Wonderful Show From John Batdorf at The Focal Point
The Roots proudly welcomed the return of John Batdorf to the Focal Point in Maplewood Saturday, June 3rd. John performed for two-plus hours in a special “listening room” setting, The concert for almost sold out. The Roots was well represented, with 50% of the audience responding will applause each time Batdorf mentioned The Roots.
Almost every song was preceded by a brief, often emotional story. The saddest story was John’s attempt to reconcile with Mark Rodney after thirty years of no communication. John has more than enough stories to bring together into a powerful book. How about that, John ?
We play a great deal of John’s music on The Roots. Like most radio programmers with roots in the early 70s, we started playing Johns’ early Batdorf & Rodney work. But now we give heavy play to more recent Batdorf work like Side II , Me & My Guitar and John’s newest EPs.
Batdorf divided his show into two sets. The first set focused on his more recent work.
Mama’s Comin’ Home Tonight
Ain’t Dead Yet
I Don’t Always Win
Beep Beep
I Was The One
I’ll Let Roy’s Song Carry Me Home
Famous Enough
Somewhere in The Night
Don’t Give Up on Dreams
Dark Wind Blowin’
Hope is Everywhere
I Saved My Finest Love Song Til Now
John’s second set focused on his Batdorf and Rodney days. He added a couple of requests to the second set.
Let Me Go
You Are The One
Oh Can You Tell Me
Ain’t It Like Home
All I need
Where Were You And I
Don’t You Hear Me Calling
Working Man
Special Rolling Stone cover request
Home Again