CALGARY -- Stampede is still a couple of weeks away, but the spirit of the 10-day event was omnipresent at Willie Nelson's Saddledome show last night.

The 74-year-old country legend put on a stripped-down concert full of pure twang and old-time western rock with his family by his side.

Backed by a nine-piece band, which included his piano-playing sister Bobbie and teenage sons Micah, on drums, and Lukas, on guitar, the red headed stranger pumped out a 90-minute set of classics and new offerings.

It was a combination that went over well with the 6,500 middle-aged fans in attendance.

When Nelson last visited the 'Dome in July 2005, reviews for the show were good, but some suggested the aging star's instantly recognizable pipes might soon give out. Last night, that worry was quickly put to rest when the headliner broke into the opening number, Whiskey River.

While Nelson's voice was hoarse, it proved to be a perfect match for his honky-tonk hits and ballads of choice, which included Crazy, Stardust, Me and Bobby McGee, On the Road Again, Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys, and You Were Always On My Mind.

It also fit nicely with his easy-going stage presence and charm which, at its peak, saw the pot-smoking hippie smiling and waving at the audience and throwing bandanas to his fans.

There were, however, a few downfalls that came with Nelson's laid-back attitude. At times it seemed the set list was just being picked on a whim, which interfered with the flow of the show, and there were far too many slow arrangements of songs, making them unrecognizable.

On the other hand, it gave off the feeling of a much more intimate concert, reminiscent of smaller shows at the Jack Singer or the Jube.

Adding to that was Nelson's decision to have his boys open the show. His son's 40 Points Band kicked things off with a blues-rock set mix of covers (John Lennon's Jealous Guy) and a few originals, which could have been penned by Willie himself.

While Lukas, who sounds remarkably like his father, and the rest of the band put on a top-notch guitar-driven set, it seemed too young for the crowd.

That, however, was not the case with Shaye, a harmony-driven pop trio made up of close friends Kim Stockwood, Tara MacLean and Damhnait Doyle.

The Toronto-based group, named after MacLean's sister, killed in a car accident, used their gorgeous vocals and fun personalities to put on great country stage show, which saw the audiences laughing and singing along.