Wheeler Walker Jr. Tickets Manchester

No rain-out tonight!

The evening was well worth walking through a few puddles, even though a welcome but ill-timed rainstorm made the parking lot trek more annoying than usual. At least for a while until the humidity settled back over the night, and it did cool things off. Opening act Train was an unexpected surprise for me - I'd paid absolutely no attention to anybody else on the bill. Who knew?? I was pleased to discover that they have several songs I've loved over the years - even though I did not recognize their name. Probably everybody but me, actually. Anyway, it was a most excellent intro for my #1 guy, so thanks!

I am a true-blue grown-up Wheeler Walker Jr. fan who, even though I check out all the gossip mags & laugh at what I read there, truly respects & appreciates his writing & his artistry & his odd ability to catch a thought, an emotion, an image I'd seen in my head, & write it down. Before I offer my thoughts on the rest of the show, I'll admit that it would have to be really extra bad for me to think it wasn't really extra good. And if that weren't enough & sizeable age disparity aside, I think he's almost too cute to be real & the only reason I've not yet run away with him to live happily ever after already is that he's yet to ask. But back to the show...it wasn't my first Wheeler Walker Jr. show & it also wasn't my best. The sound was a bit muddy, but maybe that was my seat? For whatever reason, I missed the warm buzzing chill I always get from the purity & clarity of his voice & his melodies - that's one of the things I love best about him. I also wasn't crazy about the rearrangement of a few old songs, but then I suppose he does grow weary of same song different night after night after night, so even though I prefer to think he's always all about me, I guess it's OK for it to be just a little about him sometimes, too. I do like that he's begun in recent years to cover other artists' songs - he did Free Falling last show I saw & added a few more this time - very nice. While I always wish I could choose the set list, I never fail to love what he chooses, mostly I guess because I never fail to love whatever he does, except maybe for some bad public behavior choices, but since I'm pretty sure he's mended a bit in that regard, I choose not to let those things define him - instead I define him as an artist who's a truly gifted wordsmith with a crystalline voice & scary-good Slowhand fingers but who sometimes lets his thoughts fall uncensored straight out of his head when they really ought to stay inside & sift through the filter of good timing & good taste first. Anyway, the whole show was absolutely delightfully fabtastic & I'd do it again tonight, so thanks, Wheeler, for being my friend. You make me think & you make me smile, & I like doing both of those things with you. And thanks, too, for letting your hair grow. Delilah wasn't really on Samson's side after all, you know.