As luck would have it, Austin icon Willie Nelson, was playing at The Backyard the day after Jamie arrived. Of course, we had to go! The Backyard is an intimate, outdoor venue shaded by massive old oak trees. With a multitude of terraced decks, the feeling is more like being at a friend's summer cabin than in a concert hall. At night, the oaks are strategically illuminated and the effect is magical!

Sondra, Dana, and Mel (who managed to dodge the camera this time) joined us for the show. The night of the concert, a cold front moved through and it was FREEZING (in Texas terms, anyway) outside. Two days before it had been in the 80's, and by 10:00 that night it got down in the 30's. Brrrr!

Willie put on a great show - over 3 hours of songs spanning the depth and breadth of his prolific career. He is in his 70's and still producing new music. I was surprised how many of his songs I knew! Patriotic to both country (despite his highly publicized run-in with the IRS) and state, the stage backdrop alternated between Old Glory's stars and stripes and the lone star of the Texas state flag.

Typical of his concerts, Willie invited a few friends and family members to play with him. The atmosphere reminded me of my family's jam sessions. I suspect more than 80 percent of the crowd had probably seen Willie in concert numerous times, extending the feeling of one big happy family out in the yard singing their favorite old songs together. I can't think of a better way to introduce a visitor to the community that makes Austin such a great place for music.

Jamie came prepared for the concert with a fabulous black and white photo of Willie, taken from a fashion magazine. We taped him up in the window of the car, and Willie joined us for the rest of our adventures! Later, Jamie and I used the photo to create t-shirts as a memento. Sondra and Willie press their noses up against the glass for a quick photo opp before getting "on the road again!"

Click here to continue with Jamie's Austin adventure!