Willie Nelson

OUTLAW is as outlaw does, and Willie Nelson - indisputably one of the most influential of country songwriters - proved beyond doubt during his concert last night that he cares little for the trappings of mainstream success. Ironically, the term and the genre "New Country" might not exist if it weren't for people like Nelson, yet he obstinately sticks to the old ways.

He begins with perfunctory renditions of Funny How Time Slips Away and Crazy, apparently eager to cut to the chase, which he does, in a manner of speaking, even if it's via a musically circuitous route of what sounds like a country jazz band warming up a cold jamboree crowd. The least appealing aspects of the concert were a series of these down home barnyard stomps land humdrum hoedowns. Thankfully, they were interspersed with a large selection of Nelson originals, a motley collection of simplistic paeans to the difficulties of maintaining a balanced response to emotional turmoil.

The best of these, however, were not from his well regarded back catalogue, but from his forthcoming Island album, Spirit. The new material - none of which was introduced; so much for promotional values! - bodes well for the creative and possible commercial future of the 63 year old country legend. It's panoramic country music, evocative of fetid cantinas, dustbowl dramas and tumble weed connections, all of it expertly underpinned by Nelson's adroit guitar work. Good news, then, for fans of crafted, gritty and real country music. As for fans of Kenny Rogers and Charlie Landsborough - be afraid, be very afraid ...