Fifty-Six Years of Western Swing and Lowcountry Charm

Frontman and band founder Ray Benson walked out to warm, welcoming cheers and launched straight into "Miles and Miles of Texas," quickly followed by "Route 66" and Waylon Jennings’ "Bob Wills Is Still the King." Taking a breath between numbers, Benson warmly shared how much he loves returning to Charleston, jokingly remarking that the band spent the afternoon strolling around downtown looking at all the things they were never going to buy.

Later in the set, Benson noted that November 11 marks the 100th anniversary of Route 66—the very reason he chose to kick off the night with back-to-back road anthems. Throughout the evening, Benson engaged the audience with sharp humor and anecdotes from his 56 years on the road. In one hilarious moment, he recalled an interview where he was asked about the biggest technological shifts since the band’s founding in 1970. His answer? The fax machine—calling it the single most mind-blowing leap in technology he has ever witnessed.

Flawless Acoustics and Masterful Dynamics

The acoustic balance inside Charleston Music Hall was nothing short of fabulous. The sound was full and immersive without ever becoming overwhelming, allowing every instrument to shine. Every single musician on stage proved to be a virtuoso, with the setlist structured to highlight each player while seamlessly shifting between foot-stomping dance numbers and emotional ballads.

At 83, Benson’s voice remains extraordinarily strong, rich, and expressive. The standout emotional peak of the night for this reviewer came during Guy Clark’s "Dublin Blues." When Benson hit his signature low Uh-huh, the rumble resonated deep in the room—evoking that wonderful childhood feeling of standing on the curb during a parade as the bass drum strikes your chest, bringing genuine tears to the eyes.

Bridging Generations

The magic of the night extended far beyond long-time fans. Our 25-year-old press photographer, Samantha, walked into her first Asleep at the Wheel concert and walked out a dedicated fan of both the band and the Western swing genre. It’s a testament to the timeless appeal of live acoustic instruments and genuine Texas swing.

We caught up with local concertgoer and longtime fan Ken Every-Andrews after the show, who shared his own history with the band:

“Karen and I have been fans of the band since the late ’70s and saw them last year when they came to the Music Hall. The band is tight and each member is a virtuoso of their instrument. It’s great to hear Ray’s voice still so strong and performing so well... Our first time seeing the band was in April of 1979 at a club in Atlanta, Georgia. When they encored back then, they brought out Eric Clapton and Albert Lee! We’re grateful to see them keeping that fire alive today.” — Ken Every-Andrews, Local Audience Member

The Setlist

Note: Order reconstructed from live press notes—when the music is this good, it's easy to get caught up in the show so we might not have it exactly right - but darn close!

1. Miles and Miles of Texas
2. Route 66 (Bobby Troup cover)
3. Bob Wills Is Still the King (Waylon Jennings cover)
4. San Antonio Rose (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys cover)
5. Faded Love (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys cover)
6. Milk Cow Blues (Kokomo Arnold cover with "Brain Cloudy Blues" snippet)
7. Ida Red (Traditional cover)
8. All My Ex's Live in Texas (George Strait cover)
9. Tumbling Tumbleweeds (Sons of the Pioneers cover)
10. When You Wish Upon a Star (Introduced by Benson: "Everything I needed to know, I learned from Jiminy Cricket.")
11. Chattanooga Choo Choo (Harry Warren cover)
12. Lovesick Blues (Hank Williams / Elsie Clark cover)
13. Amarillo By Morning
14. Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (Hank Williams cover)
15. Dublin Blues (Guy Clark cover)
16. Texas (The Charlie Daniels Band cover)
17. Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground (Willie Nelson cover)
18. Red River Valley (Traditional cover)
19. This Ol' Cowboy (The Marshall Tucker Band cover)
20. Riding High in Texas
21. A Big Ball's in Cowtown (Hoyle Nix cover with "Orange Blossom Special" snippet)

Encore: 22. Cotton-Eyed Joe 23. Hot Rod Lincoln (Charlie Ryan cover) 24. Happy Trails (Full crowd sing-along)