Given the perks of nepotism, Shelton Hank Williams III could easily breeze through a lucrative career, and he may have even entertained the thought when he released his debut, Three Hanks: Men with Broken Hearts, which spliced three generations of performances from country music's most prominent lineage into a single work of studio wankery. Then he went and started a band called Assjack. If you visit the current Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit Family Tradition: The Williams Family Legacy, you'll find mention of the grandson. You'll even find some Assjack records in the gift shop, but they're hidden under the racks. Before Assjack, Mr. The Third released some records as an outlaw country artist, railing against the Nashville establishment, pop country and the city's most venerable institution — the Grand Ole Opry. These days his live shows come in three acts: one in the traditional country mold, another in self-described “hellbilly” style, and then a set-closing punk/metal performance by Assjack.
Thu., Feb. 11, 7 p.m., 2010
