Linda's Excellent Adventure
(November 1996 )When I heard about the Sling Blade Premiere party to be held at Billboard Live, I was determined to put in an appearance. I'd just missed the fan celebration for Dwight's 40th birthday at Thunder Roadhouse because I'd injured my back and couldn't have managed the drive. Needless to say I was devastated when I learned Dwight had stopped by, so... early this Saturday morning I headed down to LA. I wasn't sure what the weather was going to bring as a big storm was predicted, but I thought I'd start anyway and see how things went. Luck and sunshine were with me.
Sunday afternoon I left in plenty of time to find the Billboard Live club and arrived there about 4:30, hoping that 5:00 or so would be a likely time for Dwight to do a sound check before the Slingblade Premiere. I asked the guy at the door if Dwight had been there yet and he replied no, that Dwight was late and everyone was waiting on him. What, Dwight late?! ;-) After we chatted for a while he told me that I seemed like a nice person and that if I really wanted to get to see Dwight, the best place was at the side entrance around the corner.
As I rounded the corner there was a brown Cadillac parked in front of the driveway, but no Dwight. My friend from the door came and asked me if I'd seen him. I said, sadly, that I'd missed him. He then asked if I had a cd cover or anything to sign. I whipped out my handy-dandy carrying case and said pick a cd, any cd -- well, not quite, but I did just happen to have a couple of cd covers in my purse! This guy was so nice; I'd told him earlier that I'd driven down from San Francisco just on the chance I might get see Dwight at the Premiere. He said he hated for me to go back without at least getting an autograph. He went in with my CD and sharpie, only to come back a minute later saying that Dwight had already started his sound check and he couldn't interrupt him. He said, "can you hear him?" and I said yes. Then he said, "would you like to hear him better?" Naturally I said Yes!! He said he couldn't let me actually "inside" the club but he would open the inner door and I could stand just at the door frame (another 1/2 inch and I'd have been inside.)
There they were -- Dwight and the guys (ex Pete -- I never did see him at any time during the sound check.) The inner doors are about 20 feet(?) or so from the stage. There were a few people inside setting up, but of course I only had eyes for Dwight. He looked very nice -- jeans, boots, black button-front shirt open at the neck, a tan jacket that may have been corduroy, and no hat. He seemed initially startled to see someone standing at the back, but then he smiled and went back to work.
I couldn't believe there were no other fans there, but had there been I'm sure I would have missed out on this excellent experience.
It was really interesting watching them work through arrangements. They'd get through a couple of bars, stop, and Dwight would tell/show them what he wanted and they'd start over again. (Someone help me out with one of the songs they were working on, something about 'stone walls and steel bars and all for the love of another man's wife'. I felt like I should know it but couldn't quite recall what it was.) The only song they ran through once in it's entirety was that oh-so-sexy, slow version of Fast As You. I was singing right along with him. (Does this count as having been personally serenaded by Dwight? It does in my mind!)
As I was standing there people kept coming and going. One of the people who came in was Harry Dean Stanton. He came in with another fellow, both with their guitars. Dwight worked through his sound check for quite some time before he said anything to Harry. Then he called him up to the stage and said "let's figure out what we're going to do". Harry is quite a good singer (I had no idea) and they were having a good time laughing and talking as they worked through ideas about their set. It was very different to see Dwight in a background role on the stage. They played for quite a while -- all told about an hour and a half for the entire sound check. They were obviously winding up and getting ready to go, so I asked my friend at the door if he would take my CD cover "inside" and ask Dwight to sign it for me. He came back looking chagrined, but then smiled and showed me that Dwight had indeed signed it "With Love, Dwight Yoakam" He said Dwight was leaving and they needed to get ready for the evening. I thanked him profusely and headed for the car with my CD and Sharpie clutched in my hand. It wasn't until I reached the car that I realized the Sharpie I was holding had just a few seconds ealier been in Dwight's hand as he wrote those words. That Sharpie has now been retired to the "hall of fame".
Down to the Roadhouse for dinner and back at Billboard by 8:15 -- still no other fans. It was quite some time before people began arriving with any regularity, and it was a tad chilly -- but what the heck, it was for Dwight.
I believe I saw Pete arrive, "just a face out in the crowd" so I wasn't 100% sure it was him. I definitely saw Taras arrive. And then what to my wondering eyes should appear but ... our very own Sharon and Karen S. -- and in the "by invitation only" line! I ran over to say hi. Both ladies looked very lovely in their premiere finery and we spoke for just a moment about the movie before they went their merry way, leaving me alone in the cold (just kidding, but it does sound more dramatic that way). Seriously, I can't think of two people who deserved to be there more. The excellent work they have both done (Sharon on the Digests and the Dwight Site, and Karen with Little Dog) definitely deserved the moment! I did manage to restrain myself from throwing myself on their mercy and begging to be taken in with them, but just barely.
I never did see Dwight arrive. Don't know if I missed him in the crowd or he used that side entrance again. Even so, it was truly an excellent adventure. Just take this :) and multiply it by 400+ miles and you'll know how I looked on the drive home. (Maybe clicking my ruby slippers together and saying "there's no one like Dwight, etc. etc." worked -- what do you think?)
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