Two Great nights of Music, Fun and Friends at the Down Home. The WebbNecks in the crowd enjoyed every bit of it.
Thanks for some great music.

ps Doesn't Bob have the longest fingers in the world, no wonder he can bend them strings like that!

You said it best Yard - Bob's got some amazing fingers no doubt about it..... full reports coming later - lots of pics taken Friday - sadly I missed Saturday... I talked to Tater who told me it was even better then Friday...

I liked Bob's style - like the other lead guitarists Webb has had over the years - they are all great and each a little different from the other. His blues playing was awesom - and what was really cool - when WW did the "extra tune" which wasn't on the set list - "Long Black Limosine" I think it was -- which had a real country sound.... Bob filled in with some amazing sounds - without looking or to have heard it on the radio or disc - you would have sworn he was playing a lap pedal steel guitar...

The acoustic show for the first set I thoroughly enjoyed - even played Horror Hayride .... it all worked and worked well.... he talked after the show of several songs that he feels would sound good that way.... finishing the set list with Taste of the Bait - was one of my favs of the night -- I love that song anyway so it was an added treat to hear it acoustic.

Tom, Jimmy & Bob were excellent and well Webb's the Man - nuff said..... Thanks for a great show - glad I could fill in and sell Swag for ya' (again let me know about Kingsport) and I'll see y'all soon....

Good seeing the members of the Webb Board there on Friday - The Tater Clan, Susan, Frank, Garland, Yardmaster...

PS - I think the cat's out of the bag on Webb Fest 08 - I wasn't there Saturday but I think Tater & Webb let it slip out (on purpose of course)....

Later

E

Dori and I made the trek to E. TN and had an awesome time. Down Home is such a cool place ( even the temp inside agreed ) for Webb to play. The atmosphere is what we love as it is a respectful crowd that comes for one reason, to hear The Man & the Band. Webb and the Necks put on an awesome show Sat. night. Again, first set acoustic and second electric. Played for over 3 hours, included some new stuff, or not heard in a while. Bob Williams gets more comfortable with every show. His work on Jimmy Reed was SMOKIN!!! If you have not seen Bob, he is the REAL DEAL and a class act. Tom and Jimmy as usual, enjoying Webbs antics. Jimmy was able to catch up on some voice mails and text messages during some! Nice to meet Frank from TN and see the Bodines and Susan ( missing her Tony ). Miss Missy did a fine job of Swaggin ( a bit of Tater help thrown in )Webbheads are GREAT PEOPLE. Thanks again guys for continuing to do what you do. There wouldn't be a LOVING PUBLIC without you!!!!! Saturdays set list as usual, per Mr. Tom Comet is.......

Acoustic 1st set
1) Poolside
2) Only One
3) TCB Yodel # 9
4) Lonely For A Reason
5) Pretty Little Lights
6) No Great Shakes
7) The Rest
8) Horror Hayride
9) Too Cool
Added) Lovesick Blues
10) Just Had To Laugh
11) One Taste Of The Bait

Electric 2nd set
1) Big Time
2) Sputnik
3) Burnin'
4) Lookin For A Fool
5) How Long Can She Last
6) Changing Colors
7) Ju Ju Man
8) Come Around
9) Human Cannonball
10) Pretty Is
11) Louisiana Hannah
12) Jimmy Reed
13) Baby, Please Don't Go
14) Hittin" Where It Hurts
15) She's Tuff
16) Flat Out Get It
17) Tough It Out

After much Kickin' Stompin' Clawin' and Scratchin' and just a bunch of hollerin' WWWEEEEBBBBBB the encore was...

Gloria
Jumpin Jack Flash
Looks like Fitzgeralds is next for us
Mike & Dori

Thanks, guys! We had a ball. Special thanks to Eric for helpin' with the swag on Friday and all the Bodines for helpin' out on Saturday... all of the familiar faces(too many to mention) and especially the ones who covered some distance to be there. Means a lot! Onward and sideays! WW

I'm glad everybody enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to August 9.

I enjoyed seeing Hubert Sumlin. He seems to be in good health and good spirits. What I didn't know ahead of time is that he is backed up by the Nighthawks on this tour. Actually, it is pretty much a Nighthawks show with Sumlin sitting in. They did two sets, each starting with about 5 or 6 songs by the Nighthawks, and then Hubert coming out to do 5 or 6 songs with them. He really gets a unique stinging tone out of his old Strat, no pick.

