"Are Ya Ready For Some Hank?"

Anyone who wears his own concert T-shirt on stage, especially one asking a question with such an obvious answer, certainly is sure of himself. And the 200,000-plus at Country Fest in Dallas on June 14 were definitely there to see Hank and his trademark cocksure delivery. Bocephus was more than happy to deliver.

His reputation for incendiary concerts is well-deserved. His Gibson-wielding backing band completely rocked (not twanged) and put on a show that owes far more to the Allman Brothers or Lynyrd Skynyrd than it does to Hank's daddy.

Speaking of Hank's daddy, he's Hank Jr.'s second favorite subject to write songs about. The favorite subject, of course, is Hank Jr. Who else would have the guts to play a whole set of tunes basically about himself, not about personal experiences--about himself? Songs such as "Family Tradition," "If the South Had Won, We'd Have it Made," and the NFL's unofficial anthem "All My Rowdy Friends are Coming Over" are, when you get down to it, celebrations of Hank's celebrity and lifestyle.

The rowdy crowd at Country Fest loved every minute of it. Hank's music possesses a few elements lacking in most music today: Pride in your family and pride in yourself. His fans quickly picked up on this at Country Fest and somehow all seemed to feel better about themselves, too--which is probably why they got as rowdy as they did.