The last (and only) other time I saw Willie live was in the mid-1970s at the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas. I was a teenager, shoulder to shoulder in a rowdy mob on the dance floor, whooping it up—almost certainly made possible at the time by a fake ID. Willie was in his late 30s then, long before he became a global icon. So seeing him again, now well into his 90s and from about 30 feet away, felt pretty special. Not bad at all.
The night was awesome—mostly because it was just Ryan and me, sharing music we love. But I also realized how much my tastes have changed. The echoing sound of a mega venue, the long lines, and the drinks and swag that require a small loan don’t energize me the way they once did. What felt once like magic now felt more like a well-orchestrated corporate exercise in marketing, brought to you by [insert sponsor name here]. One sponsor that stood out was a THC beverage bearing Willie’s name.
That experience made the contrast with recent local shows here in Woodstock even clearer. Over the past year, I’ve seen several performances featuring our own Rotarian, John Hegner—Square Notes on the Square with 30-plus poets and pickers transforming the afternoon into a creative workshop; John’s original music at the Opera House recently, backed by a band of professional musicians; and, most recently, his Christmas shows with Cassandra Vohs-Demann at Stage Left Café and our weekly Rotary meeting last week at the Country Club. John even wrote us a song about Christmas Clearing House. Can you believe that?
The difference is intimacy, authenticity, and sound quality. At Stage Left or the Country Club, nothing echoes into the rafters. Even the farthest table is maybe 20 feet from the musicians. You can see them, hear them, and feel the joy. The music is local, from the heart, and shared—not just another city, another drunken mob scene in a giant theater or basketball arena.
Maybe John and Cassandra aren’t global phenomena like Taylor Swift or Willie, but the local talent we have right here is impressive and worth nurturing. We shouldn’t take our treasures for granted—our Square, the Opera House, our schools, public art, and yes, our community-owned grocery store, the Food Shed Co-op, which is growing into a gem in much the same way. Shoot, we even have our own Willie. . . . . Woodstock Willie!
And, as long as I have the pen this week, a comment about another local community initiative. As many of you know, I’ve been deeply involved as a co-founder of the Food Shed Co-op here in Woodstock. Like many start-ups, we’re in a challenging phase: we’re currently cash-poor as we work to grow sales and mature into the community-owned grocery we opened in 2024. What helps most right now is simple—more shoppers choosing the Food Shed for at least some of their weekly groceries and encouraging others to give us a try. And if you’re already a regular shopper, thank you for helping this community-owned venture find its true identity and niche. Your support truly matters.
Thanks to John and Cassandra—and to all our local dreamers and creators. You are noticed, valued, and appreciated.
