The Matlock Report

A long, long time ago in 1991 I bought a Sire Records sampler called “Just Say Anything”. The CD was amazing, I think over time I bought the CD of almost every artist that appeared on that compilation. The opening track to the CD called “Warning This Is A Parental Advisory” featuring Steve Wynn and John Wesley Harding. The CD also featured a song called “The Devil In Me” from the John Wesley Harding album “Here Comes The Groom”. I bought the CD and loved every song on it. Due to whatever factors, I spent a lot of time unfamiliar with some of Harding’s later work. Every once in a while his music would return to my brain and I would go to Spotify and check out some of his other albums and always enjoyed them. Fast forward a long time, and I received a notification that Wesley Stace was on tour, Wesley Stace being the given name of the man who used the JWH moniker for so many years. I found that this was going to be a house concert and contacted the host and purchased tickets for Amy and myself. We pulled up and staked some real estate in Eric’s backyard about 45 minutes before Stace was to appear. I have a setlist that I wrote down but since I don’t have any reason to be believe that most of the titles are correct so I’ll pass on posting it.

During the show, Stace regaled the audience with audience of around 70 people with stories about working in and around Minneapolis over the years including albums with The Jayhawks and working with Ed Ackerson. As a big Polara fan, his words brought joy to my heart.

As the night wore on and the sun went down, good pictures were hard to come by, maybe someday I’ll be a good enough photographer to get better night shots but until then, these will have to make due.

The show ended with a cover of a song by Jill Sobule. Sobule may be best known for her song “I Kissed A Girl” from her mid nineties self titled record. I loved that record but that isn’t my favorite song by far. Sobule tragically passed away in house fire just about a year earlier in Woodbury. It was beautiful tribute to a friend to end the show.

At the conclusion of the show, the merch table opened up and I perused what was there. I ended purchasing a 13 disc set of albums redone as solo acoustic versions of other albums. I cracked in to one yesterday on my drive to see my son play tennis and of course started with “Here Comes The Groom”. Wes came back to the table and was signing things and signed the CD binder. I got to shake his hand but stopped short of telling him that I was going to cry all the way home when he didn’t play my “Red Rose and the Briar” request. I have it on the “Secret Series” collection now though so that’ll be 98% as good. Thanks so much for everything Wes (and Eric), what a fantastic evening!