Miranda Lambert Joins Hank Jr., Son Sam, Kid Rock at Billy Bob’s
Well well well. If you want to get aroused about the impending musical possibilities upcoming now that COVID-19 vaccines are being rolled out en masse and it appears at least some semblance of live music normalcy is in the offing, take a look at what transpired this weekend down at the “World’s Largest Honky Tonk” a.k.a Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth, which was celebrating it’s 40th Anniversary.
Thursday April 1st was the venue’s official birthday, and they celebrated by having Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers take the stage, just like they had done for the premier performance at the venue 40 years before. The group was presented with celebratory 40th Anniversary plaques at the show, and played many of their hits like “All the Gold in California,” “Broken Lady,” and “Statues Without Hearts.”
But the biggest fireworks came later in the weekend, when Hank Williams Jr. was scheduled to take the stage Friday and Saturday. Though Hank Jr. usually plays arenas, Billy Bob’s has been attracting some of the biggest names in country by being able to offer a socially distanced experience in its expansive, 100-000 sq. ft. facility. And when Hank Jr. took the stage Saturday night (4-3), he was joined by not just one, but two additional headliners.
To help Hank Jr. sing the famous “Family Tradition,” none other than native Texan Miranda Lambert showed up on stage. Lam Lam will be playing her own round of sold-out shows at Billy Bob’s later this month. Also taking the stage was Hank Jr.’s son Sam Williams, who is an up-and-coming performer in his own right.
And last but not least, “The Wet Cigarette of Music” himself Kid Rock joined in the chorus. You know, to class the performance up. Kid Rock isn’t scheduled to play at Billy Bob’s anytime soon, but it just might be the only bar left in America he hasn’t been 86’d from. Hell, he got kicked out of his own bar in on Lower Broad in Nashville in 2019.
The sad news is that after the concert, all of the performers contracted COVID-19 from Kid Rock who’s had an especially virulent strain the disease for nine straight months, and they’re are currently intubated at a local hospital, clinging to life. Okay that’s a lie, but a flea dip for Jr., Sam, and Lam would come highly recommended.
Even before the pandemic, a collaboration such as this (however thrown together) would be a rare moment, especially in what’s still considered a club-sized venue in Billy Bob’s. Those in attendance got their money’s worth for sure.
Who knows who may show up on stage with Miranda Lambert when plays Billy Bob’s April 22-24, and May 1 and 2. Fellow Texans Jack Ingram and Jon Randall, who she’s releasing a collaborative record with on May 7th? The other members of The Pistol Annies, who’ve played Billy Bob’s together before? Former love interest Evan Felker? Kid Rock bleeding from his eyes with Ebola? We’ll just have to wait and see.
April 5, 2021 @ 10:33 am
Kid Rock or not, that would have been cool to be there. Lack of live music and restrictions on bars, restaurants and sporting events have been the biggest COVID changes for many including myself. This might be the train coming out of the tunnel.
April 5, 2021 @ 9:00 pm
Even the author of this mean-spirited tripe is too embarrassed to attach their name. Go crawl under a desert rock somewhere & don’t come back! Your editor should be ashamed and embarrassed on your behalf.
April 7, 2021 @ 12:16 pm
He is the editor!
April 5, 2021 @ 10:42 am
just hope people are careful. CDC said just. because you are vaccinated you should still wear a mask. and I agree. people need to realize that this IS NOT A CURE. things are NOT BACK TO NORMAL. the pandemic is still going on. I do not know when things will get back to normal. because stupid rednecks won’t wear a mask or social distance. they want their FREEDUMB!
you cannot enjoy your freedom if you DIE FROM THIS VIRUS. wearing a mask is NOT A POLITICAL THING. it is a health precaution to try to keep from getting this virus. we are always going to have to deal with it. because of stupid people. there are countries that have contained this virus. how did they? THEY FOLLOWED LOCK DOWN RULES. but no, not america. because of some stupid irresopnsible people, we America , will have to live with this virus the rest of our lives.
April 5, 2021 @ 10:47 am
Lets please not get into a divisive COVID discussion here. I know I was having a little fun with it, but Billy Bob’s has been operating under local health guidelines. People are seated in pods in a large facility and are required to wear masks when not seated.
April 5, 2021 @ 10:59 am
That’s just not nice.
You need to queue up the newest Baumann record and take a chill pill.
April 5, 2021 @ 11:45 am
Preeeeeach it brother……..
