Well, here it is....my first review..... There was no travel time involved for this concert because it was in my hometown, perhaps just a 15 minute drive from my house to the park where it would take place. We got there around 4:30 and waited for the 7:00 o'clock concert to start. I've been to this venue 3 times before (2 with RITS, the other with Michael Martin Murphey) and it's a very nice place to see a concert-right next to the river, lots of shade from a lot of trees, a very nice park like setting. Here's the address for the concert series website: www.halfshell.org. There's a short article on RITS there.

We were sitting in the grass on the Joey side, oh about 5-6 theater rows back. I noticed Joey "backstage" and a little while later Doug was there, I guess they were eating their supper. They even commented during the show about the food and the service they received from a woman named Sharon.

Before the show, they recognized the sponsors because this was part of a free concert series. I was very glad when they were through so I didn't have to listen to the emcee trying to blow out my eardrums ( he was speaking very loud into the microphone and we were right in front of the speakers. However, when RITS got on, the sound level was all right!) This same emcee said the show number wrong so I'm not exactly sure that it's 4170.

Song list (with comments so I can try to shorten this review)

Texas Plains
introduction
That's How the Yodel Was Born
Wah-hoo (Slim included Roseburg into his main verse of the song)
Tumbling Tumbleweeds
salute to Sharon - they must have been very impressed with the food and hospitality
polka-they didn't announce the title
The Blowfly Song
Hurry Sunrise
Sioux City Sue
Phantom of the Chuckwagon (Don't Cry for Me Roseburg)
Hoop-De-Doo (to comply with Oregon Statutes) (loved the leg kicks and the little dance!)
Night Riding Song (with coyote howls and cow moos from the audience incited by Slim)
Rawhide
Bowlin', Bowlin', Bowlin', traildriver/bowler survey, phist-yah routine
Cowboy Camp Meetin'
Arms of My Love
Toy Story II medley (this album and the pair of kings album sounds fantastic)
    Woody's Roundup
    Jessie the Yodelin' Cowgirl
    Bullseye
    Act Naturally
    instrumental
    Prospector Pete
    To Infinity and Beyond
    You've Got a Friend in Me
merc plug
There's a Blue Sky Way Out Yonder

15 minute intermission

different clothes for the second half-more sparkly for the lights at dark
Pinto Pal
Umpqua Song-definitely made up on the spot-(lots of references in this show to the area)
Beer Barrel Polka?
Questions-winner was a 5 year old girl because it was her birthday
(someone asked about their appearance on Barney, Doug jumped around like Barney and lost his hat in the process)
special guest-Doc Denning (formerly of the Sons of the Pioneers, but on the internet I read he was part of the Reinsmen) did Waddie Mitchell poem "The Bra"
Room Full of Roses?
Requests
Orange Blossom Special
Ghost Riders in the Sky
Cool Water
Don't Fence Me In
Rope Tricks (lots of mistakes, Woody spun the shape of Crater Lake-a national park in Oregon)
Fastest Accordion
Varmint Dancing (Slim found a tree to do the Sloth dance)
Happy Trails

Encore
That's All Folks
You Are My Sunshine
He Walks with the Wild and the Lonely

Took our blankets to the car and then headed to the pavilion where they were signing. There weren't too many people after we got back . When we got to Joey and told him that I'd had my picture taken with the others and this was the first time I'd gotten to see him since 1992. (I'd never had the opportunity to meet him or get my picture taken with him before) I got my picture taken with him and boy was he nice, just like all you had said. I was very impressed with Joey, he went out of his way to make sure that my mom could get a good picture.

I know some of the stuff in the show you've all seen before, but I put it in because it was new to me and it was what made the show for me. Joey was the best, so different from what I expected on stage. I was used to seeing him standing off to the side, just contentedly playing the accordion, but now, he's a bit more animated and pretty much a ham.

What made this show so good was the new material, Joey, the very responsive crowd, and the fact that they like this venue. They were at peak performance with harmony and musicianship. They must have fed off the crowd. And there is a possibility that they'll be here next year!!!