Get Out Sunday: George Jones @ The Paramount

We have a message for 15-year-old us: "You are a fuckface."

Because it was 15-year-old us who decided against going to see Dizzy Gillespie at Jazz Alley in February of '92. "I'll just catch him next time around," 15-year-old us thought.

There was no next time around. That performance was Gillespie's last--not just in Seattle, but anywhere.

Ever since, we're committed to enjoying the elderly legends before they pass. We saw Ray Charles and Cab Calloway and Tommy Flanagan. All are gone. We saw Dave Brubeck. He's 86.

And now, Sunday, we're going to see George Jones at the Paramount.

Jones should, by any calculation, already be dead. He spent most of the 60's and 70's drunk or high on coke. He became known as "No-Show" Jones for all the gigs he missed.

But he also made amazing music. His voice--whoa. His tool is the twangy baritone of the country balladeer, but that's like saying Ichiro uses a bat. Jones has a power and emotive range that just isn't matched by anyone.

But don't take our word for it, take Waylon Jennings': "If we could all sing like we wanted to, we'd all sound like George Jones."

Or Johnny Cash's: "When people ask me who my favorite country singer is I say 'You mean besides George Jones?'"

In case you're weighing whether it's worth catching Jones now or waiting for his next tour, know this: George Jones is 76 years old and has ingested more drugs than Kitsap County.

One more quote: Slate informs us that the late Elliott Smith said in his idea of heaven "George Jones would be singing all the time."

Sorry, champ, you're going to have to wait a bit, 'cause Jones is still down here with us. Although not forever.

Tickets ($44-55) are still available. Don't be a fuckface.