Asleep at the Wheel

When you hear about a band having a “revolving lineup,” it’s usually code for “no one wants to work with the lead singer.” Given Ray Benson’s reputation as one of the coolest cats in country, that’s probably not why the band he’s been leading since the late ’60s has gone through upward of 80 (!) musicians. More likely, it’s Benson’s relentless focus on taking his retro-cool roots music on the road, usually for about 250 nights a year. An evangelist of Western Swing, Benson and his assorted sidekicks have won a slew of Grammys through the years, penned musicals dedicated to their musical inspiration Bob Wills, and collaborated with everyone from old hands like Willie and Merle to younger stars like Dixie Chicks and Dwight Yoakam. Seeing “The Wheel” in concert is a pretty much a must-do for any self-respecting Americana fan.