Somewhere else.
April 5, 2021 @ 2:23 pm
You got problems dude. Relax.
April 5, 2021 @ 3:18 pm
Normally I avoid this sort of discourse, especially on SCM but really about everywhere, but “stupid rednecks?” Go screw yourself. You’re a sad bitter person.
April 5, 2021 @ 4:58 pm
You can’t be scared your whole life bud… I’ve had covid twice now. If it’s your time… only God knows.
April 5, 2021 @ 3:35 pm
I bet you’re a triple masker, aren’t you Shawn?
April 5, 2021 @ 3:44 pm
Shawn, shut the fuck up. There are countries and states that never shut down or had mask mandates. Guess what? These are the places that have done the best regarding the cult of Covid19(84).
So relax, stay in your protective bubble and let other people who have the brain capacity to listen to scientists, doctors and health care professionals outside of the corporate-sponsored experts live their lives.
Lemmings like you need to live in fear; you need direction from government, from ‘experts’ and people who don’t give a shit about you are your health.
P.S. They’re doing great things with medication these days. I sincerely encourage you to seek professional help.
April 5, 2021 @ 4:22 pm
Can we just avoid this subject entirely? Nobody’s going to get convinced of anything and it’s just an ugly, off-topic cesspool descending into personal attacks.
April 5, 2021 @ 4:08 pm
Go sit on your speakers while you blast Sturgill and Isbell so you can get the most action you have had in years
April 5, 2021 @ 5:17 pm
“you cannot enjoy your freedom if you DIE FROM THIS VIRUS”
“I prefer dangerous freedom to peaceful slavery.”
Thomas Jefferson
I have seen the data, Shaggy. I have a better chance dying in a car wreck than dying from COVID 19. The true victims of COVID have been our freedoms.
April 9, 2021 @ 10:37 pm
Shut the hell up us rednecks are over this COVID-19 bullshit you sound like you could use a night out at Billy bobs yeehaw cry baby ????
April 5, 2021 @ 10:44 am
I would love to have been there my first legal aged club show was Billy Bobs back in the day to see John Anderson. I have seen probably close to a hundred shows there since then but tickets were gone before I knew about it. A Hank Jr. show is always a good time. at full capacity BBT’S holds 6K so that is 12k over 2 nights which is large shed to mid-size arena level capacity. I am not sure how capacity was handled for these shows. There are no government restrictions in Texas at this point.
April 5, 2021 @ 10:50 am
There are still government restrictions in place in Texas, just not statewide. Billy Bob’s continues to operate under social distance protocols, and under the guidance of local health authorities. Their current setup facilitates about 1,000 reserved seats and an additional 200 general admission tickets, down from the usually 6,000 capacity.
April 5, 2021 @ 11:07 am
Sorry about all the Kid Rock fans on Facebook.
Just wanted you to know that you made ME laugh at least.
April 5, 2021 @ 5:24 pm
Facebook seems like the kind of place that is MOSTLY Kid Rock fans…I try to avoid that dump as much as possible…
April 5, 2021 @ 11:22 am
Dude. Just. Wow. FOMO in progress.
Nice article Trig. Thanks!
April 5, 2021 @ 12:28 pm
Jr still gittin-er-done! And like him or him Kid Rock, well, rocks- helluva showman- I bet he’s a hoot to hang out with
April 5, 2021 @ 1:36 pm
like bocephus a lot; don’t like kid rock except for 1-2 tunes.
April 5, 2021 @ 1:35 pm
LOL……. “The Wet Cigarette of Music” himself Kid Rock joined in the chorus. You know, to class the performance up.” Trig you outdid yourself on that one!!! I’m glad the people at Billy Bob’s and many other venues in Texas I’ve seen are having shows of some sort. We still have nothing but a few small venue acoustic shows here in Illinois so I’m road trippin’ to Hobart, IN Thursday to see my first professional full band show as The Steel Woods get back out on tour. Actually it’s only an hour and change away but still it’s gonna be good. I can’t wait.
April 5, 2021 @ 1:38 pm
I grew up on Jr. and listen to his music daily. But how did he ever when all those Entertainer of the Year awards? He’s always been a mess performing. I listened To Hank Live (1987) again this past weekend and it’s just a mess. He talks all over songs, starts and doesn’t finish others. I’ve always been afraid to see him in concert. I guess if I was absolutely fucked up, this clip from Billy Bobs would be fun in person, but it’s a mess.
