BY JOSE MARTINEZ

Standing onstage in front of an oversized Texas flag with his trademark braids hidden under his black hat, you’d swear you were in Anywhere, USA watching country legend Willie Nelson in concert. With an excited and rabid, sold-out audience cheering him on you wouldn’t be surprised if you were in Paris, Texas, but you’d be wrong.

“Welcome to Paris Wee-ley!” a Paris, France that is, fan shouts.

And even though Americans may not be the most popular people in France these days, they do LOVE the 75-year-old icon.

Performing a wonderful mix of country, rock and gospel, Nelson and his six-man band (including piano-playing sister Bobbie) delighted the audience for a solid, 90-minute show.

Playing on the anniversary of the death of Willie’s favorite guitar player, Django Reinhardt, Nelson and company kept the show very business-as-usual. There was no playing up to the crowd in French, no “nice to be in Paris” chitchat, Willie and his black-clad Family band just delivered the goods.

With nearly 200 albums under his belt, Willie is a master showman and breezed through gems like “Whiskey River,” “Funny How Time Slips Away,” “Crazy,” “On the Road Again,” and “Night Life.” A crowd favorite proved to be Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee” as well as hits like “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” and “Always On My Mind” before delving into the Hank Williams Sr. numbers “Hey, Good Lookin,”’ “Jambalaya (On the Bayou) and “I Saw the Light.”

The idea of seeing Willie Nelson bring his brand of country music to Paris seemed odd to me at first, but it just went on to prove the notion that music is the universal language. On their feet and dancing in the aisles of the beautiful Grand Rex, these country-lovin’ Parisians were singing along (with French accent in full force) to all the classics.

An underrated guitar player, it was extremely impressive watching the elder statesman of country play so fiercely. In a timeless city like Paris, where monuments are practically at every corner, it just proved that sometimes newer isn’t better. Forget the glitz and flash, I’ll take the real-deal every time.