Waddy Wachtel Band: August 2, 2014


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Reviews and News - August 2, 2014
Review: Waddy Wachtel Band 8/2/14

Note from Nina:

All of us Rock 'n' Rollers were thrilled Saturday night 8/2/14 when the Waddy Wachtel Band returned to the stage at The Joint (recently Black Rose Tavern) to give us what we were thirsty for........ GREAT rock and roll!!!!! We went through a WWB drought. They hadn't performed together for 4 months! Drought over. :-)

Were you there? If not, I know you wish you were. The beautifully remodeled club was packed - wall to wall rockers. And the a/c was pumping. But the heat created by WWB was all-encompassing. Everyone - on stage and in the audience - encompassing each other with big smiles.

Two very talented performers joined the band for some songs. Wynonna Judd and Danny Kortchmar. Yesss! And Wynonna's husband Cactus Moser took Phil Jones' drum throne on Wynonna's songs. I'll tell you more about that in a minute.

Here we go..........
Like I said, all of us were thirsty. WWB started off the first set with some water - "The Ocean" sang impeccably by Jamie Savko. What a voice! Waddy and Al Ortiz (sitting in for Rick Rosas who's on tour with Neil Young) blended smooth vocal harmonies as Ron Dziubla provided rhythm guitar. Great start to the night!

Then Jamie and Waddy sang harmony vocals on a song the band hadn't played for us before: AC/DC "Jailbreak." Wow! Keep the a/c pumping 'cause we were rockin' to the AC/DC.

Bernard Fowler is back from his tour with the Rolling Stones, and proved he meant it when he sang The Hollies' "I Can't Let Go." Bernard can't let go of WWB or of us. He wouldn't want to. He loves all of us! Don't stop, Bernard. Okay. Another new song by WWB as Bernard wailed through David Bowie's "Blue Jean." Then Blondie Chaplin and Bernard did a fantastic vocal harmony on "Said I Wasn't Gonna Tell Nobody" (made popular by Sam and Dave) with Ron blowin' a mean saxophone solo.

Blondie Chaplin plugged in his guitar, moved to center stage and gave a resounding performance on vocals of Warren Zevon's "Lawyers, Guns and Money." As you probably know, Waddy and Warren were long time friends, and Waddy played on this song on Warren's album and hundreds of times on tour with Warren. Blondie adds his own amazing vocal interpretation to this song, and when he and Waddy play off each other at the end with Blondie's vocals matching Waddy's guitar notes........ amazing!

Now, remember, all this wonderful vocalizing needs a great band.
To hear Waddy play his guitar - whether it's strong rockin' rhythm, electrifying solos, smoothly moving up and down the neck with his slide or tenderly strumming softly - is mesmerizing and awe inspiring.
Phil Jones can do more with 2 drum sticks on that kit than most drummers could ever dream of. Perfect timing, banging or bring down the tempo - and always with a huge smile.
Al Ortiz happily flies in from his home town of Phoenix to sit in when Rick Rosas isn't available. He's the only one Waddy will allow up there besides Rick. And we know why. Al is dedicated and a great bass player and singer. Al is also Waddy's choice for tours with Stevie Nicks.
Ron Dziubla came to sit in with WWB one night playing saxophone. He blew all of us - including Waddy - away! Then Waddy found out he could also wail on guitar and sing! His sax solos are amazing.

Let's bring one of our guest performers on stage.
Danny Kortchmar is a legend, having played on many albums with Waddy over the years - James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne and others. Danny wrote the song "All She Wants To Do Is Dance" which was a hit for Don Henley, and he joined WWB to sing it for us and play guitar. He made us all just want to dance! Danny also took center stage in the second set to do "Dirty Laundry" which he wrote with Don Henley and was another major hit. Guitar solos by both him and Waddy in that. A real treat!

Keith Allison is another legend in the music biz. I remember watching him on "Where the Action Is" and I can tell you...... he was the action and still is! Keith sang and played guitar on another new song WWB hadn't played for us before: "It's So Easy." That's a Buddy Holly song, and Waddy played on it with Linda Ronstadt on her 1977 album Simple Dreams and many times on tour with her. Keith did a great job, and made us know it was so easy to fall in love - with him and WWB.

Yes, there were a lot of great vocalists up on that stage, and I was thrilled when Waddy took over lead vocals on "Live With Me." Guitarist, composer, producer, and also an amazing rockin' vocalist!

What about Wynonna? Here she comes.......
Wynonna asked to come sit in with Waddy and WWB, and Waddy said: Wow! Yes please! Waddy introduced her - to much applause - then went over to the side of the stage to bring her up to center stage. Beautiful in her black lace and sparkles! Phil Jones got up and graciously turned over his drum throne to Wynonna's husband Cactus Moser. Wynonna said she had no idea which songs they were going to do, then blew everyone away with her incredible vocals on "Love Hurts" with Jamie Savko singing harmony vocals. No hurting for anyone..... Wynonna belted it out like the pro she is. Want some rock from Wynonna? Okay! She then blasted into Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" with Cactus making those drum skins sting and playing a fantastic solo at the end of the song. During Waddy's guitar solo, Wynonna just couldn't take her eyes off him. She said she'd loved him for many many years. Wynonna showed she's quite capable of singing.... anything! It was great having her there!

End the first set........ Everyone beaming!

The second set was filled with more wonderful rockin' songs by all involved. I've listed them below in the set list. And check this out...... Wynonna and Cactus watched from the side of the stage. Greatness appreciates greatness. That means all you rockers who come to these gigs are great too!

xxoo to all of you from WWB! Thank you!