And …
Just so you know, so it’s set in stone
Kid Rock don’t come from where I come from
Yeah, it’s true, he’s a Yank, he ain’t no son of Hank
And if you even thought so
God-damn, you’re fuckin’ dumb
April 6, 2021 @ 4:41 am
Yep. Been to about 4-5 shows. He’s just not a great live performer (at least not when I’ve seen him). Very short shows. Sped up medleys. Rambling “stories” that undercut songs. Lots of covers. The “hat shtick” where he changes hats all show long (I mean…that fishing hat during “Country Boy Can Survive”? Come on.)
I love Bocephus. But I don’t know that I’d ever subject myself to another show.
And the “wet cigarette” reference to Kid Rock is damn perfect. Well done.
April 5, 2021 @ 4:22 pm
please help me with my question .
why is kid rock __________________?
April 6, 2021 @ 5:49 am
not an official STD designation.
It’s funny how much Willie Nelson has distanced himself from that “wet cigarette.” They were close 20 years ago. Now he never gets invited to the tribute shows.
April 6, 2021 @ 5:54 am
Well Albert, heres a take on Why Kid Rock.
Jr has been buddies with him since the late 90s. Rock has that defiant sort of “outlaw” reckless, do what I want vibe. Rocks mainstream rap career was relatively short lived and he apparently saw the need to reinvent himself as a Southern Rock/ hybrid country rock/rap guy. He managed to tap into a market that has been lucrative financially. For various reasons he resonates with rednecks, hillbillies and the Nascar crowd. So, he and Jr share an overlapping fan base of sorts. I think Jr enjoyed the added attention Rock brought to him. It really isnt any more complicated than that.
Hoptown was lamenting Jrs live performances. My thoughts: Jr was hugely successful in the 80s and 90s with his tours due to several factors. His Bama Band was pretty great back in the day. His shows were all Party. A reflection of the brash, loud, in your face culture of the time. As for the quality of a Hank Jr show, its a mixed bag. I caught a double billed show with him and The CDB. Charlie was on fire as usual , and Bocephus was half tanked. He did a lot of lyric changes, lots of “I got the best name”, I got the best band”, Im the Platinum boy, My name is Bocephus, My daddy was Hank Williams, etc….all to a cheering crowd. Jr feeds off of that stuff, its par for the course. When sober, hes musically pretty great, lit up, well , its another story. I have seen him do acoustic sets where hes tight and focused on the quality, but either way hes entertaining. And NOBODY can get a country crowd more amped up than Jr. Thats a fact.
April 5, 2021 @ 5:18 pm
I can’t imagine FINALLY getting to go to a live show, walking in and getting hit with the smell of rotting taint, and then realizing Kid Rock is there…what a let down…
April 6, 2021 @ 3:55 am
Hey Shawn why is it always a red neck thing well I’m from the north brought up in the south and let me tell u something if u don’t know what red neck really stands for don’t though it around so easily because them redneck can whoop that ass and about the mask thing I haven’t put a mask on my face though this whole thing u much be a scared man and afraid of life God going to take u when he’s ready for u so mask or no mask he’ll come get u when he wants u
April 6, 2021 @ 12:39 pm
Get some sleep Sue!
April 6, 2021 @ 5:19 am
WOW…it’s good to see that something’s moving in the U.S.
Italy was the first european country impacted by the virus and we’re still in lockdown!
No shows, no Music, no Theaters…nothing.
April 6, 2021 @ 6:15 am
this would have been a lot of fun. Kid Rock in my opinion would have only added to the experience. As a matter of fact, I don’t think you give him enough credit. I saw him do a show many years ago at Music Midtown in Atlanta. That dude left it all out on the stage. there haven’t many people I’ve seen work that hard to entertain so many people at once. I think he might have even been a little under the weather that night, and he still gave it everything. Say what you want about some of his more questionable antics, but when it comes time play live, that dude cares about his fans.
April 6, 2021 @ 7:36 am
I agree, Kid Rock is an amazing artist and man!! All that don’t agree can go f*ck yourselves repeatedly. I’ve been to 6 KR concerts (looking forward to the next one) and he gives all his energy away, performs incredibly and is a nice, caring man unlike all y’all. BTW, I AM a redneck from TX and my IQ is 135 (NOT so stupid at all and extremely proud of my heritage so kiss MY ass) so the dumb ones here are the ones that do not know KRs music nor have they even given it a listen or they wouldn’t feel that way. It’s ok, he doesn’t need any of you, his fan base is worldwide including all the troops here and overseas. You’re not hurting his feelings with your childish jabs(me patting all you angry, bitter b*tches on your undeveloped heads).
