Willie Nelson rarely gets the chance to park his legendary tour bus Honeysuckle Rose for multiple-date engagements, but that’s what he’ll do when The Venetian presents Vegas on My Mind: Willie Nelson and Family before he gets back on the road again. While concertgoers can be assured that Nelson will begin each of the five shows at The Venetian Theatre with his signature opener “Whiskey River,” The Venetian promises an exclusive set list and original production design. Whatever the presentation, the performance will be by a cast of musicians that’s changed little since Nelson first started referring to them as “Family” 44 years ago.
If that’s not known far beyond Nelson’s faithful fans, it’s because he’s always taken an eclectic approach to his recording career. In September, he released a tribute to Ray Price (who made Nelson’s “Night Life” a hit in 1963) that debuted at No. 5 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin debuted as the No. 1 Traditional Jazz and Top Jazz Album in February. His sixth collaborative album with the late Merle Haggard, Django & Jimmie, reached the Country Albums summit and cracked the Top 10 pop chart, while his return-to-songwriting album Band of Brothers reached the No. 5 on Billboard’s Top 200.
In other words, the 83-year-old singer-songwriter is as relevant as ever and enjoying the elder statesman phase of his career. Still, despite the various musicians he works with in the studio, when he tours he prefers to be with Family. Nelson, along with his older sister Bobbie, was raised by musical grandparents. Bobbie has played piano with her brother since the 1973 recording sessions that produced Nelson’s seminal outlaw country album Shotgun Willie. Nelson’s longtime drummer Paul English was joined by bassist Bee Spears, guitarist Jody Payne and harmonica player Mickey Raphael, and this became the core of Nelson’s touring band until Payne retired in 2008. Spears passed away in 2011, and bassist Kevin Smith became a Family member.
Nelson’s never-ending tour is rivaled only by Bob Dylan’s, pausing for recording sessions (more than 60 albums so far), film roles (30-plus) and his annual Fourth of July picnic. He has more than 30 dates scheduled already for this year, and performed at nearly 50 concerts, festivals and benefits in 2016. Never being one to play the same songs in the same order after “Whiskey River” ignites the crowd, Nelson rarely plays a set that doesn’t include Waylon Jennings’ “Good Hearted Woman” (which he co-wrote) or Toby Keith’s “Beer for My Horses.” “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” “On the Road Again” and “Always on My Mind” are in heavy rotation, while Nelson is apt to reach deep into his catalog or pay an extended tribute to Hank Williams at shows that allow he and Family to perform longer.
Williams’ “I Saw the Light” was often the show closer in 2016 when Nelson wasn’t ending with “I’ll Fly Away,” either on its own or as a medley with “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” Whether playing country covers, his own compositions or a Gershwin tune at Vegas on My Mind, Nelson is always a relaxed, confident performer. He should be; as he sings in the title cut to Shotgun Willie, he’s got all his Family there.
The Venetian, 8 p.m. Feb. 1 & 3-4, $59.50-$200 plus tax and fee. 702.414.9000
