DISQUS

MichaelFortes · 3 months ago

Damn, only you could write a piece on Jack Wagner and make it unironically entertaining. This is awesome! Too bad about the covers, though. I'm going to take your word on those.

jefito · 3 months ago

That's high praise, and I don't take it lightly. Thanks!

Bonnie · 3 months ago

wow-thank you so much for the article. I've gone to see jack at Mohegan almost every year for the last 5 years. It's great that he does this for the fans every year. I'm glad to see him getting some publicity for it

jefito · 3 months ago

Glad you enjoyed the article, Bonnie!

jasonhare · 3 months ago

It's really nice to see that Wag doesn't take himself too seriously, and seems to know exactly where he stands in the entertainment industry. I think that's the most appealing thing about him.

Years ago, before my very first Acoustic '80s gig, my wife saw that I was essentially shitting a brick with nerves. She said to me, "Just have a good time, and we all will too." I wrote it on a little Post-it note and it's been taped to my guitar ever since. It can be a hard thing to take to heart, but Jack is absolutely right: if you're honestly having fun as a performer, everyone else will join in. (It doesn't hurt, of course, that the guy looks amazing and his vocal skills remain intact.) That's why I'd take Wagner over someone like Ryan Adams any day. Who needs to watch someone who looks like they'd rather be somewhere else? It was clear last Friday that Wag was in his element, loving his (somewhat crazy) audience, and that's (I'm going there) all he needs. (Ugh.)

Oh, and I'm not embarrassed at all by my behavior. I'm more than willing to proudly admit that he completely won me over the moment he sang "All I Need" in the original key. Props, Wag! Props!

Matt · 3 months ago

This is a recap of the greatest day in American history. And one that I missed. Dammit, I shoulda taken that personal day!

jasonhare · 3 months ago

I'm pretty sure there will be another opportunity right around this time in 2010.

Matt · 3 months ago

I'm looking forward to it already. Do next year's plans include you getting there on time as well? I'm happy to kick some freeway ass to help make that happen.

jasonhare · 3 months ago

I'd like to think I'll be there on time next year. You have no idea what it's like to be stopped on the thruway in the rain, freaking out because you're missing JACK WAGNER.

Michael · 3 months ago

Wait, we're going back?

jefito · 3 months ago

Yes, and you're standing in line at 10 the night before.

JonCummings · 3 months ago

Nah, just show up an hour before showtime with a neck brace.

KellyStitzel · 3 months ago

I would seriously consider traveling from Cincinnati to be a part of this, if you guys go again. I am not kidding.

EightE1 · 3 months ago

I sense the beginnings of a Popdose night out forming. After the show, we could all hole up at the Giles compound and wait for the ATF to arrive ...

The tweets that Jeff and Jason sent out from this show were hilarious -- I was at the beach, getting marvelously loaded, keeping track of the goings on via Twitter. Thanks for the tweetin' that night, guys, and thanks to Jeff for a fine article.

Rob
EightE1

jefito · 3 months ago

POPDOSE FEST 2010...featuring Jack Wagner, Alan O'Day, and Wing!

Caroline Catinazzo · 3 months ago

Great article! It was nice to meet you and I'm glad you had a good time at the show. Maybe we'll see you again next year. : ) (Caroline---[one of the twins])

jefito · 3 months ago

The pleasure was all ours, Caroline. Thanks for reading!

Michael · 3 months ago

Your words... they make me feel like I was there. Oh, wait, I was!

In all seriousness, outside of the "unfortunate numbers" it was a damn entertaining.

EAE · 3 months ago

Thanks for the article on Jack.
I've seen over 40 concerts and always enjoy them.
Jack's voice is amazing.

Ted · 3 months ago

Thanks for this article! Jack Wagner has made some excellent albums for that vein of pop/West Coast/AOR music and I wish he would record some more. It's nice to know the fans have stayed loyal after all these years and the long gaps between music releases.

Ted · 3 months ago

Thanks for the article. Wagner has made some great albums if you are a fan of that vein of West Coast/AOR 80's music. It would be great if he recorded some more. The fact that the fans turn out after all the years in between the releases speaks volumes.

terje · 3 months ago

This is beautiful, Jeff.

Jeff Pescetto?

jefito · 3 months ago

Pescetto is Wagner's guitarist -- he's collaborated with him on his last two albums. Surprise!

paula · 3 months ago

This was awesome from beginning to end. Thank you so much for doing it! I read the rough draft / interview you did with Jack at Wagner World and was impressed by the interesting, thoughtful questions. The finished article did not disappoint. You're an excellent writer -- smart, honest and very funny, yet still respectful (some of the same reasons I've been a JW fan all these years :) ). I will be checking out this site more often. :)

jefito · 3 months ago

Thanks for the kind words, Paula!

pete · 3 months ago

You just made me care about Jack Wagner. Well done, Jeff...

jefito · 3 months ago

Why, thank you, sir.

Ted · 3 months ago

Thanks for the article. Wagner made some excellent West Coast/AOR CD's in the 80's and has always been given a raw deal with the tastemakers/radio back in that era. It's impressive to hear the loyalty of the fans to show up with such a long gap between his music releases to hear him sing.

BradG77 · 3 months ago

Jeff,

Fantastic article!

Upon finishing reading it, I found myself disappointed that you didn't continue on for several more paragraphs. It was a great, balanced piece that was at times complimentary and at others, somewhat critical. I have not seen an article deal with Jack's music career probably in 20-25 years, and you provided insights that we wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

I, like you, was a fan of Jack's from his earliest beginnings on GH and I know exactly where you're coming from. You have written exactly what I was interested in reading and the only drawback is that you didn't get an hour for your interview..so many questions!

Great job!

jefito · 3 months ago

Thanks for the kind words, Brad. It's nice to know the fans enjoyed it!

Lynn · 3 months ago

Myself and a friend has seen Jack over a few years now at the Mohegan Sun. I travel 5 hours from Pennsylvania every year to see him. We can't wait for the next show. He always puts on such an awesome show. We also have followed him to Pittsburgh to play golf as well as concerts and on Broadway in New York. We love you Jack!!

Malchus · 3 months ago

Great, great, great article, Jeff.

jefito · 3 months ago

Thanks, Scott. I'm really pleased you think so.

billy budapest · 3 months ago

I suspect that the "blues on a Bel Air golf course" remark was Lubin's. It's snarky cynicism has his fingerprints all over it!

jefito · 3 months ago

I'll never tell!