An obliging, if incapacitated Stevie Ray Vaughan was willing to be interviewed. But he wouldn't be talking.
Singer/guitarist Vaughan was suffering from an extremely sore throat. Under Doctor's orders, he was saving his voice for the evening's show.
So with slate and stylus in hand, Stevie Ray scribbled quick answers to several questions prior to Sunday's performance.
Regarding the Cinemax Blues Session he'd just finished taping with Gladys Knight, B.B. King and others, Vaughan noted, "Billy Ocean sang his tail off- he really surprised everybody!"
Vaughan also smiled compliments for Jennifer Warnes, "I think she's great!" In reference to his tasteful solo on "First We Take Manhattan" from Warnes' "Famous Blue Raincoat" album, he scrawled "I just played how I felt."
Stevie's older brother, Jimmie Vaughan is a guitarist for the Fabulous Thunderbirds. When asked about the T-Birds new album, Stevie wrote that the elder Vaughan brother describes the just recorded album as "Bo Diddley Goes To Mars."
There is a obvious depth of feeling between the Vaughan brothers- they've been planning an album together for some time. When asked about a possible tour with his brother, Stevie pantomimed "twist my arm", adding emphatically "I hope so!"
"We both have to have the time," wrote Vaughan. "This album is very important to both of us. We want it to be fun- not necessarily just blues-but all kinds of things."
On his newfound sobriety, Vaughan wrote that he hasn't had a drink in 7 months, adding "it's not easy, but it's lots better than it used to be (when I was drinking.)
Summing up his struggle to straighten up, Vaughan reflected, "the Blues are just pain, and the spiritual response to suffering is growth!"
A question about Stevie's favorite guitar, the Fender Stratocaster, led to a conversation with Zack Berry, Vaughan's guitar technician.
Berry later revealed that a "top secret" prototype guitar modification co- developed by Stevie Ray will be marketed this summer by Texas Guitar Products.
In his concert later, Vaughan's array of vintage Strats all saw use, as broken strings plagued his first few soloes. But Berry was always at hand with a fresh Fender and Stevie seldom missed a note.
Resplendent in natty tan suit, snakeskin cowboy boots, and plumed, black cowboy hat, Vaughan compensated for a lacking voice with his lead guitar sorcery.
Several songs had expanded instrumental breaks. If Vaughan's guitar was doing all his talking for him, it seemed to have plenty to say!
Opening with several tracks from the "Soul To Soul" album, his arrangement of Buddy Guy's "Mary Had A Little Lamb" followed.
"Ain't Gone' N' Give Up On Love" featured a crowd pleasing behind-the back guitar solo. "Superstition" brought a fast and furious instrumental duel between Stevie and keyboardist, Reece Wynans.
The nearly two hour concert concluded with an encore of "Love Struck Baby". A mirrored ball and lighting design that made effective use of the stage accented the evening's final number.
Nearly two thousand fans were in attendance at Sunday's show, which was opened by Rick Medlocke and Blackfoot. Their set included "Saturday Nights" the single/video from their new album, and their vintage hits "Train, Train", and "Highway Song".