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Merle Haggard @ Mystic Lake

Posted on July 2nd, 2008 – 12:46 AM
By Jon Bream

After reading about Hag’s tours in recent years opening for Bob Dylan, George Jones and Willie Nelson, I kind of expected him to coast. Far from it. He was in the moment, alert, funny, spontaneous. His thin voice isn’t as forceful as it used to be, but he delivered his poetic words with a distinctive soulfulness. My only complaint: He should have played longer than 63 minutes.

Here is the set list:

1. Mama Tried 2. Silver Wings 3. I Think I’ll Stay Here and Drink 4. White Line Fever 5. Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Star 6. If I Could Only Fly 7. Rainbow Stew 8. Going Where the Lonely Go 9. Workin’ Man Blues 10. Today I Started Loving You Again 11. Mama’s Prayer 12. If I Had a Little Girl 13. Are the Good Times Really Over 14. Jackson (duet w/ his wife Theresa, whom he called “June” because it’s a June Carter/Johnny Cash hit 15. Motorcycle Cowboy 16.  The Fightin Side of Me 17. Ramblin Fever 18. Okie from Muskogee

What did you think of the concert? Please post your comment here:

3 Responses to "Merle Haggard @ Mystic Lake"

Vern L. Equinox says:

July 2nd, 2008 at 11:12 am

If only we could entice one of our local promoters to book Merle into the State, or even the Mainroom, for a couple of nights!

Mel says:

July 3rd, 2008 at 3:19 am

I just got back from watching Merle at the Cotillion Ball Room in Wichita, KS. Was VERY disappointed because he did not sing Okie from Muskogee….that is my favorite song of his, and we drove many miles, from Oklahoma, to see this show..we could barely hear him sing, the mic sound was turned down way too low!

Wendy Acton says:

July 10th, 2008 at 12:17 am

My friends and I saw Merle and his band in Billings, MT. It was dead of winter, freezing cold outside, but a warm crowd inside. We hope to see them back soon. The Legend Lives!!!