David Middleton Combo opening for Joe 'King' Carrasco at the King's Head Inn in Norfolk, VA in the Summer of 1988. Bil literally kicks off a fine reading of Doc Pomus' "Lonely Avenue," a hit for Ray Charles in 1958. These gigs all featured hep-cat rockabilly, blues and early rock and roll tunes, and Mr. Sherry was very disappointed that Dave wouldn't keep booking the band at the King's Head.
Waxing Poetics perform 'Target White' at the King's Head Inn in Norfolk, mid-1986. The band was together, the music was written, and Dave set his sights on writing the lyrics to this first 'Waxing Poetics' song. A frequent set opener, good textures, crafty bass line, great drive and that 'stop' on the chorus is always an attention getter. Find the concrete words.
Waxing Poetics perform a classic from the yet to be released at the time of this show 'Bed Time Story.' New Year's Eve 1989 at Norfolk's famous Boathouse. Jeff Bailey had been playing bass for the band nearly a year now. I've got some money, and some credit.
Dave takes the spotli... erm.. the uh.. bare bulb in this concert opener at the gone-but-not-forgotten Boathouse; a favorite concert venue for many performers and show-goers, and now sadly condemned after Isabel tore the roof off the sucka in 2003. Poetics always sold out the joint, and their reunion show in '03 was one of the last shows played there. THIS take is from November 1988. We got laws 'round here 'bout that.
What I Did on My Summer Vacation... well, Dave put together a sweet little combo in 1988 with BoWeevil Mark Lawrence on guitar, Boweevil but soon-to-be-Poetic Jeff Bailey on Bass, and 'Fedora' Bil Shearin on percussion. This gig is opening for Joe 'King' Carrasco at the King's Head Inn in Norfolk, and this is a fine take of Lightnin' Hopkins 'Feel So Bad.'
Here's a favorite tune from the earliest days of the band. Dave's in full Swingin' Medallions Summer of Love style here, from the Lennon glasses to the Rickenbacker. By the way, colorful lights are a great device for a live show... on 20-year-old VHS video... umm... not so much. From the July, 1987 Peabody's shoot; this is obviously the front camera shot, board audio. She makes arrangements, but loses interest.
This song from the earlier days of the band is the first song I heard them play at Cogan's Instant Art back in 1984. My eyebrows went up and I said to myself "These guys really have something here." From the July '87 Peabody's shoot, sound board audio. Which way is home?
Waxing Poetics play the Raleigh Convention Center opening for The Connells, December 21st, 1990. Great crowd, great show, great version of this song. Audio from mic on camera, band sounds great, had to pump the mids to get Dave's vocals from the monitors. I could never do anything bad enough that's good enough to please you.
Take a quick trip down to "Jawjah" (as Paul says as he intros the tune) with this frequent set opener during this period of time. This song was called 'Different Lands' on the 'Hermitage' board tape that I have. I believe it almost made it onto the final cut of 'Hermitage' under the name 'Mad Dogs and Indians,' and JCH was the set list abbreviation for this song entitled (and sometimes accompanied by) 'Jimmy Carter's Head.' July '87 Peabody's shoot, board audio. Surely but meanwhile.
Waxing Poetics perform the classic track from 'Bed Time Story' at T-Birds in Asbury Park, NJ in December 1990. A recent Google search indicated that T-Birds had closed. Sad to hear, but you can see a great band having a great time in this video. Underneath this sky, my troubles melt like clay.
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