Concert Review: Merle Haggard at the Topeka Performing Arts Center

Country music legends, or legends of any musical sort, are really a crap shoot. Back in February, I saw George Jones at the Topeka Performing Arts Center. Jones came out looking hale and hearty, barrel-chested and strong. Three songs in, he was breathing hard, and his range was severely diminished.

Last night, at the same venue, I saw Merle Haggard play for just over an hour straight, and with a few exceptions, and lessened volume, it could have been a performance from 1970.

Haggard came out to a standing ovation, and went straight into music. He and the Strangers went through several songs before the man said much beyond “hello.” After that, the songs were interspersed with jokes and commentary on where the songs were written, and most tunes were dedicated to someone, be it servicemen, mothers, or ex-cons.

The band was spot-on, if a bit ragged when it came to ending the free-wheeling bits towards the end of the songs. Haggard’s voice proved to be surprisingly subtle at times, especially on songs like “Silver Wings.” However, the man could still belt ’em out, as “Mama Tried” and show-closer “Okie From Muskogee” proved.