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Dwight Yoakam wears the tightest pants I’ve ever seen on a grown man. Seriously, they’re snug enough to make the cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Sticky Fingers” album look like a JCPenney catalog. The guy’s cleared 50 and still uses “drainpipe” as an adjective. It’s a completely awesome look that hearkens back to his days as the lone honky-tonker on L.A.’s nascent ’80s hard-core scene. Yoakam’s Palomino Stage set gave constant affirmation to the idea that grizzled country vets really do get better with age, and never have to really give up the cocky flash of youth.
Yoakam began his career as a refugee in L.A. whose ideas were too country for ’80s pop-inclined Nashville. But in a way, his polyglot tastes foretold the coming of contemporary alt-country. Yoakam saw no borders between Rick Nelson, Willie Nelson and Exene Cervenka, and his deep quiver of hits like “Guitars, Cadillacs” and “Honky Tonk Man” haven’t lost an inch of their prescience or vigor in 20 years. Yoakam’s bulldog tenor only gets riper and deeper, and judging by recent solo work like “Blame the Vain,” his songwriting chops are still at full speed. It’s not quite pop music, but more like post-modern folk: songs meant to be passed down through generations of outcasts.
I saw a crazier crowd at Kenny Chesney’s Stagecoach-closing set last year, but I haven’t yet encountered another devoted lovefest like the one Yoakam got this weekend. Every alt-kid, rockabilly survivor, Latina hot-rodder and the rest of Stagecoach’s misfits all came under this tent to pay rowdy respect to a singer-songwriter who’s done as much as any to keep the fangs in modern pop-inclined country. Tim McGraw can keep the ballads, Chesney can do the party hits, but as long as Yoakam’s in the corner looking surly with a flask full of bad intentions, country music will be just fine.
– August Brown
Photo by Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times
dwight is the best going and like elvis and the beatles he cant be replaced
As a long-time Dwight fan and fellow KY boy, I loved this review and was happy to hear he performed well…although I think Dwight was wearing his tight jeans long before the term “emo” was being passed around!
Deeewight is the man ! He’s right up there with MY Elvis and Frank!! I totally totally love him! I’m in my 60’s and yes, I go to all his concerts in my area and make a total, total fool of myself! Several times now people have given up their front row seats when they see an oldie like me flipping out! If you’re in the Phoenix area, look for the crazy white-haired lady “swooning” over this guy…for all you young uns out there, swooning means going absolutely crazy for this guy! Several times at his concerts, when people see this old gal going nuts over Dwight, they’ve given up their front row seats for me to get even closer…Love Love Love this guy. Next time you’re at a concert to see Dwight in Phoenix, look for the silver haired lady who can’t get enough of him!!! Dwight is THE man…what I feel and think of him is the same as I felt and thought about Elvis many moons ago…
Proving I’m the biggest fan of Dwight, I mentioned TWICE about people giving up their front row seat to me…that’s a hint for everyone that I expect YOU to give me Your front row seat!!!!
THERE HAS ONLY BEEN THREE MUSIC GREATS ELVIS PRESLEY,THE BEATLES AND DWIGHT YOAKAM