Willie Nelson's Martin N-20 guitar, affectionately known as Trigger, has seen some shit. Happily, the majority of the shit it's seen has been in the name of making countless music lovers, the world over, happy. Over the years, Willie's finger-pickin' playing style has worn second soundhole into the guitar (not to mention the other carnage that this poor instrument has somehow survived.)

To keep Trigger alive and playable, Texas-based luthier, Mark Erlewine, gives the iconic instrument a whole lot of TLC during the guitar's annual checkup. Read the rest

The legendary Willie Nelson supported Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke Saturday night by playing at his rally. In a song, Nelson urged rally-goers to "Vote'em Out."

"If you don't like who's in there, vote 'em out

That's what Election Day's all about,

The biggest gun we got is called the ballot box

It sure is! Texas readers, are you registered to vote?

Previously: After the debate, Beto O'Rourke air drummed to The Who at a Whataburger drive-thru Read the rest

Master luthier Mark Erlewine takes us through the fascinating process of repairing Trigger, the same guitar Willie Nelson has played for nearly 50 years. Read the rest

It's not a huge surprise that Willie Nelson makes a cameo in the lighthearted (and smoke-filled) new video for Toby Keith's weed-centric country party song, "Wacky Tobaccy." After all, Willie is a known pothead and a longtime advocate of marijuana legalization. What's a tiny bit surprising is that, a few years ago, Keith jokingly sang that he would "never smoke with Willie again." And now here is, toking up with Willie again:

That's the power of the reefer, people. One minute you're swearing off the pot and the next you're on your fancy tourbus getting high with one of the coolest mofos on the planet.

(Honestly, I think the only thing truly surprising is that Snoop Dogg wasn't invited to this pot party.)

Here's a taste of the song's lyrics:

Know you can two tote her, you can one hit him, puff it in a pipe and you can twist it in a stem, you can bake it in some brownies, smoke it through a Bong, roll up a great big fat one like ol' Cheech and Chong, Burn it through a hole, in a can of Budweiser, if you can't take the heat son vaporizer

That old Wacky Tobaccy, When you feel it creeping up on you,

That old Wacky Tobaccy, Kick back and let it do what it do

One small step for Toby Keith, one slightly-bigger step for mainstreaming cannabis culture.

(The Cannabist) Read the rest