The first thing I noticed as the Doobie Brothers band was milling around the back stage was Billy Payne. Many of you know him as a stellar keyboard player who cut his teeth with Little Feat. I know I did…I have seen Bill perform so many times across a 40 year period I have totally lost the ability to count the dates. When I see Bill I remember so many flashbacks to times I was on his stage crew to the times where I saw him from a few feet away as a fan so many years ago. I was always taken back by his keyboard playing. He can hit the keys so hard and do fast at times it is just amazing. He really has his own style that no one has copied. Maybe that is because no one can.
I am going to start right here and tell you about this concert on this night. I have been to a large number of Doobie Brothers shows over the decades. I have been to see Gregg Allman countless times and met him on more than one occasion. This show on this night was something very special. It was like an all star stage full of awesome players that played across bands and songs. It was an incredible night for the educated listener. I am going to go ahead and say it. This was my absolute favorite concert of the year. It was that good.
Here is China Grove. The track was originally titled “China Groove” after the band’s tradition of naming demos after whatever brand of cigarette Tom Johnston was smoking at the time. According to Johnston, “…I really owe Billy Payne for the words because he played this wacky bridge that started the thinking process with this wacky sheriff, samurai swords, and all that.”
When the sun comes up on a sleepy little town
Down around San Antone
And the folks are risin for another day
Round about their homes
The people of the town are strange
And they’re proud of where they came
Well, you’re talkin bout china grove
Oh, china grove
Well, the preacher and the teacher
Lord, they’re a caution
They are the talk of the town
When the gossip gets to flyin
And they ain’t lyin
When the sun goes fallin down
They say that the father’s insane
And dear missus Perkins a game
Were talkin bout the china grove
Oh, china grove
But every day theres a new thing comin
The ways of an oriental view
The sheriff and his buddies
With their samurai swords
You can even hear the music at night
And though it’s a part of the lone star state
People don’t seem to care
They just keep on lookin to the east
Talkin bout the china grove
Oh, china grove