The familiar Austin skyline backdrop has become a hallmark of Austin City Limits tapings, with the skyscraper lights evolving alongside the show and city over the years.
So it was especially fitting that as ACL celebrates its 50th anniversary to the day of Willie Nelson taping his pilot episode of the longest-running music program in television history, that backdrop would be brought to vivid life.
Thursday night’s show on the lawn outside of the Long Center marked only the fourth time that a performance for the PBS series has been taped outdoors, and the evening could not have been more pristine. Cool autumn temps swept away the heat of the previous weekend’s ACL Festival, and a full moon rose behind the stage as Nelson and the Family launched into “Whiskey River” to commence his 19th appearance on the show.
Over 3,000 fans joined on the hillside for the anniversary taping, which was also livestreamed globally. Following proclamations from the state and city declaring October 17 “Austin City Limits” day, longtime executive producer Terry Lickona introduced Asleep at the Wheel to open the show. The eightpiece outfit – which taped the official first episode of season 1 – made quick work running through their Western swing hits, accented by Ray Benson’s classic stage banter and deadpan jokes. Benson recalled being asked to the play by original booker, Joe Gracey, who happened to be his roommate at the time.
“Who knew that we would still be here after 50 years,” demurred Lickona onstage, to which Nelson echoed, “Let’s go for 50 more!” as the songwriter took his seat flanked by his son Lukas and Waylon Payne, son of early Family Band guitarist Jody Payne, who performed on the pilot episode. Nelson ran through 22 songs in his 80-minute set, a string of familiar hits backed the malleable rhythms of Billy English and Kevin Smith, and the ever-present workings of Mickey Raphael’s harmonica.
Lukas Nelson delivered the early highlight though with a wailing take on “Texas Flood,” while Payne led a tribute to the recently passed Kris Kristofferson with “Me and Bobby McGee.” Willie meanwhile conspired sing-alongs from the crowd with “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” and “On the Road Again,” as his ballads like “Always on My Mind” elicited a wave of sighs from the fans in appreciation.
Nelson’s show-stopping moment came with new song “Last Leaf,” though, the poignant lead single to upcoming album Last Leaf on the Tree that left the crowd silenced. Yet the song struck as resilient as it did reflective, appropriate for the full-circle moment. Followed by “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die,” Nelson emphasized this was a celebration, not a capstone.
Closing with Asleep at the Wheel joining the Family onstage for “Will the Circle Be Unbroken/I’ll Fly Away,” Nelson offered up a final “The Party’s Over” before throwing his cowboy hat and bandanna into the crowd.
Austin City Limits has come a long way from taping its pilot episode in Studio 6A 50 years ago, but the anniversary show highlighted just how much of that old Austin magic still remains.
See David Brendan Hall’s photo gallery from The Austin City Limits 50th Birthday Bash.
This article appears in October 25 • 2024 and October 18 • 2024.