When country icon and legend Merle Haggard sings, one can sense the expression and emotional investment in his delivery. Yes the ravages of time has clearly taken it's toll on him, but not once did he let his age or his health slow him down. His performance in front of thousands at the Colorado State Fair was impeccable. Surrounded by family, Merle gave his fans what they wanted.
There was no frills greatness, no pompous gestures, just a celebration of the catalog that made him legendary.
Over a span of 40+ years, Merle Haggard released a series of songs including 40 number one hits - hits that still stand up today. Songs with great lyrics that relate to life with a wide variety of topics, ranging from drinkin', memories and life in general. Songs everybody loved! So needless to say his set showcased many of his classic songs.
His undeniable likeability and his ability to wear his stardom as comfortably as his jeans endeared him to an audience that aleady loved him.
Performing a series of hits Merle let loose with songs like "RamblinFever", Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down", "Mama Tried" and "Okie From Muskogee" just to name a few.
A Merle Haggard concert is about timeless songs rooted in real-life experiences. There aren’t a lot of bells and whistles, just an awful lot of good old fashion country music, led by an unassuming man. People who choose to see him perform today, do so because they've long been admirers or they know that at 75 there may not be many more chances to experience such an iconic, legendary figure. Either reason... it's a show that doesn't disappoint!