By Ruth Milne

These tickets had been burning a hole in my pocket (well, desk drawer) for many a month. Note the original July performance date.

And I finally got to use them Wednesday night — as did many other Rapid Citians from all walks of life. The audience that filled the half-arena setup was made up of young and old, cowboys and punk rockers. So many different people see something in Willie Nelson they can relate to, something they love.

There was no opening act and little fanfare, just a nod and a wave to the crowd, and Willie Nelson opened with his classic song “Whiskey River” as a giant Texas flag unfurled behind him.

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By Ruth Milne

He made it! The once-rescheduled, on-again, off-again concert with Willie Nelson went on as planned tonight at the civic center.

Some initial impressions follow; stay tuned for a more complete review.

It was a great show, especially once he got warmed up. Willie performed for nearly two hours, not bad for someone well into his 70s, and I can’t think of a single hit he overlooked. He wrapped up the night with a few new songs, some funny, some slow.

Willie seemed far more excited and energetic playing those newer songs. That’s understandable — after all, he hasn’t been playing those a hundred times a year for the past 20 or 30 years.

Still, it was really something watching the legendary performer strum that battered old guitar and sing, “You were always on my mind.” And it is truly kind of him to continue playing those songs after all those years, just for us.

By Ryan Woodard

Country star Kenny Rogers is coming to the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Saturday, Dec. 1st, according to the civic center website. Tickets go on sale Friday morning at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at the civic center box office, online or by phone. The website did not indicate how much tickets will cost.

Rogers is apparently the country act civic center general manager Brian Maliske was referring to when I interviewed him after The White Stripes and Willie Nelson cancellations (it was later announced Willie would play after all).

Maliske had discussed an act to be announced this week that would help defray the loss of Nelson. Well, country fans should be happy - now they get Nelson and Rogers.

What do you think, country fans?

What about you fans of The White Stripes? Is there any group touring right now whose appearance at the civic center would make up for the cancellation? Maliske has said he may be able to get the rock duo to come to the civic center eventually. But it could be awhile…

By Ryan Woodard.

Ok folks, I’m sure that by now you’re tired of hearing about whether Willie Nelson will or will not play at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. It’s been kind of like Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown. “I promise I’ll hold it this time Charlie,” Lucy says, only to lift the ball just as Charlie approaches it swiftly, then whiffs and falls on his back.

Well, Willie is holding that football in place one more time. Rushmore Plaza Civic Center marketing director Steve Montgomery told me today that Nelson decided to play his previously canceled Sept. 26 show at the civic center, as well as a handful of other dates he had canceled, because he felt he owed it to the fans.

Nelson was first scheduled to appear in Rapid City July 18 but canceled due to exhaustion. He had also canceled his rescheduled Sept. 26 date for the same reason before deciding to play it today.

Tickets are available at the civic center box office or online at www.gotmine.com. Those of you who already bought tickets can use the ones you bought.  

I’m glad Willie decided to play the show. It’s admirable that he is fighting through his exhaustion. I just hope he doesn’t decide to pull that football out at the last minute…

by Ruth Milne

“Has anyone else noticed there is not a single local band on this year’s Deadwood Jam line-up?” Brian Kimbell asks in a letter to the editor published today. (He asked the same in a recent post about former headliner Blues Traveller’s cancellation.)

I haven’t been able to get hold of the Jam chairman to ask him directly, so we’re limited to wild speculation and rumor at this point.

The omission can’t be because of a lack of local talent. Most people who attended last year’s Jam would agree that the MadHats’ performance was one of the event highlights.

Do you have any thoughts on the matter?

And what local band would you most like to see at the Jam?