Charlotte, NC

Listen … if y’all aren’t busy come Wednesday, Aug. 22 and your body’s just achin’ to tap its toes and tingle its spine, you’ve just gotta take in The Last of the Breed Tour comin’ to the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center!
Now, it features the absolute living legends of country music: Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price. All three of these guys have become household names among fans, and each brings an earthiness and freshness to the genre:

Willie, of course, is a renegade … sort of the “poet laureate” of country. Some equate him with Bob Dylan (man, can you see these two onstage on the same ticket? Ya couldn’t find an arena to hold all the fans!). A charter member of the famous Highwaymen (with Cash, Kristofferson and Jennings), he’s charted his own course during his decades-long career.

Ray Price has been known more for his smoky, sort of intimate crooning … and, in the past, he was considered country’s answer to Frank Sinatra (’tis true! A DJ said it on the old WWOK radio in the QC years ago!). Who can forget “For The Good Times” or “Help Me Make It (Through The Night)” (later successfully covered by Ann Murray)?

Merle Haggard — look, do I really need to say anything? Along with Willie, the man has influenced more singers than you can shake a stick at (including rockers from the British Invasion!). His “Mama Tried” and, of course, “Okie from Muskogee” (which hit the charts both as studio and live versions) are true classics … and two of my personal faves.

Now, a double-CD set of the same name as their show (”Last of the Breed”) is coming out, and that’s why we’re getting the show! They’re doin’ it to popularize the superset!

So, c’mon … grab your favorite-person-in-the-whole-wide-world (ummmm, sorry, but I’m gonna be busy that night. Thanks, anyway ….) and git-up-an’-GO! Besides, who knows when we’ll get to see ‘em again, right?

It’s at 7:30 p.m., btw. Tix are $38-$48 For more info, check out the arena on the web at http://www.cabarrusarena.com or call 704-522-6500 today!

(by the way, I do plan to go that night! I was just pullin’ yer leg earlier. Think I’m gonna miss these guys?)