MARK THOMAS DEMING: HANG JONES AT LE VOYEUR TONIGHT >>>

One of the records I worry most about my kids using as a Frisbee is Willie Nelson’s classic 1975 LP Red Headed Stranger. Especially side one. Beginning and ending with the theme “Time of the Preacher,” and climaxing with the title cut, it tells the story of a drifter who kills his unfaithful wife and then kills another woman for coveting his dead wife’s horse. Red Headed Stranger is arguably country music’s first concept album, paving the way for future artists like San Francisco singer-songwriter Hang Jones.

The 12 songs on Jones’ new album, The Ballad of Carlsbad County, tell the tale of the fictional New Mexico outlaw William Bishop. I’m not sure yet whether Jones is an innovator, imitator or ironist, but I know it’s worth finding out.

[Le Voyeur, with David Bavas, Saturday, May 23, 10 p.m., no cover, 404 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.943.5710]