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April 11, 2008 marked the first show in the Mike Roe "John The Baptist" tour. Roe is traveling for about a week visiting friends and playing small solo shows and dubbing it the "John the Baptist Tour" because he's "preparing the way" for a new 77s record and a probable 77s tour this summer.

The concert was held in the "live room" of the studio at BackThird Audio, a recording studio in downtown Aurora, Illinois, with about 40 or so fans in attendance. It was a special and intimate night with the very talented singer-songwriter. Mike Roe entertained us with his impeccable sense of cool and beautiful music and his sense of humor.

After a brief introduction by Jeff Elbel; Mike Roe entered the room wearing a black T-shirt, jeans, his Burks with socks, puffy black hair and chin whiskers, and dark shades; sat down with his Taylor acoustic guitar and proceeded to blow the house down. He began the night with what he referred to as a warm up song about adultery and sin, but he assured us that he'd redeem it in the end. Then he played Velvet Underground's "Pale Blue Eyes' and redeemed it just like Lou Reed did almost 40 years ago, by going right into the very next song on that great VU album, "Jesus." it was impressive and moving.  Roe joked through the night, and as he played song after song he told stories of the 77s in the studio, his daughter's musical aspirations, disreputable roadies, his buddies, and of the old song writers he was honoring by playing their songs for us in the room, and on the highly anticipated new record [probably titled Holy Ghost Building]. The meat of the night was the new record. Roe played every song he expected to be on that release when it comes out, and talked about the choices. The record has been in the works for two years and will be mostly traditional blues, rock, and Americana music with that wonderful 77s twist.

Mike Roe is a very talented fellow. He has a variety of moods and styles to his voice as well as his guitar playing. He can grumble, mumble, scream and rock as hard as any guitar-hero you know, and then he can turn around and pick out beautiful melodies on his six string as he sings sweetly and tenderly. As the artist took us through the process of the evening's show, he played his acoustic for a while then stood up and put on his unusual Kay electric guitar for a few tunes, switched to his Fender Strat, and then back to his Taylor acoustic to finish the night. Roe deftly drove through some originals and played all of the covers he'll be putting on the record he's mixing, and promoting at the same time. It's always a treat to see Mike Roe do his thing live. This night was no exception. Good times.
Tony LaFianza 4/17/08