Dwight Yoakum in New York City

Laurence Stuart Warshaw

Special to the Mirror

   Country and rock-a-billy superstar Dwight Yoakam conquered us city slickers in Manhattan Auhgust 21 at the Hammerstein Ballroom on West 34th St. with a Fender Telecastered set reaching back over 15 years and forward to new material.
   He rocked. He rolled . He twanged. He brought his Bakersfield sound to Manhattan and played hit after hit for over 100 minutes including two encores. 
   We wanted a third but Mayor Giuliani ordered everyone home in bed by 11:30 so he had to stop. At one point his incredible band left the stage and he picked up an acoustic guitar and played about four songs including “Suspicious Minds” (which he covered on his album "Under the Covers"). The audience even sang the background vocals in the right places (yes in key) much to Dwight's delight. 
   There were guys from New Jersey wearing cowboy hats and girls from Long Gisland in pointed boots. Some even two-stepped before the show. The cool bald guys from the City, sort of watched and just listened and appreciated some incredible guitar work, as they are prone to do. Once in a while, a cool bald guy would tap his foot (right) and shake his head. 
   Don't like country music you say, shame on you. Yes Virginia , the songs say that the truck lives, the dog died, and the girl left, but the beer is still cold and everyone had a blast. Yoakam Smokedum in New York City. 
   Opening for Dwight was Jim Lauderdale, songwriter turned performer. In fact, he used to sing back up on Yoakam's albums. Lauderdale played a fabulous set displaying songs of his that were hits for other country artists, songs off an forthcoming album and a voice that ought to ensure his own stardom.