Corpus Christi Caller Times: 3 Music Icons, 1 Concert, Plenty Of Fans

Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Bob Dylan play Whataburger Field - By Rob Boscamp

Susan Gause wasn’t surprised by the star power accompanying Bob Dylan Wednesday night at Whataburger Field.

She thinks his concert with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp is an idea that has been 20 years in the making, and has the papers to prove her point.

Gause of Houston brought an interview with Dylan from the L.A. Times to Wednesday’s show hoping she could somehow get it autographed.

In the story Dylan mentions he’d like to record with Willie.

The publication date: Aug. 5, 1984, 25 years to the day of Wednesday’s show.

“I just realized that two nights ago,” she said.

She also brought a 1987 Rolling Stone interview in which Dylan was quoted saying: “... John Cougar Mellencamp, he’ll be around longer than anybody will be.”

The chance to see these three music icons together had the crowd lined up early, even on a day when the high was 98 with enough humidity to make temperatures feel like 108.

By 4 p.m. there were more than 100 people in line waiting for the gates to open for the concert, which didn’t begin until Willie took the stage about 6:15 p.m. When the gates opened, some fans simply abandoned their coolers, which were prohibited, so they could get the best seats.

With three legends the ballpark was packed with fans, but officials said they won’t have attendance totals until Thursday.

Jessica Stoddard, 24, said she was there for Mellencamp, a singer she could relate to because of his small-town Indiana roots.

“I grew up in a small town like Mellencamp,” said Stoddard, who grew up in Illinois. Mellencamp quickly showed those roots when he performed “Small Town,” Stoddard’s favorite of his songs.

Tania Barnwell of Orange came to see Bob but she loves Willie.

“I’ve always told everyone if I could have a beer with anyone in the world, I would love to have it with Willie Nelson,” the retired teacher said as she used binoculars to watch him perform.

Click HERE to read the article online.
Click HERE to view the photo gallery from Whataburger Field.