The Nighthawks were in good form. It's probably been 20 years since I've seen them, back when Jimmy Thackery was playing guitar. They did a couple of Dylan covers, "Love Minus Zero/No Limit" and Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine." Cool to see a blues band doing two old Dylan songs.

Hey, Snake! We missed ya but, see ya soon. Hubert gets his unique tone no matter what he plays. Always plays with his fingers, too. BTW, ya'll...just checked tompetty.com to see how THAT tour is comin' along. TP & the Heartbreakers included "Gloria" as one of the three songs in THEIR recent Hollywood show! Geez, they're always copyin' me. I can't top havin' Stevie Winwodd open for AND come out and do a couple of songs WITH ya, too! Wow. WW

Well guys - Saturday was my first venture to the Down Home - but I'm sure it will not be my last! What a nice place and as expected - what a GREAT show! It was wonderful to get to meet Tater and Miss Missy. Snake, I missed ya -- but I'm sure I'll see get to meet you at the Ellington.

Webb - you are one class act - loved the acoustic set. The Beatnecks were smokin' hot and very graciously took pix afterwards (though I did miss Tom...)- Thx for signing my credo -- will be going up in the office this week :) You are so genuine and a true entertainer. You even remembered my love for CT -wow! I told you I'd been a lifelong fan, and that's not entirely true. I discovered your music around age 17 - so half-life (thus far) ;-) I just wish I'd known you toured around here before now -- I think I missed a lot of good shows. We'll nip that! I will try to post my pics later in the day. One request for the Ellington -- any chance you'll do some Hoodoo Witch? Mercy....

I know what Webb means about Hubert, he doesn't use a pick, but I had to chuckle when I pictured the 'ol boy playin' with somethin' other than his fingers. That woulld be quite a feet, so to speak.

Two great nights of entertainment, as usual ... good to see again the Tater Clan, Susan (sharing Tony's relayed tales from Alaska, including one interesting establishment in particular), and Garland and his much better half on Friday, plus getting to meet Mike and Dori on Saturday ... sorry I missed a few others there.

I've seen three shows now of the one-acoustic-set/one-electric-set variety, and I continue to dig it, especially the "surprises" (i.e., songs I wouldn't initially think of as acoustic selections) ... the band was, of course, spot-on ... that Bob Williams makes his third-uncle-once-removed Big Joe proud, I'm sure ... Tom's always a consummate professional and great guy ... Jimmy's phone breaks cracked us up ... and that tall guy fronting the band keeps his loving public entertained and always comin' back for more.

Looking forward to your next visit !!

Frank in TN

We had a great time in Johnson City as well. Both nights were awesome! Had not heard the acoustic set before and it really works well. I've heard most of the songs many times and they sound just as good or even better acoustically. Tom Comet always rules! Jimmy Lester is always spot-on, even when doubling as "Keith Moonshine". He did beat his cowbell so violently that it tried to escape once but he managed to re-capture it and forced it back into service. I even saw him play an egg and an apple (now that's entertainment!). Bob Williams (who Frank and I determined is a distant relative of Big Joe Williams) gets better with every performance. He has SKILLS. I think his playing on "Jimmy Reed" was the best I'd ever heard that song. Bob is a quiet, reservved, studio professional and fits very well with this band. Bob got a couple well-deserved rounds of applause (midsong) after a couple of his electrifying lead solos on both nights. The band also has another very good guitarist. Webb Wilder and Prince Charles have always said not to be a name dropper, but that front man for the Beatnecks plays a hell of a lead guitar himself. He and Bob sync really well with this music. Saturday night was a fantastic show.
We enjoyed seeing Frank and Judy-Judy-Judy, Mike and Dori, Susan the Camera Queen, Yardmaster and Sister, Christina, Garland and his much better half, Eric the Swag Slinger and others I am no doubt leaving out unintentionally. I did notice a lot of younger folks there this weekend. That's a good sign that this generation does appreciate good music.
My dog Spanky did not trash our hotel room this time around and for that I (and the Holday Inn) am/are greatful. Dolly and I are looking forward to seeing the boys at the Ellington on the 9th of August and hope to be joined "in progress" by Snake. (We missed you this weekend). Thanks to everyone for the fine weekend. Pics are being sent to Hunter as we speak.