The 307th show of Walt Wilkins & the Mystiqueros had the Saxon pub packed. I heard the house was always packed for Walt- -especially if Johnny Nicholas was around too.
Right away, I got the message. I was about to hear a legend or two, this evening.
Inside the set, I heard a little bit of country, a little bit of soul, a little bit of rebel rock and a little bit of God in every beat. The messages in the songs unwrapped deeper meaning with twists of hard knock and safety and the rugged journey of the in-between.
It was the mess that made the story worth telling.
There was The Trains I Missed song (written by Walt, Gilles Godard and Nicole Witt) a hefty song that got me in the doors, but then every other song wouldn't let me leave my seat.
Walt sang, "And I pushed on every chance. I searched far and wide trying to crawl out of God's hands. There were stones I didn't throw and hearts I did not break. And a little hope that I held onto with each silver shining thread of faith."
The rugged lyrics spoke of a spiritual journey and a realization that there was something bigger in control- -that sense of surrender after the fight. Walt sang, "Here's to the things that I believe - -Bigger than me and the moments I find myself right where I wanna be."
The lyrics were a validation of life and love and the pursuit of forgiving and having the courage to shake it off.
The performance was a country rock-n-roll amen.
And, every other song in the set hit me about the same way.
We were lucky last night, another gig wasn't scheduled so Walt just kept playing.
And, the cake for the evening was when Johnny Nicholas shared the stage for a bit. Johnny was just as cool as everyone had said he was. "We just will never be that cool . . ." Walt said as he serenaded Johnny's exit with an emotional bow.
A few months ago, I had minor surgery. The anesthesiologist talked a lot about music. For him, patient care was about connecting through music. He didn't mention Elvis, or even Willie. He said Walt was his hometown music hero.
I left the Saxon glad that I had seen the show- -somehow reborn.
I saw what the doctor and everyone else had been talking about. I was a little late, but for me, it was right on time.
 |
| Walt Wilkins sings at the Saxon |
Inside the set, I heard a little bit of country, a little bit of soul, a little bit of rebel rock and a little bit of God in every beat. The messages in the songs unwrapped deeper meaning with twists of hard knock and safety and the rugged journey of the in-between.
It was the mess that made the story worth telling.
There was The Trains I Missed song (written by Walt, Gilles Godard and Nicole Witt) a hefty song that got me in the doors, but then every other song wouldn't let me leave my seat.
 |
| Johnny Nicholas and Walt Wilkins |
The rugged lyrics spoke of a spiritual journey and a realization that there was something bigger in control- -that sense of surrender after the fight. Walt sang, "Here's to the things that I believe - -Bigger than me and the moments I find myself right where I wanna be."
The lyrics were a validation of life and love and the pursuit of forgiving and having the courage to shake it off.The performance was a country rock-n-roll amen.
And, every other song in the set hit me about the same way.
We were lucky last night, another gig wasn't scheduled so Walt just kept playing.
And, the cake for the evening was when Johnny Nicholas shared the stage for a bit. Johnny was just as cool as everyone had said he was. "We just will never be that cool . . ." Walt said as he serenaded Johnny's exit with an emotional bow.
A few months ago, I had minor surgery. The anesthesiologist talked a lot about music. For him, patient care was about connecting through music. He didn't mention Elvis, or even Willie. He said Walt was his hometown music hero.
I left the Saxon glad that I had seen the show- -somehow reborn.
I saw what the doctor and everyone else had been talking about. I was a little late, but for me, it was right on time.
 |
| Walt Wilkins & the Mystiqueros includes Ray Rodriguez, Bill Small, Corby Schaub, Jimmy Daddy, Ron Flynt, Bart de Win and Tina Wilkins (not all pictured here). |
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