By Brad Brown
Citizen Staff

The following performance is rated 14-A for mature themes.

But give Joe Matheson points for honesty. Matheson’s “Hank Williams 1952: Kawliga Café” show, performed last Wednesday in Kipling, held nothing back.

For two hours Matheson assumed the identity of one of country music’s greatest superstars, warts and all. He spoke of his battles with drug and alcohol addiction, the searing back pain that he blamed largely for those troubles, his ex-wife, and all of those who saw fit to spread rumours about his life in exchange for 15 minutes of fame.

He displayed a seemingly deep-rooted intensity and rarely broke scowl during his songs, even during his dance moves that twice drew applause from the 215 eyewitnesses at the Kipling Community Centre. Then, as if flicking on a light switch, “Hank” became almost equally cheerful between songs, bantering with the audience and throwing an ironic twist at the end of even the most serious of stories.

And of course there will be no forgetting the talent, showmanship, and authenticity of the “Hank Williams Band”: Terry Barnett (steel guitar), Don Benadictson (standup bass), Ben Wytinck (drums), and Daniel Koulak (fiddle).

In this case, the “A” could just as well stand for “awesome.”

The show certainly came with its share of chills on a -40 C night but for all the problems in Hank Williams’ life this performance was a relatively warm one. He spoke of making some positive changes in his life and of a career revival. Two songs in, “Williams” announced he would be recording a new record in town starting next week. Using the town’s response to Matheson as a gauge it wouldn’t be a surprise if they tried to hold him to it.

Eerie moment of the night goes to the debut of a “new” Hank Williams tune which received thunderous applause before the first guitar chord had even hit. After jokingly calling his Kipling… er… Kawliga fans hillbillies, “Williams” may have to concede they are a little smarter than he first thought. Perhaps they knew something he didn’t as “Your Cheating Heart” would go on to become arguably Williams’ biggest hit.

In talking with Matheson, perhaps even moreso from seeing his show, it becomes clear this show was painstakingly researched. Researched to the point that maybe you aren’t overly familiar with Hank Williams. Maybe you don’t even like his music all that much. But by the halfway point of the show if you aren’t believing that Joe Matheson is Hank Williams, you are at the very least believing Joe Matheson has lived a very interesting life.

Credit that to Matheson’s theatre background.

Going far beyond the realm of a standard tribute show, Matheson has set his sights high with this show. Judging by the response of those in attendance - most of whom would be old enough to give a fair critique - he is hitting the mark.