Dear John,

Just let me start by saying you are so LOVED.  Just your mere presence inspires everyone around you, but when you pick up your guitar and play, magic happens.

This is probably the only Dear John letter I will ever write and it’s not what you think.  I saw you a few years back when you played with the “Dead and Company”.  You stood out to me among all the rest.  I was blown away by your extraordinary guitar playing and singing.  You are so humble and yet powerful all at once.  You are a force of nature and it’s easy to see why you are so loved.

It was the perfect opening when you took the stage in SD at the Viejas Arena. (A Live Nation venue.) I can’t imagine what you must be feeling standing there, especially with all that love coming back at ya.  I just hope you are able to receive it.  It was a beautiful way to open the show.  Your presence is so pure and humble. Your impeccability stood out to me the most.  Everything from your song choice to how you engage with your audience.  I am actually awestruck.   I can see why you have such a following.  I would be one to follow you on tour as I am sure many of your fans do.  It’s very seductive to want to see you play again and again.  Truly there is something for everybody–any age group.

It was wonderful to hear you play Free Falling.  It was a great tribute to our beloved Tom Petty.  I am so glad you keep his memory alive.  I feel your band is pretty cool and I love the vibe from the backup singers, drums and rhythm section to your guitarists.  The stage was spread out and it just seemed like there was a lot of “breathing room” up there for everyone to shine at different times throughout the show.  It was super cool how you featured all of your talented bandmates.  You seem like one big happy family .

There were so many special moments in this evening’s music and I loved the setlist.  I know you change it up, but I really loved this show and how you moved seamlessly from one song to the next.  You really captivated your audience as we rode this wave with you from start to finish.  It was such a beautiful expression of your mastery.  You have a level of maturity and wisdom, touching our hearts with your songs.  You have really found a way to channel your energy in the best possible way.  You have a humility about you that I hope will remain untouched in a world so harsh.  I know you’ve been through a lot but feel you’ve reached a really great place in your life these days!

Can we talk about your guitar collection?  I lost track of how many guitars you played on-stage and it makes me wonder how many guitars you actually have in your collection.  One of my friends said she feels you are the “Clapton” of this generation, and I’m sure many will agree that it’s an accurate assessment.  Even though you’re already so accomplished,  I feel you have so much inside of you yet to be birthed and the world needs you, after all, we are waiting for the world to change.

I love what you stand for and I stand with you, as well as your thousands of fans.  Keep being YOU plugging into your artistic genius.  I look forward to our future with you.  Some may see you as a “guitar hero” although that is true, I see you as a “guitar healer”.  This is your destiny.

Set List

Set 1:

Helpless
Vultures
Love on the Weekend
Who Says
Moving On and Getting Over
Something Like Olivia
Why Georgia
Waiting on the Day
Edge of Desire

Set 2

Walt Grace (acoustic w/singers)
Daughters (acoustic w/Draper)
Free Falling (acoustic w/DRH)
In the Blood
Rosie
Stop This Train
If Ever I Get Around to Living
Waiting on the World to Change
Carry Me Away
Slow Dancing in a Burning Room
Still Feel Like Your Man (long)
Dear Marie

Encore:  Gravity, New Light

~3rdEyeScribe / BackStage360