David Allan Coe...... Enough Said!

By Rob Greenwell

David Allan Coe returned to Coyote's on Wednesday of Derby Week to another packed house full of the typical fans at one of his shows: rednecks, rebels and just plain good ole' boys and girls. Coe's show has not changed much in the past several years, but it seems that he has added one thing: he now will walk off the stage at the drop of a hat. Everyone that knows Coe will say that he has always been moody at best, but if he sees something he simply doesn't like, he walks off the stage to get the crowd riled up because he doesn't think that he can do it by singing anymore. This really is a dangerous practice, as someone could get hurt in the process, due to the crowd that he attracts.

Many of Coe's fans apparently like to fight when the mixture of good times and good whiskey is right. You set one of these fans off and all hell could break loose, especially if that person feels he is not getting his money's worth. During the last several years, most of the people at his shows were regulars who come to every show, but this year, there seems to be a rise in the younger population at the show, and sometimes they have to prove their self-worth by fighting and getting rowdy. I understand that Coe needs to have something to get the crowd into his shows, but with all his classics, he doesn't need the "special effects." Coe's ego has kept him from recognizing that his shows aren't about him but about partying redneck style: drink, hoot and holler, and just relax for a couple of hours.

Off that soap box and onto the show: as I said earlier, it hasn't changed. You still get a concert packed with a boatload of classic songs that almost everyone knows. The list is almost a look at the top of the charts in the history books: "The Ride," "If That Ain't Country," "Longhaired Redneck" "and, of course, the infamous "You Never Even Called Me By My Name." Of course, it wouldn't be complete without the assortment of classic rock songs that everyone knows.

With all respects to Coe and his entourage, however, the fire was stolen from them on this night. The opener, Dallas Moore, stole the show from the start. I have seen Moore live before but never like this. He kicked off this redneck party with a vengeance with "One More Ride," an up tempo high energy "kick-a**" song. Even the crowd was surprised how much energy he had at this show, as they responded immediately and didn't quit until he finished. Moore has opened for David for many years and, since most of the people were regulars, they have almost befriended him. Moore does it right: he gets out in the crowd after his set to press the flesh with the people in the crowd. He's a star in the making.

Good times, good partying, the redneck way of life! Ah, there's nothing better!