John Stewart at McCabe's Guitar Shop, December 4, 1999      

review by Rhea Motley, Goldmine Jim and the Roadman

The weather in California on this early December day was windy and in the mid 70's ... a perfect day for a gathering of the Stewartistas in the city by the ocean, Santa Monica. While we were standing outside McCabe's waiting to get in, John Stewart opened up the window over the line, stuck out his head, and yelled down to us, "Well what are you all waiting for, come IN!" "Let's get this thing going!" I guess we were waiting for "Dave" to arrive from the Queen Mary, as when we finally got inside (20 minutes later) he was still setting up his guitar and said he just got there 10 minutes before.

Buffy was dressed in a beautiful black velvet suit, with a golden creme satin blouse, with black satin eyepatch, and a black beret, set on an angle on her lovely blonde hair. She reminded me of a French artist from the left bank of France. She was in perfect pitch and strong pure voice! Buffy has the most original Doc Martin shoes with a Monet floral design in the leather. She explains that John bought them for her, and last night they discussed that Buffy KNOWS the shoe store owner, and that in One Afternoon she sold 15 copies of her new book of poetry, ("Angel Rain" by Buffy Ford Stewart) at the shoe store, just by showing it off there to her friends. John was amazed ... a shoe store!

Not only does Buffy have the most flashy Doc Martins shoes, ever, (flowered leather) they had flashing red lights in along the lacings that she has added. So as she walks down the stairway as she enters the stage at McCabe's the first thing you see is her flashing red "Christmas" light shoes!!!

Quite an entrance!!!

And they constantly flashed all evening, she was a vision, and since the stage is exactly at eye level for the front rows, quite the eye catcher.

John was all in black with his silver edged boots shining in the spotlight. After the show began, he took off his jacket, then slowly, had Buffy empty the pockets of picks and capos, as he needed them. He joked she has lots of practice of removing his wallet (and other stuff) from his pockets, But she forgot last week and he has the cleanest wallet in town now.

"Dave" was a vision in grey/black, no vest. What more can I say?

When we finally were let in (and Lefty was in the first place in line) to McCabe's, we insisted that Mark Austin (the Lyric Guy from Great Britain) have the front row center seat, (besides he was 2nd in line), right in front of Johns feet. (Lefty sat front row in front of Buffy). "Dave" was there on stage getting his guitar ready, and setting up the drum machine.

Finally John entered alone and began with a 6-string guitar.

Queen of Hollywood High

Midnight of the World

Then "Dave" led Buffy and her flashing shoes down the stairs to the stage.

Judy in G Major

Dreamers on the Rise

Davey on the Internet

John changes to a 12-string guitar

Across the Milky Way (Which Buffy dedicated to the Bloodliners, and threw a kiss to the audience)

Blonde Star (John saw the Vinyl Doc in the audience and decided to play...)

Under Heavy Fire

Cowboy in the Distance

Always Young (From One Night in Denver)

6-string guitar again

Santa Barbara (a request)

12-String guitar

Midnight Wind (medley with)

Field Where the Angels Dance

Neon Road

Buffy led the group in singing Silent Night

Somewhere Over the Rainbow - a cappella by Buffy (from Darwin's Army)

At the start of the show John said he couldn't resist, and apologized for the terrible joke he was about to tell, which involved Stevie Wonder's new computer controlled eye implant. He wondered what it would be like if they did it just before New Years and Stevie is getting input for just a short while before Y2K cuts him off.

One of the advantages of seeing John in person is to hear and see him do a 10 or 15 minute version of a song. I'm not referring to the times he rolls one song into another. I mean the times he just goes off into a guitar zone between the second and third verses of a song and plays and plays. It's incredible. I've even see it go on for at least 30 minutes.

This time he did it during "In the Field Where the Angels Dance".

These long cuts would be something I'd love to be able to take with me. Great road music. But they never seem to show up on a CD. How many of us would buy a CD with 5 or 6 long versions on it? How do we talk the man into putting one together?

It was a friendly show, like John was in your living room, singing just for you and a few close friends, at least it felt like that to me (Not that I've ever personally had a private concert). The good vibes were all there. John, Buffy and Dave all seemed in a cheerful mood and enjoying themselves. And the audience seemed to listen to their every word and watching the interactions between them. (50 Bloodliners, yes we were there to enjoy the show!!) And when John asked how many were Bloodliners, we roared our approval!

Throughout the evening, Johnny touted the Bloodliners. In the first set, he asked where folks had come from. The answers ranged from Salt Lake City, Pennsylvania, Phoenix, England, and Denver. Then someone, in perfect accent (Beau) yelled, "Zimbabwe!" Johnny cracked up.

Most Bloodliners stayed for the second show too. Between show talk was fun, and Kate Snow got to move up from the fifth row for the second show.

A friend of Carla's named Stan (who is a performer and does John's material) was there and at one point when Dave was fussing with the drum machine, John said to slow it down, then slow it down some more, and then more still. So Dave just kept his finger on it until it just stopped and Stan, without missing a microsecond of timing called out, "Flatliners!" John stood there amazed and all he could say was "That was really a pretty good line."

