Wine and roses

“What is it with new, young country radio? They don’t even sing about drinkin’ or cheatin'—hell, I’d be without a job!” country legend George Jones quipped during his packed Valentine’s show at the Gold Country Casino showroom.

Looking like a Southern Baptist Neil Diamond in his snazzy blue suit, “Possum” Jones had all the vigor of a young critter, swaying his acoustic guitar and establishing a friendly, almost Hee-Haw-like rapport with the enthusiastic crowd.

Backed by the solid Jones Boys band, featuring the feverish fiddle work of Jim Buchanan on several instrumentals, Jones delivered his set like a well-oiled ballad machine, tossing in live commercial bits for affiliated products a la the Grand Ol’ Opry, personal happy birthday songs for two local tribal elders, and a tribute (with slide show) dedicated to fellow country legends living and gone, “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes.”

I was somewhat disappointed that Jones teased a Merle Haggard guest appearance that never happened and also buried the 1974 chestnut “The Grand Tour” into a shortened medley of hits. But what can you expect from a man with more country charters (over 160) than any artist ever? We even got a 45-year-old No. 1 with the fun-loving’ country rocker, “White Lightning!”

Jones may have quit the sauce, but he don’t need no rocking chair yet.