We all know there's a war going on, and there's just no two ways about it……things are tense! The Dixie Chicks are trashing the President, Charlie Daniels is trashing the anti-war crowd, and Sean Penn has all the answers. What are average Joe Hawk, Joe Dove, and Joe Apathetic supposed to do on a Friday night to bring peace back to the fractured social scene?  Hey, here's an idea- Tommy Conwell at the Café Tatoo in Baltimore with a cue from his lyrics to "Rock With You,"

Hey someone's shoutin' somethin' on TV
'Bout somethin' somewhere way across the sea.
Hey what's that got to do with you and me?
I wanna ROCK with you.

And that's exactly what a small but enthusiastic crowd did last Friday night, March 28, 2003. Tommy played for solid, two-plus hours with an energy that would make even the hardcore ideologue forget world troubles for a while.  The crowd was treated to material from all over the map; Jazz to Punk, Rumble to Hi Ho Silver; Rockabilly to Rock; Two standout covers included "Six Days on the Road" and “Shake Rattle and Roll.”  Tommy, accompanied by his Little King bass player and a new drummer, took the crowd on a musical journey down memory lane when he wailed on his popular Rumbler classics including “Everything They Say is True,” “Love’s on Fire,” and “If We Never Meet Again.” At the conclusion of “If We Never Meet Again,” Tommy treated the crowd to a lesson in slide guitar and told the story of how songwriter Jules Shear didn’t want the Rumblers to release the song. The crowd was responsive with one heckler in particular named Wolfman chanting, “You are a LEGEND!”

Now as anyone knows who has seen Tommy, the show is far more than just the music.  Watching him wail on his guitar while on his knees, his amp, the bar, or even *outside* of the club is always an experience.  (Where does he buy instrument cables that long?)  Granted, if there had been a pyrotechnic mishap at the show, no one would have had any trouble getting out, but Tommy's passion was undimished, proving what a professional he is.  For those of us who have never experienced the spotlight in the way Tommy did (that would probably be everyone reading this), it may seem a vicarious letdown for the great guitar-slinging, mousse-enhanced, heart-throb Tommy Conwell to be playing small clubs like Café Tattoo. To the contrary! You'll never pick up that vibe from him, making him one of the seemingly few to descend the mountain of celebrity unscathed.

Pete Baker opened the evening with a great set of blues tunes, showing off his chops to the delight of the appreciative crowd.  Here's a guy who's not afraid to take some chances on stage either, which really made for a fun set.  He later accompanied Tommy and traded licks on several numbers including “Guitar Trouble.” Peter Baker on his guitar hero, “Tommy leaves me speechless every time. Tommy could make Hellen Keller get up and shake her ass. No one even comes close!  Between his guitar playing, singing, and delivery, it's no wonder the labels had a bidding war over him. After seeing him, I feel like I should sell my guitar and just stop playing... maybe sell fences for a living! Honestly, that is the only shame of it to me. That a guy with that much talent isn't a household name from here to China, Cause he should be!”

Overall, a great diversion from world events and an evening of good fun with a legend and his protégé.