If an artist is lucky, they will have one song that defines a moment in time for everyone who hears it. A certain few created such moments over decades with a few different bands. John Waite created memorable moments with The Babys, Bad English, and a celebrated solo career. He brought his decades of hits to the Mohegan Sun Wolf Den and showed he can still rock 50 years into his career. Please scroll below for John Waite live photos and review.
The intimate venue was packed with fans as Waite took the stage to his debut solo single “Change” from 1982’s Ignition. Waite was in perfect voice and fronted a band that was ready to rock. Waite’s band featured Brent Woods on guitar, Tim Hogan on bass, and Alan Childs on drums. Woods, an accomplished guitarist who has played with Vince Neil and Sebastian Bach, among others, brought a new dimension to Waite’s songs that helped them feel fresh and vibrant.
The set’s pacing was perfect and showcased each facet of Waite’s career. He began with three early solo singles, “Change”, “Saturday Night”, and “Tears” (co-written by one-time Kiss guitarist Vinnie Vincent), before visiting the debut Bad English record with “Best of What I Got” and the huge hit “When I See You Smile”. Bad English featured Waite along with Jon Cain and Ricky Philips of The Babys along with Neal Schon and Deen Catsronovo. The crowd was very into the show, singing and dancing along to every song.
The middle section of the night touched on Waite’s later career. The 2011 release Rough & Tumble was represented with the beautiful “If You Ever Get Lonely”. Woods joined Waite at the front of the stage as Waite told the story behind “Bluebird Cafe” and an amazing cover of Vince Gill’s “Whenever You Come Around”, which was certainly a crowd favorite. After introducing the band, Waite launched into his massive 1984 classic “Missing You”.
The final portion of the night centered on the classic 70’s rock of The Babys. Guitar in hand, Waite led his band through “Every Time I Think of You”, “Head First”, “Midnight Rendezvous”, and “Back On My Feet Again”. The final song of the night, a medley of “Whole Lotta Love/Let Me Love You”, was a perfect showcase for Woods on guitar who provides a perfect foil for Waite.
This run of shows marks 40 years since John Waite released “Missing You” and he clearly has not lost a beat. Waite has one of the most distinct voices in music and it sounds just as strong today as it did when “Missing You” was released. I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing John Waite (you can hear some of the audio clips in his recent documentary The Hard Way)but it has been decades since I had the chance to see him live. He hasn’t lost a step and is truly one of the underrated vocalists in rock.
