Jamey Johnson Brings Jennings Back to Life
I never thought a country singer could do this: get about 1,000 people to sing all the words to an old Waylon Jennings song.
But it happened on Friday night (Jan. 23) at a Jamey Johnson concert in Chicago. I knew that with his recent Grammy nominations, and his "In Color" coming on the radio about every 10 minutes, that country fans dug him. And I was pretty sure they'd sing along to his debut single. But unless Johnson hired these folks to do background vocals for him, he must be doing something right.
I am not exaggerating when I say that every person in the place sang along with every song Johnson did. (OK, maybe his gigantic bodyguard didn't. But he had a job to do.) Even on the Jennings' songs, like "The Door Is Always Open" and "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way," the crowd yelled out the lyrics with the enthusiasm you might reserve for the day Jennings himself came back to life. And maybe that's what this was all about. Maybe people see Johnson as a vessel for bringing back that outlaw kind of music.
He certainly had the traditional sound for it. The steel guitar played a big part in his nearly two-hour show. And if most mainstream country lyrics are full of pop-leaning hooks about good times and falling in love, Johnson's are at the opposite end of that spectrum. The live versions of "High Cost of Living," "Mowing Down the Roses" and "That Lonesome Song" did the best job of showing off Johnson's attitude, one that reveals itself with the stories in his songs.
His between-song banter was full of thick Alabama twang and a lot of swearing. Like when he was introducing a new song, "Nothing Is Better Than You," he said "Here's how this is gonna work. We're gonna play you a new song, and if you hate it, don't say a f**king word."
Like it or not, that is the kind of guy Jamey Johnson is. And the kind of guy I think Waylon Jennings was.
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joe says:
Im 24…Love Waylon Jennings from his outlaw days to his songs like “carnival worker” and songs you’d never thought he would record.
I got 16 of his albums proudly hangin on my walls in album frames.
I got a coal skecth drawing of Waylon, and a Waylon License Plate plus 2 shirts of Waylon…
I love Jamey Johnson, cause he has the same sound as Waylon, And I love it. I hope to meet him one day.
RedMaZ says:
“bringing back that outlaw kind of music”????? You must be kidding. Waylon’s type of music hasn’t went anywhere for it to be brought back. It’s alive and well, and always has been. You just need to listen to more music, and not just Dickey Lee’s “The Door is Always Open” who Dave and Sugar had a big Pop hit with in 1978.
Courtney says:
I absolutely love Jamey Johnson. ‘High Cost of Living’ and ‘That Lonesome Song’ are two of my favorites. I’m glad he’s gotten back into the music industry after going through some tough times. He’s the real deal and I hope he stays around for a long, long time.
solongsowrong says:
Bringing back Outlaw music to who? That is pretty rich. There’s a genre and a list of artists longer than William Lee Golden’s beard, that’s been performing Outlaw Country all along.
And if you think most of Mainstream Country is full of pop-leaning hooks…. that’s because, by definition, it is Pop music.
Glad to see a Roots artist getting some attention on both the Roots and Mainstream charts. It is kind of funny though, seeing the Mainstream crowd claiming this guy as one of their own. If it wasn’t for the promotion he’s finally getting, they’d still be ignoring him.
This is one guy that I won’t mind seeing take a few Grammy’s home this year.
carol says:
Waylon Jennings and Jimmy Webb had a successful professional relationship and friendship. Can’t help but think of the hit, “Highway Man.” Wish Jamey and Jimmy could hook up–their names even look right together!
Marilyn says:
Jamey Johnson is the most refreshing county music artists to this day. I absolutely love his music and his awesome voice!
Always Right says:
Jamey Johnson is the real deal. It’s refreshing to see someone with actual all-around talent in the midst of these no-talent hacks on mainstream country radio right now.
peppersprout says:
If you truly believe that outlaw music has disappeared or “gone” anywhere, then you ain’t been listenin’ to the right music!
Texas: it’s a whole other country! … :D
skibo says:
please record nothings better than you awesome song write your own damn songs and thats why i write songs the people need this kind of music in there life you are the real deal see you twice live hell of a show
zach says:
20 years from now I think its safe to say Jamey Johnson will be a country music legend, outlaw country hasnt been gone completely but it was far and few between. He has completely re-enenergized the outlaw movement, what better music to listen to when the times are as bad as it is. His songwriting is real, people actually go through these kind of things, they can relate to it. If your an avid country music or outlaw country music fan I suggest you look up Pat Watters from wisconsin, The Pat Watters band is taking wisconsin by storm, filling venues like you wouldnt believe. He’s slready opened for Craig Morgan, Little Texas and John Anderson. Pats songwriting is similar to jamey’s, and he knows how to get a crowd going. He has independently released an album, “Man in the middle”. My favorite single off that album is “When I grow up (I wanna be an outlaw”, awesome lyrics.
Tandra says:
Where can I download ” Nothing is better than you” for my Ipod?
Sandy says:
Jamey is awesome!!! seen him twice already and got tix for the third time. I agree with RedMaz the outlaw music hasn’t gone anywhere but Jamey is showing these “new singers who can only do cover stuff” how to write, sing and play a real guitar. If you get a chance go see him!!