Outlaw Festival
Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Wilco, Lucinda Williams
8/1/25 Jones Beach, NY
On a gorgeous summer evening, after a crushing heatwave finally broke in the NYC area, the 10th Anniversary of the Outlaw Festival pulled into Jones Beach. The show played the on the water amphitheater for a second year in a row, as a sold out crowd slowly made their way into the venue to see to see a host of excellent musicians.
RtBE unfortunately missed Waylon Payne but arrived just prior to the start of Lucinda Williams set as she and her band dove into her alt-country back catalog and also delivered a few choice covers. Opening with the appropriately titled "Let's Get The Band Back Together" the group played to a mostly empty amphitheater, but still delivered the twangy goods. Lucinda dedicated two early tunes to fallen friends as "Stolen Moments" was played for Tom Petty and "Drunken Angel" was dedicated to Blaze Foley.
"Low Life" discussed dive bar culture with a New Orleans flair as Williams sung Hurricane's and Dr. John lyrics while the defiant "You Can't Rule Me" was a metalish blues rocker. The groups cover of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" was average, but the band hit their heights on the way out with a stirring rendition of "Keep On Rocking In The Free World" to close their set.
The venue filled for Wilco who played for an hour mixing their noise rock, pop and jam leanings. "Handshake Drugs" showed all of the bands strengths as they eased into the tune before a distortion filled finale. "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart" followed this same pattern while "Bird Without a Tail / Base of My Skull" provided to be the most fluid jamming the group would deliver on this night.
"Box Full of Letters" was an upbeat rocker, "Hummingbird" eased out with Beatle-like charm, "Impossible Germany" was a showcase for guitarist Nels Cline and "Jesus Etc." was pretty in the late afternoon/evening. Wilco also saved their best for last, bringing harmonica player Mickey Raphael to assist on "California Stars" and the surprise set closing cover of The Grateful Dead's "U.S. Blues" as Jeff Tweedy wished Jerry Garcia a happy birthday.
As the sun set, the video screens were turned off for Bob Dylan and his band who also set their instruments further back into the huge Jones Beach stage. Always enigmatic, Dylan continues to re-arrange his songbook with odd timings, phrasing and tone. For those wanting to hear the hits at an easy-breezy summer festival, this was not the set for them. However, long time followers of Dylan (RtBE included) found him still delivering the mysterious goods.
Touring with Dylan are Tony Garnier on bass, Bob Britt and Doug Lancio on guitars, and Anton Fig on drums with Dylan playing piano and a bit of harmonica. The upbeat "Serve Somebody" kicked it off while sultry blues of "Forgetful Heart" and the waltzing "To Ramona" were both pleasant. Two newer stylizations that were incredibly successful were "All Along The Watchtower" which included a samba intro and more laid back playing and the best version of "Under The Red Sky" RtBE has ever heard as Bob was incredibly agile on vocals, piano and harmonica.
Things weren't as stunning for the stuttering version of "'Til I Feel In Love With You", the Cab Callow/lounge like offering of "Blind Willie McTell" and a galloping rendition of "Desolation Row" which may have cut out a few stanzas. The highlight of the whole set however was the stunning "Love Sick" which was perfectly executed and sent chills into the crowd. Dylan also closed with a haunting offering of "Searching For A Soldier's Grave" and "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" before exiting without fanfare.
Headlining the night was the incredible Willie Nelson who had his family and friends onstage for support as the curtain went up. Last year at this same event Nelson had to miss the show as he was suffering from poor health, however on this night you would never have known Willie was 92 years old as he played dynamic lead guitar lines on Trigger and sang his classic songs with energy and power of someone half his age.
Unlike Bob, Willie delivered the hits and played them with speed and confidence. The opening "Whiskey River" set the tone for the set as Nelson and Family sped through the number to hoots and hollers as Raphael's harmonica sounded strong. "Stay A Little Longer" was a hip shaker as was the grooving "Still Is Still Moving To Me" before the poetic "I Never Cared For You" gave off a distinct southwestern vibe.
Opener Waylon Payne was strumming next to Willie for the full set and sang lead on "Workin' Man Blues" and two Kris Kristofferson covers, "Help Me Make It Through The Night" and "Me and Bobby McGee" while the crowd took over most of the vocals on classics like "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" and "On The Road Again". To complete the family feel Wilco joined Nelson and crew to sing backup for "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" before Nelson closed things with "The Party's Over" and "I Saw the Light".
With legendary aging artists like Dylan and Nelson it can be feast or famine, but both were still incredibly engaging in their own unique ways and if the opportunity arises to catch this version of this 10th Anniversary of the Outlaw Festival, it shouldn't be missed.
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