I was thrilled he did "Rough & Tumble", "Downtown", "Missing You" (which made me cry, as it always does, always thinking about the same person - sigh), "Isn't It Time", "If You Ever Get Lonely", "Head First", "Evil" , and "Every Time I Think of You". We would have been there all night if he's done all the songs I love by him (which, come to think of it, would have been fine by me), but the ones I missed most were "Midnight Rendezvous", "Change", "Turn and Walk Away", "Head Above The Water", "Run To Mexico, "Union Jack", "Anytime", "If Anybody Had A Heart" and one of my all time favorite songs to sing-n-cry along to when I'm in the mood to have myself a little pity party " Darker Side of Town." Have to say I was especially surprised not to hear "Mr Wonderful" which he put a reworked version of on the new CD "Rough & Tumble". Okay so I love a LOT of John Waite songs - but then I've been a fan since I first saw him with The Baby's on The Midnight Special in 1979 when I was all of the impressionable age of 15. And he just keeps putting out top notch stuff!
I've met him a couple of times before, briefly, in the 80's, but I have to say this time he was exceptionally charming, warm, gracious, friendly, and down to earth. I was the last one in line to talk to him, and I watched him from afar interact with person after person - not just a handshake or an autograph - but hugs and smiles and thanks from him as well. Every single person. I'm suspicious sometimes when artists talk to me knowing I've got a radio show - that makes me "The Media" and sometimes they treat me different - a little more special. But everyone got the star treatment from John, which was really heartwarming to see.
I did chat with him for a while after the show. We talked about, what else?, The Blues (he told me he had just loaded the Howlin' Wolf box set into the player that morning). I gave him a little gift - a compilation CD of 20 of the best (IMHO) DFW Blueswomen and Bluesmen, along with notes about each of them. He seemed really excited by it and told me they were going to listen to it on the way to Austin. Then his bass player walked by and asked what it was and said "Cool - something to listen to on the bus!". So I'm thinkin' that's what happened. No better way to send those boys off on that beautiful ride between Dallas and Austin. Big Texas Blues indeed!
And today he posted in all caps on his Facebook page "WE LOVE TEXAS!!!!!!!!!!!!" And guess what John - Texas loves you!
There is a short review of last nights show at Poor David's Pub on John's site here: http://www.johnwaite.nl/pages/sub/76066/Poor_Davids_Pub_Dallas_May_8th.html with some fabulous pictures and video of a few of the nights songs.
But my favorite picture of all? Would have to be this one:
Ah yes, sometimes it's VERY VERY VERY good to be Blue Lisa!
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