Before Billy Joe Shaver’s death in 2020, Willie Nelson called Shaver the greatest living songwriter. That isn’t out of line, as Billy Joe is a member of the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and winner of the Academy of Country Music’s Poet’s Award. Aside from his own recordings, his songs have been covered by Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Patty Loveless, and more, and even featured in Academy Award winning films like Crazy Heart.

Kinky Friedman is another singer, songwriter, novelist, and satirist. He holds the distinction of being the only artist who was recorded for Austin City Limits, but the show was never aired due to fears of the content being too controversial. He even ran for the office of Governor of Texas in 2006. His spiritual advisor for that campaign? Billy Joe Shaver. But that wasn’t the first time they worked together.

It started when Shaver, still recovering from the loss of his mother, wife and son was lured out of mourning in 2001 by the Kinkster to do their “Two For Texas” tour that ended with Billy Joe unexpectedly suffering a heart attack at Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas that August. Angioplasty was performed but Shaver, fearing the risks, was resisting medical advice to have quadruple heart by-pass surgery taking karmic instruction from Willie (Nelson) to get out and stay active. Soon commitments to bring the tour to Australia were made.

Billy Joe performed every night like his life depended on it. And it did. And it pushed everyone to the same level of intensity. Featuring hits like “Honky Tonk Heroes,” “You Asked Me To,” “Get Your Biscuits In The Oven And Your Buns In The Bed,” “Sold American,” and more, showcasing some of the best material from both writers’ storied careers, and delivered in a way that only these best friends and odd couple could.