Aaron Watson provides a red (bandanna) Christmas at the Paramount

The weather outside indeed was frightful but the music inside was so delightful.

And since the audience at the Paramount Theatre for Thursday's Aaron Watson concert had no place to go ... let it blow, let it blow, let it blow.

(It did. It was 12 degrees at showtime, minus-7 wind chill).

Pleasant December weather gave way to a pre-Christmas arctic blast Thursday, setting the scene for the first of two holiday shows by singer Watson at the downtown theater.

Chestnuts weren't roasting (no open fires are allowed in a theater) but popcorn was popping. And a few beer can tabs, too.

Watson is back to performing after taking several months to heal strained vocal cords.

This was the first Aaron Watson Family Christmas show at the theater. Watson was joined on stage by daughter Jolee Kate, who refused to take over for dad but joined him in song.

Also starring were Twila and Acuff Rose Clarke, the young daughters of guitarist Bryce Clarke. The younger Twila sang, with help, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" while her sister sang "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen."

Twila, however, got to tell a joke. That she made up.

What did the Christmas tree say when it was without ornaments?

"Put my clothes back on!"

Watson admitted it was hard to do two hours of just Christmas music, so he did some of songs, such as "Freight Train."

And he reminded the crowd that it was minus-seventysomething wind chill in Montana.

So, West Texas, toughen up.

But also, Merry Christmas.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Aaron Watson provides a red (bandanna) Christmas at the Paramount