That other King

Okay, we know my well-documented issues with sitting too close to the stage. Don’t like it. But, hey, it works: not only can I not usually afford the front row, I don’t want to be there in the first place.

So, when my Moms offered to buy the tickets for the Asleep at the Wheel: A Ride with Bob show, we were all in concurrence that front row balcony was just a dandy place to be. If you aren’t familiar, A Ride with Bob is a tribute to the music of Bob Wills, by Western Swing band Asleep at the Wheel. Okay, and if you’re not familiar with Wills, he’s the reason why country stars wear cowboy hats, and why Texans believe that while Elvis is all well and good, Bob Wills is still the King. And this show is a look at the life of Bob, peppered with some of his biggest songs. You may have heard some of them, either by him or one of the many covers: Roly Poly, San Antonio Rose, Faded Love.

Anywhoodle, we thought we had a great spot. Close, but not toooo close. But when we go to the Aisle 2, and start trying to locate our seats, we start to suspect that we were closer than we’d thought. A lot closer. Like front and center. The only people closer were the two pit rows. So basically spitting distance to the stage. Eeek. Especially since the guy playing Bob Wills took the role seriously and was basically making eyes at any female within eyeballing distance when he played. Bob’s band wasn’t called the Texas Playboys for nothing, and the real deal cut a wide swath through the female population. Not that the guy playing the part wasn’t cute as hell. And he was just doing his job by throwing a littl charm around, nothing personal. But I was just so flipped out by it that I nearly hid under my chair for about 10 minutes.

Regardless of my neuroses, it was a really fun show. Mom clapped along to Roly Poly, and any time there’s good fiddle playing Dad’s happy. I got to share some really great music with them. Maybe not as good as seeing the real Bob Wills in some west Texas dancehall back in the day. But close enough.