Gene Watson has been singing professionally since the late 1950s and has been a country music album recording artist since the late 1960s.
Gene Watson’s contribution to the genre of country music is immeasurable.
It is here where you have an opportunity to read a review of Gene Watson’s ‘live’ show at The Queen’s Hall, Watton, Norfolk, England on Monday 9 July 2012.
This Country Music People ‘Live Show’ Review by Duncan Warwick (Tuesday 18 July 1961 – Sunday 17 November 2024), which was published in the August 2012 issue of Country Music People, is reproduced here with the kind permission of the publishers.
Country Music People is Europe’s number one country music magazine – giving you the world of country music from Austin to Nashville and beyond.
CMP gives you the world of country music. New Country, Roots, Honky Tonk, Americana, Traditional, Acoustic, Country-Rock, Old Time, Bluegrass, NashPop, Cowboy, Rockabilly, Western Swing, Singer-Songwriter, Alternative…The biggest stars, the hottest buzz, and the best music – Country Music People is the passionate fan’s all-access pass to everything country!
Covering the latest country music news, the hot new releases, as well as older classics and favourites, Country Music People is the specialist expert on country music – past, present and future.
This Country Music People ‘Live Show’ Review by Duncan Warwick (Tuesday 18 July 1961 – Sunday 17 November 2024), which was published in the August 2012 issue of Country Music People, is reproduced here with the kind permission of the publishers.
Queens’ Hall
Watton
Norfolk
England
Monday 9 July 2012
‘Hot footing it to Norfolk, following their appearance at Americana the previous day, were Gene Watson and Jerry Kilgore, both of whom had previously wowed the audience of the Queen’s Hall crowd with recent performances.
Jerry Kilgore had played there just a few months ago on the Johnny Rodriguez tour, and Gene Watson played to a sell-out crowd last year.
Jerry Kilgore had been so well received on his last visit that promoter Nicky James added him to the bill only recently, which delighted his growing number of fans on this side of the pond. With his slightly Dwight-like stage presence and killer self-written songs, he was warmly welcomed back to Norfolk.
Last time he was here, Jerry Kilgore ended up closing the show for Johnny Rodriguez and became the headliner by default.
This time, in a strange twist, he was first of the billed artists on stage. It didn’t seem right somehow, an artist of his calibre effectively opening for Lisa McHugh who, despite having played The Opry, recorded with Gene Watson and later credited by Watson as ‘the best female singer he’s ever sung with’ (shouldn’t think Rhonda Vincent would be too happy) was something of a lightweight compared to the others. Her set was rather too fluffy and a little corny for me.
Gene Watson, however, is far from a musical lightweight. Now celebrating fifty years of performing, he has made many of the greatest country records of all time (another candidate for the Hall of Fame surely?) and can sing them as well today as he ever could, although he did apologise of some sinus problems he was having on this visit. He still sounded good to me, but I’m partial to a nasally voice anyway.
Watson ripped through many of his hits in a set very similar to his last visit but that didn’t bother the crowd at all. I get the feeling that they will never tire of hearing ‘Fourteen Carat Mind’, and for that matter, neither will I. Probably the biggest reaction of the evening was for ‘You Gave Me A Mountain’, a song favoured by powerfully voiced singers, all the while C’est La Vie, the band of choice for visiting US stars these days didn’t miss a beat.
Watson was relaxed and happy to share with the audience his ordeals with lost baggage and delayed flights on his way over here, and with his dry Texas spin on the situation, he could have a sideline career doing stand-up.
Jerry Kilgore and Gene Watson were both doing good business with their CDs at the end of the evening, Kilgore with his ‘Telephone, TX’ (Nic Nic Neer Records, 2011) and Watson with his album of newly recorded ‘Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012) and were happy to meet fans, some of whom had traveled from London and even the far reaches of Scotland for the gig, for some time afterward.
We now have visits from Larry Gatlin and Will Banister to look forward to in the coming months, courtesy of the same promoter. Who says you can’t find real country music in the UK?’
This Live Show Review of Gene Watson and Jerry Kilgore‘s appearance at Queens’ Hall in Watton, Norfolk, England, was written by Duncan Warwick (Tuesday 18 July 1961 – Sunday 17 November 2024) and was published in the August 2012 issue of Country Music People.
