “Luckenbach, Texas” era, and these concerts went on for hours. I was amazed at the amount of marijuana being smoked right in public and onstage! From then on, I went to so many righteous shows at the Opry House.
When I finally convinced Mom I was old enough to go with my boyfriend to a Willie picnic out at his Pedernales ranch on the golf course, the line of vehicles from Highway 71 to Pace Bend was miles long. Our car kept overheating and it was blazing hot. The U-Tote’m near the picnic had long run out of drinkable liquids or ice.
It was just the beginning of a super-long day and night of all things Willie. I think I got the worst sunburn of my life on my bikini-clad body that day. Yeah, I was one of those fans.
This article appears in September 1 • 2017.