Thanks to Greg for sharing his pictures and story with Net Waite.
Well the story goes like this.....I live in Australia and hadn't really planned to re-visit the USA so soon. I had only last been there in the April of '99 with my two kids on a Disneyland, Universal Studios & San Diego SeaWorld trip (that being my fourth trip to the US in 12 years). BUT....of recent, jealousy and frustration from reading all your John Waite concert reviews etc., etc. just got me to a point whereby I thought, "I'm gonna do it, too! You only live once!!" So, three weeks prior to the concert in Henderson, I bought my ticket over the 'Net. Step 1 out of the way. The second step was booking the holiday at the travel agent for a one week whistle-stop tour of the West Coast (couldn't bear to be away from my kids any longer). Well, once I paid for it , there was no turning back now. So, with the blessing of my 14 year old daughter with her "Go Dad, just go!!!" (she was really excited for me, knowing how much I loved John's music and also knowing I had a big chance of meeting him), I went...
The afternoon I left LA and proceeded to drive to San Diego, I heard "Missing You" on "Coast 103.5"... must have been an omen. Well I arrived in San Diego (nice city, similar to Sydney as is San Francisco....plenty of water) and did the harbour cruise thing and then did some shopping for stuff for my kids. Nothing too exciting, however I did find the Best of the Babys in a second hand shop, just to add to my collection.
When I was last in Las Vegas, I was amazed at the growth of the place since my previous visit 10 years prior. I mean, in those days, Caesar's Palace was the biggest hotel there, but NOW !!! Well, those who have been there recently will know what I'm talking about. I was booked at the Luxor. After checking in at reception and parking my car in the Hotel carpark, I proceded to get completely lost inside the Casino area, but I was just looking for my room!!!
Thursday afternoon the 2nd of December...yes JW day. I left Las Vegas and found the Sunset Casino quite easily (it was only 10 miles away). I parked the car and before anything, took a photo of the billboard with "John Waite" in lights. I went up to my room and by this time the nerves were kicking in (it was around 4:30 p.m.) but also thoughts of, "What am I doing here, millions of miles from home, just to hear someone sing?" I was still trying to justify it all . Well, I had a shower and got dressed and as pre-planned, was to meet online fans Cindy J from St Louis, Kim from San Francisco, Scott & Diane from LA and Karen & Carey from Detroit at Rosalito's Bar. It was a pleasure to me these very nice fellow online fans.
My first John encounter came earlier than expected. While sitting in the bar and talking to Cindy, Karen & Carey, I looked up and I thought, "I know that face and that bobbing type of walk!" There was The Man himself, walking through the casino/reception area!!! I couldn't believe it !!! I yelled (hopefully not too loud), "There he is!!!" Cindy, bless her, said "I'll go get him." But unfortunately, he had work commitments and couldn't come over to our table. After just this little experience, my journey was justified!!
Time ticked by and it was 7:30, thirty minutes to go!! I pulled my wallet out of my backpack and checked to see if my ticket was still there for about the 85th time, checked my camera, etc., etc. I also realised that I hadn't eaten since midday (and that was just a cinnamon bun) so the one Vodka was doing a nice little job on my head.
7:55, time to go. We got to the venue, which was just a few slot machines and roulette tables away. Big line up, great to see as I had heard it was sold out. John didn't come on straight away as they had "Chip Monk" on first. No, not a comedian, a country singer from Nashville. Next came some Shade Tree Women's Shelter raffles and stuff, which is a good cause, but I was getting impatient.
The moment came around 9:05 p.m. "Ladies & Gentlemen....John Waite!!!!!" His band came out first and grabbed their instruments. Then, the moment I had been waiting for for 22 years....John Waite..... yes, The legend, The Voice!!! He kicked up the band and played an Elvis number "CC Rider"??? (Don't quote me on this as I wasn't and still am not thinking straight!) But that song didn't last long. He kicked into the familiar three heavy bass drum beats with "Missing You." Well, I'll tell you, I don't think you could have wiped the smile off my face with turpentine from this point onwards.
John's voice was a little hoarse to start with, but by his next song ("Change"), it was firing on all cylinders. He sounded incredible. I must admit I was apprehensive about hearing him sing live. You know, sometimes singers just aren't the same live as they are on CD. But not with John. The voice was just has incredible as it is on disc, full of power & passion!!! "When I See You Smile" was next. The crowd of, I guess, 400 or so (which was a mix of people obviously there for the benefit but also a lot of obvious John Waite fans) were right into him by this stage.
