By Twyla Twang
June 25, 2017
Whitey Morgan performs at The Bourbon Theatre on June 24, 2017. Photo by Twyla Twang/KZUM.
Lord Howdy, what a thrill it was to see our friend Whitey Morgan come to Lincoln! The Bourbon Theatre was home for 21st century, good ol’ fashioned Honky Tonk on Saturday when Whitey Morgan and the 78’s rolled into town. Vocalist and guitarist for the 78’s, Tony Martinez opened the show with a fine mixture of original songs as well as a few requests from the audience. Tony has some fine pipes on ‘im; finer than a frog’s hair, showcased when he covered the old Western “The Cowpoke Song”. He was singing and pickin’ at lightnin’ speed for Jerry Reed’s “Are You From Dixie”; the crowd was well-ready when Whitey and his band joined Tony on the stage.
Whitey’s been known to do a fair share of covers right alongside his originals and his Bourbon show gave us a fine mix. In Whitey’s own words: “There’s definitely a piece of me in all those covers I sing”. Yesiree boy, that’s a big 10-4! Ya gotta know our earholes were smlin’ to hear that piece of Whitey in Haggard’s “Swingin’ Doors”, Williie’s “Me and Paul” and Marshall Tucker Band’s “Fire on the Mountain”. To tip his hat to Johnny Paycheck, Whitey tore up “11 Months and 29 Days” into a full-on blues jam that rocked the house! Originals were pulled mostly from 2008’s “Honky Tonks and Cheap Motels” and 2015’s “Sonic Ranch”, all done splashed with the special sauce only a live performance can bring.
Y’all remember shows when the encore set carried on like a whole ‘nuther show? Yeah, that’s what Whitey brought! From the opening the chords of “Sinner”, through a killer version of Townes’ Van Zant’s “Waiting Around to Die” and finishing with Paycheck’s “Cocaine Train”, Whitey and the 78’s stretched out each tune and let his fans get their fill of Honky Tonk jam.
Twyla Twang hosts “HonkyTonk Heroes” on KZUM every Friday from 9 to 10 p.m.