Later, one of McCabe's crew came out fix one of John's controls and someone asked what he was doing. John said he was changing a battery and Stan came out with, "No, not that!" Referring to a pacemaker, which John picked up on immediately. I can't really describe this so that the story is funny but it was.

"I came, I played, I conquered."

- Johnny Dreams

Well, AngelBravo didn't exactly say that, but the effect was the same. The threesome of Johnny, Buffy and "Dave" played and sang their collective hearts out, despite occasional microphone and drum machine snafus. The end result did not go unnoticed by two separate sold-out audiences in attendance. Hardly.

The first and second sets were as different as day and night, not only in song selection, but delivery and all elements surrounding the show, despite the fact that it was the same three folks doling out the magic.

Second show.... John comes out and begins

July, You're a Woman

Buffy and "Dave" enter

Ticket to the Stars

Long Train of Dreams

Wild Side of You

Then John went into how the next song was from the album "Fire in the Wind"

Fire in the Wind

Bolinas

Judy in G Major

Eyes of Sweet Virginia

Freeway Pleasure (and a loving explanation of why he wrote the song ending with a kiss for Buffy.)

Field Where the Angels Dance (this song caused lots of inquiry after the show to "Dave", not recorded, may be on the Angels album)

Let the Big Horse Run

medley

Lost Her In the Sun

John asked for Requests

Someone yelled so plaintively For "She Believes in Me", and John commented THAT request HAD to be fulfilled!!!

She Believes In Me

Another Request, with the audience yelling out in agreement that song needed to be played "Yeah!!!"

Star in the Black Sky Shinning

Rivers of Light

Mother Country

Buffy ended the evening with another perfect version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, 'a cappella', and on perfect key!

From the setlist above, here's just a few of the standout songs delivered in classic Stewart fashion: "Neon Road," "Judy in G Major," "Blonde Star," "Under Heavy Fire," "Cowboy in the Distance," "Let the Big Horse Run," "Queen of Hollywood High." "Santa Barbara" was requested by Mark Austin and flawlessly delivered by Buffy, whose voice has not aged a single day since the "Signals Through the Glass" LP. "Bolinas," "Dreamers on the Rise," "Eyes of Sweet Virginia," "Freeway Pleasure" (the most sensitive and dream-like version I've ever heard), "Lost Her in the Sun," "July, You're a Woman," and the most different and moving version of "Mother Country" perhaps yet performed.

The excitement is not captured in a set list, but the electricity flowed both from and to the stage and audience. The George W. Bush impressions and lots of Bloodlines jokes, and comments about various Bloodliners, proves he reads his e-mail.

Johnny was in rare form, as was Buffy. "Dave" was also on, but the boy took numerous verbal "beatings" at the hands of his employer, and STILL came back for more! All part of the act, and we ate it up. We laughed so hard it actually hurt. The ironing bit was the capper. You had to be there, folks...

John was funny and then he commented he heard ME laughing, and pointed at me saying "Rhea must be sitting there, I hear her laughing" and was it Patrick that lead the audience in agreement? (least that's the way I heard it, so much laughter). It was a great night, I'm glad I took my son, it's been several years since I took him. He often has just gone to Phoenix concerts with Mott. (Let the Big Horse Run has always been his favorite)

At 1:30 A.M. , I watched from the steps of Travelodge as the lights went out one by one as the last employees of McCabe's exited the building. As I inhaled the early morning air of Santa Monica, I reflected on a night of magic which began earlier at dinner at Earth, Wind and Flour.

Fifty-plus devotees of Johnny's music, mostly Bloodliners, descended on an establishment that was geared for getting all of us outta there before 6:30. With precision planning by Patrick, they did it in style, with flair and panache, as another Johnny (Carson, that is) would glibly say.

The voice of John Charles Daly, newscaster and host of TV's "What's My Line?", echoed in my ears: "Will the Mystery Guest sign in, please?" None other than our beloved Webmistress, Michelle Stevens, who had flown all the way from NH just for this show. Whattagal!

Michelle had brought several advance copies of the 'Liner Notes CD to assist the Buffy Fund. The high point of the dinner came when Michelle, in need of a loud and booming voice, asked Doc Vinyl to make the pitch. Doc, standing in the middle of a very large rectangle of diners, held up the CD. As he briefly paused during his short speech, another loud and booming voice, belonging to one Beau Allen Pacheco, said to Roadman across the room, "Hey, get a picture of Doc holding a CD!" Howard did. Priceless. Laughter and applause filled the room. I wish I had it on tape and video. Memory will have to suffice.

Following the show, many met with J&B. Exhausted as they were, they remained genuine "people-persons" until the last wellwisher had left. It's a gift that is not subject to an "On-Off" switch. The love of Bloodliners toward them, and their love of 'Liners in return, was very evident, even to outsiders, some of whom may be contacting Michelle in the very near future. They were indoctrinated on the line outside!

I asked John point-blank if he still planned on a Phoenix II Concert sometime in 2000. Without hesitation, the Big Guy said, "Yes! We're in constant contact with the promoter, Danny Zelesco. We want to do it. New Year's Eve is a warm-up."

-photos courtesy of the Roadman