Walnut Creek ARF Concert

January 11, 1998

The show at Walnut Creek (California) for the ARF (Animal Rescue Fund) was truly an experience. The benefit is headed up by St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa who gained the support of Mark McGuire (52 homers in '97) & many well-heeled, be-jeweled, tuxedo'd folks. With the best seats running at $250, the parking lot looked like a luxury car dealership. I think someone anonymously donated $500,000, that's how serious this annual event is. Some of the artists who donated their services were AMERCA, Huey Lewis & Paul Williams. We have a few fotos from the show & perhaps a few more later. GERRY & DEWEY worked very closely w/Tony to coordinate their parts. AMERICA opened the show w/a few songs & came back for a few more & finally closed the show w/Huey Lewis & the news. The entertainment was very carefully interwoven w/various ARF related events. DEWEY opened the show w/a thundering version of VENTURA HIGHWAY. These performing arts centres usually have impressive sound/acoustic systems & DEWEY'S voice thunders thru like blue lightening. Even Jerry Reinsdorf (white sox & bulls owner) was said to say wooh !, AMERICA is damn good ! As one of the organizers said, these benefits are always tough on the performers since the entertainment needs to weave around all the perfunctory aspects of the cause. He said that one reason that AMERICA was asked is because they have a reputation for being cooperative & easy to do business with & therein remains one of the hallmarks of GERRY & DEWEY & the crew & one of the reasons for their longevity. The program contained an extensive bio on GERRY & DEWEY & mentioned the great work on their latest CD, HOURGLASS. So we salute GERRY & DEWEY for their great work for a great cause. Also, just to mention that Paul Williams is quite a gentleman too & we will include a foto of him & his piano player. It was heart warming to see AMERICA in this classy setting. All amid the work that is going on to create a new CD, perhaps we may see a single, first. You know they work so hard to produce new material & the work is stressful, but you all know the final product. Please continue to give them big applause & support at the next show. And now onward & upward for AMERICA in 1998, all the best is yet to come.

Click on the photos below to see a larger version. The fotos w/AMERICA were done during the sound check.