I've been to almost as many Webb shows as some of the southern fans, even though I'm up here in the middle of nowhere, in Illinois.

In fact, I once hired Webb (May 18, 1997) with disastrous, yet fascinating results- we had no air conditioning- a really long story that I won't go into, in order to speak only good about anything (karma), a torrential rain and tornado sirens going off, a home-made stage with a parachute on top, and 26 of the best fans ever, that totally enjoyed every minute of an excellent show.

And then I found out in just the nick of time that Webb's birthday was the 19th, and had a cake made, with his logo on it and had to argue with the baker that YES it was a trademark, but NO, he really wouldn't sue us if you put it on his own birthday cake, for cryin' out loud, and had to get it marbled, because I didn't know if chocolate or white was the way to go..... and in the end, I promised Webb that I would Never Ever hire him again (because I had absolutely no idea what I was doing!) and I realized there's a whole lot more to it than having access to a stage, and the nerve to ask.


My friends and I have travelled from Port Washington, WI, to Chattanooga, from Memphis to Johnson City. More shows in Chicago than anywhere else though, and Bryan Owings once told me I'd been to more Webb shows than some of the band members!

I've met a lot of wonderful people along the way, had a lot of great adventures, best of all heard a hellovalot of great music. I treasure every memory.

So with all that said, I'd love to hear some other stories of favorite Webb shows, if anyone wants to share.

I know it's a week early Webb, but Happy Birthday!

A few great shows pop to mind:

One, Webb Fest 1 in Knoxville, where I won "the big door prize" guitar and got to meet more than a few super Webb Fans that I would never get to meet in person, had I gone no further south than Chicago.

Two, a couple of years ago when the guys played in Green Bay, because my Dad was able to come along and see WW & Co. for his first (and only) time. He had a great time and truly enjoyed meeting and swapping stories with the guys. My dad passed away just ten weeks ago, so that will be a special memory for me for a long time to come.

Three: waaay back in the day when Ms. Linda and I first met in person after being online "Webb Pals" for a long time (shout-out to Hunter's original WW email list!). One awesome weekend we both roadtripped from our respective homes... First, to Rock Island, IL to see the band play at RIBCO, then the next day up to Madison, WI for a show at Crystal Corner. The big Double-Webb weekend... Two show dates in two separate states, BOO-YAH!

And fourth: NUMEROUS fantastic shows at Fitzgerald's. Awesome! (BERWYN??!?)

Meeting a lot of great folks, you two being among the ones I have been most lucky to run across has been one of the great perks of having done this for a long time now. Thanks so much for ALL the help! Linda, remember how the drums had to be behind a glass wall at that venue like a studio EXCEPT, no headphones, monitors or anything else for the drummer to hear the band that was to be on the OTHER side of the wall! WW

my favorite Webb show is always the last one ... and the next one

It was in 1995, I had just broke up with my girlfriend. I was going to go see Webb and the Boys up in Evanston, Ill., with a buddy who had never seen a Webb show.

We sat in the theatre, and in the row in front of us was a pretty woman tapping her toe. I asked her to dance and left my buddy a few songs later and flopped like a fish in the bottom of a boat the rest of the night.

All of them have special memories. Some lost, only to be retrieved in an hypnotic state of memory regression due to excessive fun. Some, clear as a bell.

Today, being Mother's Day, one of my faves is traveling to Asheville, NC for Webb Fan Fest with my daughters, Emily and Sallie. They had never been to a show, met him or flown before. We flew to Atlanta, drove a rented car to Asheville, went sight seeing and to the Fest. What a great time and a memory we will all share for a lifetime!

The second would be when Webb and the also beloved Beatnecks were on a Tri-fecta Tour West of the Mississippi. St.Louis/KC/Lincoln. I had already gotten a "fix" at Knuckleheads and was agonizing over going to The Zoo Bar in Lincoln. I had calculated the last second that I could decide to drive to Lincoln for the Sunday night show. Finally the time came for the big decision. Emily & Sallie both said, "Go for it, Mom!" And I did. Great show, great road trip.

Now I am waiting for the opportunity to see a show in Nashville. Like the 2005 Fest, I have been known to take seeming-less, crazy, (no doubts there) spontaneous trips at the drop of a hat. Really, I wait and watch for everything to fall into place. Trouble is, the older I get,"spontaneous" seems to take just a little more time. Know what I mean?????

DE in KC

I guess that my most memorable Webb show would be the second time that I saw them. It was in spring of 1987 at the 8X10 Club in Baltimore. I got to the show early, and immediately went to the upstairs bar. Other than the bartender, the only people up there were Webb and the Beatnecks. I went over and introduced myself and had a nice conversation with them, telling them about a recent incident at a local trailer park.

Cletus had a small camera and he asked me if I'd go onto the stage and take a photo of the band looking down from the balcony, which I did.

It was a great show, and I bought a copy of "It Came From Nashville". Webb autographed it to "Glom, the Photo Fiend".

Been a fan ever since.

I've seen 5 WW shows. All were distinctly memorable. There really is no one like the full grown man in my view. Real People playing Real music, enough said.
1. Supporting the Georgia Satellites in the UK in 89. WW&tB just blew me and many others away with the quality, originality, power and sense of fun. It was a short supporting set but I was hooked.
2 Again, in 89, playing at the now defunct 'Breedon Bar' in Birmingham. We arrived early to see WW checking out the many small framed photos that covered the wall, showing all the bands that had played there over the years. We chatted and it was immediately clear WW was a true and very knowledgeable fan of British music. A fantastic full set followed. I'd found my brand! (It was agreed by our group that if WW did not exist it would be necessary to invent him!)
3+4 in 2007 we caught 2 shows in Brittany. (They are reviewed elsewhere Webb board no 2064) The magic, esp. in Les Hesperides, was more than alive! And it was well worth the scary drive back home in the lousy weather, even for a Brit it was WET.
5 Webb Fest 2012. Not only got to see the Man on home Turf. But we were treated like royalty by everyone associated with the Event. Just a fabulous experience that I am still talking about at the drop of a hat. Once again Sir Tater Bodine is highlighted for special thanks. And how the band has maintained such High standards over a long period of time is just astonishing.
6 ???????

Just a thought, The Quality of the shows is one thing (For which I am grateful) but those Albums have stood the test of time incredibly well. The Care taken throughout has really paid off. Big thanks to WW and all Beatnecks over the years. Planet Earth would be so much duller without them!

Never saw any of the early shows, so I can't comment on those days, but in the past 10-15 years the best show to me was the first Webb Fest held in Bowling Green.