The order of songs now is a bit hazy but I think "When You Were Mine" was next. Apart from a few quick looks at the floor (I think he had some of the words taped down there) he sang just about all of the words correctly. "Show Me How to Love You" was up next and I believe he then powered into "Isn't it Time" which was done so well, it blew me away (my first ever song I heard way back in '78). Actually, I commented to John's drummer Jonathan Dressel later that I thought his drumming was sensational, especially on "Isn't it Time." He said he loved that one and I said it compared with Tony Brock's work. I don't know if it was my accent or what, but he said "Who???" It wasn't until I showed him his picture from Karen's Babys' CD that he knew who I was talking about. (Well. he appeared to know?) Anyway, I digress.....the remainder of the set was: (not in order)
 |
How Did I Get By Without You Downtown (up there with my favourites) Back on My Feet Again Midnight Rendezvous Head First I 95 All I Want for Christmas God Head (New song...this song is awesome, it really, really rocks !!!) If Love Should Find Me (New... great ballad) and....possibly Roadhouse Blues and another song I can't remember. |
Actually it was very fascinating watching the way John controlled the band with little waves of his hand and nods and so on. Early on in the set, he kept looking at the sound man and gesturing like, "Is it ok?" The guy gave him the thumbs up. It was funny, as I don't think John was convinced...but that was John!!! Also, another funny bit happened. In one of the songs (can't remember which) the drummer did a kinda up-tempo, different bit of drumming to one particular part in the song and John was having a great joke with him and also doing a little jig to it. Well, after standing ovations and two encores, the John Waite concert finished. His band is awesome, with Fontayne, Dressel, Soussan, Krizan, Kentis, and backing vocals by Liz Constantine. Not only does Liz offer visual pleasure but really adds depth to the songs with great powerful vocals , especially on "Isn't it Time." She also seems to have a little more interaction with John than just a normal backing vocal.
Time to head to the charity reception to MEET JW afterwards, which our little group all attended, courtesy of Cindy & Scott (both with big check books with donations to the Shelter...well done guys). We sat down at our table and was thanked for coming by the organiser. (Thanked ??? "Try to have kept me out of the function!" is what I was thinking!!!) There were about 100 people there, I guess. After a little while, John turned up and stationed himself just outside while a little speech and announcement was made by the organisers, etc. John was announced and entered the room with an embarrassed look, a smile and a wave and a mouthed "thank you." (I have this entry on video, all 10 seconds of it, as I didn't want to look like a real tourist!!)
Well, my second moment to remember was coming. After about 15 minutes or so, people started to get up and get pictures taken with him. So I grabbed the Temple Bar CD and front cover from a second hand LP cover of Rover's Return (just literally the front cover as it came out of a picture frame from home). I think the other Encircled people could see my itchy feet and someone said, "Let's go up and meet him." Nah....I said, "I think I'll go play the slots!!!" Man, I got over there like George Costanza .....throwing old ladies in walkers and kids out of the way!!! But as I got closer, "nerve city" hit me.
I stood there next in line, but John got sidetracked with some other people coming from another direction. Cindy grabbed hold of Chris (John's manager) and said, "This is the guy from Australia." So, Chris called John and said, "John, this is the guy all the way from Sydney, Australia." John said something along the lines of "Yeah, I heard about you, amazing all the way from Australia" or something like that, as he speaks very low and quietly and I couldn't hear him too well (or maybe I had just lost my hearing). I shook his hand and said it was a privilege to meet him and asked him if he could sign my things. I gave him Rover's Return and he said, "Ah, Rover's Return" but didn't say anymore (probably from the shock that I only handed him just the front cover I guess). I asked him just to sign your name "John Waite," as if he didn't know his own name. Geeze, what a goose I am!!
 |
I then I asked him to sign TB on the inside cover picture and he asked, "Who will I sign it to?" (ME, of bloody course!) I said, "To Greg, that's me." He said what a great album TB was, I said, "Yeah, it's my favourite." We then got some photos taken, I shook his hand again and thanked him for his time, which I think he responded with "my pleasure." Oh, I don't know...I can't remember!!! Well, that was it. I went back to the table feeling like I'd just won Lotto!! |
I know a lot of you have said it before, but John does really seem like a down-to-Earth guy, very personable, but also seems pretty shy about all the attention. I guess that's what makes him seem more genuine. Fellow online fan Scott and his wife Diane came back from getting their photos taken and Scott said that John would come over later and sit with us. During all of this, I was conscious of the time factor and the time in Sydney. I wanted to ring my kids and say hello and tell them about the concert. So I said to everyone, "I'll be back in a minute or so. If John comes over, tie him to the chair!!"
Well , John did come over to our table around 1 a.m. with the help of Scott's headlock ;-) and he sat with us for about 10 minutes talking. Apart from saying how "whacked" he was, and me telling him that my great grandparents came from Lancashire (we could be related !!!), amongst other things he mentioned a movie soundtrack coming up and he said hopefully out of that "maybe something???"
Well, to bring this "War & Peace" effort to an excruciating close (sorry people, but this is my moment in the sun!) I thanked John again and shook his hand and I think he was dumb struck finding out, after Scott mentioned it, that I only came to the USA this time only for his concert (after explaining that I missed Boulder Station as it turned out in April by two weeks, blah blah) and this trip was a once in a lifetime, not to be missed. I got one more picture taken, just in case..... and well that was it. I later jumped on my plane and QF12 'd it home to Sydney with wonderful memories of firstly USA again, secondly the great online fans I met, and of course last, but not the very least, John Waite!!!
Do you have a "I met John" picture and/or story that you would like to share with Net Waite? If so, e-mail me!
Main | FAQ
| Live & Meeting Fans | News
Miscellaneous Fun | Museum
| Hostess | Guestbook