Touring has its ups and downs. But as Alison Krauss and Union Station pair with Willie Nelson and Friends for a national tour coming to Toledo July 18, traveling couldn’t feel more familiar.
Dan Tyminski, vocalist and guitar player with Union Station, has been touring and recording with the band for more than 20 years. You might recognize his voice from his version of “Man of Constant Sorrow” in the George Clooney flick O’ Brother Where Art Thou, or from the song “Hey Brother,” his recent collaboration with EDM producer Avicii.
“I think there’s a family vibe to this whole show,” Tyminski said in a recent interview. “Everyone is already set in their roles, from both bands.”
Last fall, Krauss was diagnosed with dysphonia, a broad term for a voice condition that can range from hoarseness to laryngitis to vocal paralysis. The singer has recovered, however, according to Tyminski. “She’s doing well now,” he said. “Everything’s going really great.”
The band will perform a mix of old and new tunes this time around—featuring world-renowned dobro artist Jerry Douglas—and focus on the musicians’ down-to-earth bluegrass roots.
‘Comfortable’ on stage
“We enjoy [Willie Nelson and Friends], and I’ve heard everyone on Willie’s side say that they enjoy being with us,” Tyminski continued. “Part of that is, you’ve been together so long you feel comfortable at what you do. You’re not trying to establish who you are, like younger bands might.”
For Tyminski, a simple stage setup and an emphasis on acoustic instruments helps to create a unique experience for performers and concert-goers. “Neither band is really loud, or over the top, or anything like that. It’s just about the music. So when we get to do a tour like this, it’s really special.”
Union Station’s lineup has been extraordinarily consistent, with Barry Bales (bass), Ron Block (banjo, guitar), Douglas and Tyminski all playing as a group for more than two decades. “But it doesn’t feel like we’ve been together that long,” Tyminski said. “We love what we do…and there are people in Willie’s band that have been there for forty years or more.”
One of those veteran band members is harmonica player Mickey Raphael, who joined the group in 1973 after sitting in on an informal jam session. He’s played with such greats as Emmylou Harris, Neil Young and Motley Crue, and has been Nelson’s right hand man on almost every tour and studio recording. His soaring, definitive tone can be heard on the new Band of Brothers album, Nelson’s first CD of original material in more than a decade.
Spontaneous set lists
How do these veteran headliners choose the tunes for this concert tour? The band will play favorites at will, like “Always on My Mind” and “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” Raphael said, but “there is no song list. […] Willie plays what he plays. Alison and [Union Station] all come out to sing on our set too…it keeps us on top of our game,” he said with a laugh.
Being on the road has been a part of both Nelson’s and Krauss’ lives for a long time, but this is the first time the two stars have toured together as co-headliners. “We complement each other, and our fans are similar. I think it’s one of the best tours I’ve ever been on,” Raphael said.
Willie Nelson along with Alison Krauss and Union Station will perform at 6:30pm Friday, July 18, at the Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre. Opening will be Jason Isbell. Tickets are $47.50, $59.50, and $85. Tickets can be purchased at the Zoo box office or through Ticketmaster.