The Battalion uesday 'July 8, 1997 f # i # m ivm' ft u lawi thi^ ab j ids i nrvrvinAPii LullililioAuii Fourth of July Picnic features David Allan Coe and ‘the boys’ partying Willie-style By Rhonda Reinhart The Battalion illie Nelson is well- known for his singing and song writing, but he also knows how to throw a party. Texas music and Texas heat helped Nelson pre sent a Texas-style Fourth of July celebration Friday in Luckenbach. The singer brought his 25th annual festival to the small hill country town for the third year in a row. Artists such as David Allan Coe, Dwight Yoakum, Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Ray Price, Leon Russell and many others joined Willie's "family” for the celebration. It was hot and dusty, but the flowing beer and blaring music seemed to overcome any dis comforts the audience might have experienced. Jim Yates, general manag er of a trucking company in San Antonio, said this was his first visit to one of Nel son’s picnics, and it was more than he expected. “It’s worth sitting in the sun for the duration of the concert for the people, the music and the camaraderie,” he said. “There are people from all walks of life here. There are old people, young people, business people, and everybody is enjoying himself.” Yates, who had his hat signed by David Allan Coe, said watching Coe play the old set was the highlight of his day. ^ ^ The population here is six, but today it’s 30,000, and it’s all because of Willie ... Willie is Texas, and we partied in a Willie way.” Joseph Kozusko University of Texas student Coe played several of his old hits, including “Willie, Waylon and Me,” “If That Ain’t Country” and “You Never Even Called Me By My Name.” A tat tered flag tied to the neck of his gui tar was one of the few reminders that the concert was being held to cele brate America’s freedom. The fans were not the only ones who seemed happy to be at the picnic. Jimmie Dale Gilmore thanked Nelson “for even being alive,” and Little Joe y La Familia danced on-stage and encour aged the crowd to start a conga line. Ady Hernandez, lead singer and guitarist for Dahebegebees, said play ing at the picnic was a great opportu nity for the band. "It was cool,” he said. “We’re just re ally glad Willie let us play. He pretty much hand-picks everybody who plays here.” The Temple musician said this was the fourth ofWillie Nelson’s Fourth of July Picnics he has attended and plans to come back next year. Nelson is known as one of the greatest country musicians around, and from the cheers of the crowd, he definitely seemed to be the picnic’s main attraction. Joseph Kozusko, a graduate stu dent at the University of Texas, said Nelson is the only reason he came to Luckenbach Friday. “The population here is six, but today it’s 30,000, and it’s all because of Willie,” he said. “We thought about going to Kerrville to see Robert Earl Keen, but we chose Willie instead. Willie is Texas, and we partied in a Willie way.” Madison Woo, a junior journalism major at Texas A&M said he came to the festival to see Willie also. “All the Texas music has been the best part of the picnic,” he said. “It’s pretty cool. Everyone is in a re ally good mood." Nelson held his first Fourth of July Picnic in 1973 outside of Dripping Springs. Since then, the festival has moved to many different locations in cluding College Station and Gonzales, but audience members who came to the show in Luckenbach got a little something extra. Vel Ann, mayor of Luckenbach, made every member of the crowd an honorary citizen of the town. “There are some requirements,” she said. “As citizens of Lucken bach, you are required to take life easy, enjoy Texas music and be somebody - because everybody’s somebody in Luckenbach.” Not only was everybody some body, but in the spirit of Indepen dence Day, everybody seemed to be doing their own thing. People danced. People sang. People passed out, and people passed joints. Some got drunk, and some got arrested. But despite the heat, the dust and the crowd, the audience generally re mained friendly and well-behaved. “It’s all part of it,” Woo said. “It’s good fun.” HOWDY, AGGIES! Join us for A Taste of Summer! CAMPUS ART WALKING TOUR PART II 1 Wednesday, July 9, 5pm - 7pm Free! Cold refreshments and snacks along the way! Sign up by 8pm Tuesday, July 8 at the MSC Forsyth Center Galleries (across from the Aggieland Post Office). For more information or to sign up by telephone please call 845-9251 or e-mail little@msc.tamu.edu. jjjU Memorial Student Center http://wwwmsc.tamu.edu t If you have special Visual Arts Committee http://vac.tamu.edu please call in advar http needs please call in advance at (409) 845-9251. ^ taste °f summer This Week at the MSC Tues. 8th, 7-10pm MSC Nova: Gaming Night at Hullabaloo —free boivling, games, refreshments Wed. 9th, 5pm MSC Visual Arts: Campus Art Tour -a ivalk through of various exhibits MSC Hullabaloo Meet at MSC Forsyth Center Galleries free admission to all events! Your Student Union 845-1515