April 7, 2021 @ 9:26 pm
Amen brother. Well said.
April 6, 2021 @ 9:27 am
Look, if I was there and Kid Rock walked out on stage, I would be aghast and appreciate the moment, not because I’m a big fan of Kid Rock, but because collaborations and surprise moments like these are cool. That’s why I chose to write about it.
But even if you are a diehard Kid Rock fan, you have to appreciate that he’s a scuzzball. That’s his whole persona, that he’s a scuzzball. He leans into it. I’m just having a little fun with that.
April 11, 2021 @ 10:04 am
You are greatly misinformed if you think Kid Rock is a scuzball. He does more charity work then most and is highly active in children’s, special needs (adult and children), and military charity events and fundraising. He’s also highly active in his local community. He’s not flamboyant about it and doesn’t parade it out there to help sell albums and tickets.
Just like all people I’m sure he has good days and bad days. Just like all people I’m sure he’s done things he regrets and wishes he could take back. I’ve been fortunate in having met quite a few performers over the years and can tell you the image portrayed is often not how the performer conducts themselves out of the public eye. Don’t be so quick to judgement.
April 16, 2021 @ 4:28 pm
Yeah No he is a scuzzball. Well put Trigger.
April 6, 2021 @ 9:04 am
Just listened to Sam Williams’ version of “Mr. Weatherman”. Not a very good tribute to a truly classic & legendary song/songwriter.
COVID is stupid. Yall need to get your shit together.
April 7, 2021 @ 8:30 am
KID ROCK PUT’S ON AN EXCELLENT LIVE SHOW!!! TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE SO QUICK TO JUDGE, INSTEAD OF TAKING A LONG LOOK AT THE WHOLE ART OF BEING A MUSICIAN, SONG WRITER, ENTERTAINER, ETC… BACK IN THE DAY, TOO MANY PEOPLE WERE TOO QUICK TO SAY HANK. SR. WASNT COUNTRY & WESTERN. HE WAS CALLED, ROCK, BLUES, ETC. THE TRUTH WAS THAT HE WAS ALL THE ABOVE!!! ROCK. TOO MANY PEOPLE WERE TOO QUICK TO SAY THAT ELVIS WAS THE DEVIL HIMSELF & GOING TO HELL FOR THE WAYS HE SHOOK HIS HIPS ON STAGE! BUT HE TO TURNED OUT TO BE MORE THAN ANY 1 SINGLE GENRE OF MUSIC ALSO, INCLUDING COUNTRY & WESTERN. THEY BOTH WILL FOREVER BE MUSIC GOD’S THAT JUST COULDNT BE HELD BACK BY A SINGLE GENRE OF MUSIC!!! SO IF YOU WANNA PUT KID ROCK DOWN FOR BEING ANOTHER IN THE LONG LINE OF MUSICIANS TO CROSS SO MANY INVISIBLE BOUNDARIES IN THE MUSIC WORLD, THEN GO AHEAD & INCLUDE THE LONG LINE OF MUSICIANS THAT CAME BEFORE HIM, & THAT’LL CONT. TO COME AFTER HIM! YOU CANT STOP SOMETHING THAT’S REAL MUSIC!!! TOO MANY HAVE TRIED, BUT NOT A SINGLE ONE EVER SUCCEEDED!!! ROCK ON KID ROCK!!!
April 7, 2021 @ 7:32 pm
I agree whole hearted with you, Kid Rock is not only an excellent musician, showman, he’s a good dad, grandpa and he also very caring he has helped out so many….not only that I love where he stands on politics…that’s all I’ll say on that..people that don’t like his music fine but all the ignorant comments you say about him reflect back on what kind of person you are. ROCK ON..LOVE KID ROCK……
April 9, 2021 @ 10:47 pm
Hell yes I agree kid rock is bad ass I have been to 4 concerts and he kicked ass in all of them best show ever so you are just jealous that you can’t be more like the kid of rock rock on kid
April 7, 2021 @ 10:33 am
All you virtue signaling liberals can kiss my ass. You freaking commies are trying to ruin america and guess what? We’re not gonna stand for it. Come get pimp slapped daily
April 16, 2021 @ 4:28 pm
How does it feel to be such an angry turd?