Were You There?
Wildhorn and Friends
Joe's Pub (NYC) and Lenape Performing Arts Center (Marlton NJ)
September 2005

Good afternoon, all.

Here are some of my thoughts and feelings about Rob's recent performances. I would like to share them with you, as I generally do. There have been several, so I am gonna minimize the number of things you might have to read by combining my comments into one piece.

The last couple of months have seen us doing multiple performances at different venues in different states. We have done "Wildhorn and Friends" at Joe's Pub in NYC, and this weekend we are down here doing an expanded version of the same show at the Lenape PAC, Marlton, New Jersey. We have also done a BIG Jekyll Concert, with a 30 piece orchestra in Birmingham, Alabama, partially to benefit the 'Katrina Relief Fund' of the American Red Cross. A lot to do, and a lot to say to you.

OK, where and how to start? Here goes...

The Wildhorn at the Pub was first in sequence. Those of you who have ever been to Joe's Pub KNOW that it is small, dark, smoky (from years past, the smoke is in the walls, the furniture, everything) and intimate. That is to say you can count the freckles on the person sitting next to you, even in the dark. The performers platform cannot really be called a stage, but whatever name you give it, ROB rocked the house from it! The songs were some of those we KNOW Rob has done before. This is the Moment came across as being sung to each person in turn. Rich, deep, throaty, commanding you to LISTEN, and so I did. WOW o WOW. He did a Civil War duet with Tracy Miller... what a rendering of "Sarah." Not an eye was dry. A real show stopper was "Bring Me Giants" which ROB did as only he could. You must hear it to believe it. This was a casual, cool group, and the music and the patter went well in the space.

Last night, at the first of the Lenape shows, Rob debuted a new Wildhorn/ Jack Murphy show stopper: "I've Got Things to Say." Well, I do also have a thing or two to say. WOW, awesome, splendid, great , delicious come to mind. (Jack Murphy himself sang it (sort of) at the Pub.) The new setlist included "Into the Fire," which of course brought out the heat in Rob's voice. No matter how many times Rob has sung 'Moment', each time brings out more and more. Last night, after the last note, the audience gave him a standing ovation. At that point within the show I could only imagine what Rob felt, but I sure was happy for him.

Ok, Rob seems to be in better-than-awesome-voice right now. I cannot find any more superlatives to say what I want to say. YOU know that this is appearing on Rob's Website, written by his assistant -- me. This cannot in be called a 'review'. It is in NO WAY objective enough to be called that. That is why the title is "Were You There," and in closing, I simply say that you should have been.

The Jekyll-in-Concert tour starts in Orono, Maine in October. Check the tour list on the Performances Page on this website, find a venue near you, and treat yourself to a delightful evening with dear Dr. Jekyll and deadly Mr. Hyde. It is a new and dynamic Jekyll and Hyde. I've yourself a treat.

Til next time,

Linda Russak