Wonderful Show From John Batdorf at The Focal Point
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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