Set List:
On all songs:
Waddy Wachtel - Lead Guitar
Phil Jones - Drums (except "Love Hurts" and "Rock and Roll")
Al Ortiz - Bass

First Set:
1. "The Ocean" (Led Zeppelin) Jamie Savko lead vocals; Waddy Wachtel and Al Ortiz harmony vocals; Ron Dziubla guitar
2. "Jailbreak" (AC/DC) Jamie and Waddy lead vocals; Ron guitar
3. "I Can't Let Go" (The Hollies) Bernard Fowler lead vocals; Waddy and Jamie harmony vocals; Ron guitar
4. "Blue Jean" (David Bowie) Bernard lead vocals; Waddy, Jamie, Blondie Chaplin harmony vocals; Ron saxophone
5. "Said I Wasn't Gonna Tell Nobody" (Isaac Hayes, David Porter [recorded by Sam and Dave]) Bernard and Blondie lead harmony vocals; Ron saxophone
6. "Lawyers Guns and Money" (Warren Zevon) Blondie lead vocals
7. "All She Wants To Do Is Dance" (Danny Kortchmar) Danny Kortchmar lead vocals and guitar; Waddy harmony vocals; Ron saxophone
8. "It's So Easy" (Buddy Holly, Norman Petty) Keith Allison lead vocals and guitar; Waddy and Al harmony vocals
9. “Poor Poor Pitiful Me" (Warren Zevon) Keith lead vocals and guitar; Waddy harmony vocals and slide guitar; Jamie harmony vocals
10. “Live With Me” (The Rolling Stones) Waddy lead vocals; Jamie harmony vocals; Ron saxophone
11. "Love Hurts" (Felice and Boudleaux Bryant) Wynonna Judd lead vocals; Waddy and Jamie harmony vocals; Ron guitar; Cactus Moser drums
12. "Rock and Roll" (Led Zeppelin) Wynonna lead vocals; Jamie harmony vocals; Ron guitar; Cactus drums

Second Set:
1. "Immigrant Song" (Led Zeppelin) Jamie lead vocals; Ron guitar
2. “Heroes" (David Bowie) Bernard lead vocals; Waddy harmony vocals; Ron saxophone
3. "She's So Cold" (The Rolling Stones) Bernard lead vocals; Waddy harmony vocals; Ron guitar
4. "Sail On Sailor" (The Beach Boys) Blondie lead vocals and guitar; Waddy and Bernard harmony vocals
5. "Bitch" (Rolling Stones) Jamie lead vocals; Waddy harmony vocals; Blondie guitar; Ron saxophone
6. "Dirty Laundry" (Danny Kortchmar, Don Henley) Danny lead vocals and guitar; Waddy harmony vocals
7. "Problem Child" (AC/DC) Jamie lead vocals; Waddy harmony vocals; Ron guitar
8. “A Change Is Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke) Blondie lead vocals and guitar
9. "C'Mon Everybody" (Eddie Cochran) Keith lead vocals and guitar; Waddy harmony vocals; Ron saxophone
10. “Honky Tonk Women" (The Rolling Stones) Jamie lead vocals; Waddy and Blondie harmony vocals; Ron saxophone
11. "Sin City" (AC/DC) Bernard lead vocals; Ron guitar

Let's thank those behind the scenes who help make these shows rock:
John Philbrick for being so on top of keeping the guitars and amps in tip top shape.
Mark Nathanson for making the sound zing.
Charlie McIntosh for welcoming everyone with a big smile, and his lovely assistant Anna Whalen.
Ondrea and Fernando for providing such a beautiful venue.
All the barmaids, crew and security guys at The Joint for their smiles and hospitality.
And especially....... All you Rockers who come to these gigs and share your wonderful energy and keep rockin' with WWB. You make these shows possible and delightful!

I'll let you know when the next WWB show is going to be. We're hoping for September. No more droughts!
Keep rockin'!

"Rock and Roll"

Wynonna Judd - Lead Vocals
Waddy Wachtel - Lead Guitar, Harmony Vocals
Jamie Savko - Harmony Vocals
Cactus Moser - Drums
Al Ortiz - Bass
Ron Dziubla - Guitar
Video by Andrew Littlejohn

"Love Hurts"

Wynonna Judd - Lead Vocals
Waddy Wachtel - Lead Guitar, Harmony Vocals
Jamie Savko - Harmony Vocals
Cactus Moser - Drums
Al Ortiz - Bass
Ron Dziubla - Guitar
Video by Andrew Littlejohn

Photos by Robert Bruns......

Waddy Wachtel	Jamie Savko	Waddy Wachtel, Bernard Fowler
Waddy Wachtel, Phil Jones, Jamie Savko, Al Ortiz, Ron Dziubla	Waddy Wachtel, Bernard Fowler	Phil Jones, Bernard Fowler, Blondie Chaplin, Al Ortiz
Phil Jones, Bernard Fowler, Blondie Chaplin	Waddy Wachtel, Phil Jones, Danny Kortchmar	Phil Jones, Danny Kortchmar
Phil Jones, Keith Allison, Blondie Chaplin, Al Ortiz	Waddy Wachtel, Cactus Moser, Wynonna Judd, Jamie Savko, Ron Dziubla	Waddy Wachtel, Cactus Moser, Al Ortiz, Wynonna Judd
Waddy Wachtel, Cactus Moser, Wynonna Judd	Wynonna Judd, Jamie Savko	Cactus Moser
Darren Dowler, Blondie Chaplin, Ondrea Faillace, Waddy Wachtel, Wynonna Judd, Ron Dziubla, Keith Allison Front: Cactus Moser, Bernard Fowler	Waddy Wachtel, Wynonna Judd, Cactus Moser