David Allan Coe ready to rock Durty Nellie's
David Allan Coe is one of the last remaining country rock rebels, still plying his trade almost every night, and the "outlaw" tag comes with a set of credentials and baggage.
His iconic stature among peers like Toby Keith, Warren Haynes and Willie Nelson is a testament to Coe's solitary ideas of self-promotion, as well as his songwriting talent that veered from personal observations and X-rated truck stop songs into "on the map" forays of commercial success.
Coe brings his plateful of hard-charging music, and guitar emblazoned with a rebel flag, to Durty Nellie's this Saturday.
"We're pleased to have him, and it only draws attention to our new building as a serious music venue for national acts," said Jim Dolezal, Durty Nellie's general manager and part-owner.
Signing with Sam Phillips' Sun Records label in 1968, his first album, "Penitentiary Blues," was comprised of songs written in Ohio's correctional institutions, which occupied most of his time since the age of 9. Stories began to sprout of his incarceration and teaching a young Charles Manson to play guitar.
Since then, his "Greatest Hits Album" and "First Ten Years Album" have sold well over a million units, along with more than 60 songs on the Billboard Singles charts including "Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile," "The Ride," "Please Come to Boston," "Willie, Waylon and Me," "You Never Even Call Me By My Name" (co-penned with Chicago folk great Steve Goodman), "Jack Daniels If You Please" and "Take This Job And Shove It."
"That song 'Take This Job And Shove It' means what it means, and it is what it is," said Coe, during a phone conversation. "If a man is going to work for someone or a company, do his job, get along, and put his time in, he shouldn't have to take (bleep) with it."
Johnny Paycheck made the song famous, spawning a cult movie, and an acting career for Coe. "We just finished a movie with Toby Keith, Willie (Nelson) called 'Beer for My Horses' playing on the Country Music Television channel," he said. "Toby is also putting out my new album on his record label...should be out in May."
Coe, 70, is also a deep sea treasure hunter and erstwhile magician, although the music and his fans are a priority. "I still play more than 200 dates a year; we were in Mississippi, and recently in Alaska. The setlist doesn't have any of the truck stop songs, just the good stuff, and more than enough to fill an evening."
The songs are easily recognizable, being written for and sung by Paycheck, Tanya Tucker, George Jones, Willie Nelson, Leon Russell, Charlie Louvin, Del Reeves, Tammy Wynette, Melba Montgomery, Stoney Edwards, The Oak Ridge Boys and even Kid Rock.
Constant touring and presenting the shows has taken a toll, according to Bruce Smith, Coe's road manager of 22 years. "It's a challenge to keep your head above water because the economy is bad, and the cost to travel is pretty high. There's just not many people doing it these days, so we have to be creative to visit the towns where the fans are."
Despite the obstacles, Coe's caravan rolls into Palatine Saturday for an evening of music with the fans, and as he noted, "That's what makes it fun."
David Allan CoeWhen: 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 9Where: Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith Street, PalatineTickets: $22 in advance, $24 at the door. Call (847) 358-9150.False374564Rebel country rocker David Allan Coe performs Saturday in Palatine. False