The concert was part of a two-day open-air blues fest held in the middle of Střelecký Island on the Vltava River in Prague. It’s a small park, and the audience was around 2,000 to 3,000, though I could easily be wrong about the exact number. What’s more important is that Johnny closed the Saturday night, arriving just in time for his show, which lasted a satisfying hour and a half.
Johnny looked older than his years, but his spirit remained young and enthusiastic. He performed seated and needed assistance getting on and off the stage, but his playing was still excellent! I didn’t catch the entire setlist, but it was likely similar to other shows on the tour, as the band used old, well-worn setlists from previous nights. Johnny opened with Freddie King's Hide Away, and right after the first song, he introduced the band: Wayne June on drums (who also sang Moona), Scot Spray on bass, and James Montgomery on harmonica and vocals (for around three numbers). The vocal help seemed intended to give Johnny a brief rest, though the songs Johnny sang himself were far better. Nevertheless, he poured all his energy into his guitar playing, never holding back during the jams.
One song from the upcoming album, Start Over Again, was performed along with classics like Black Jack, Messin' with the Kid, Got My Mojo Working, and Johnny Guitar. Despite his physical condition, Johnny played with dedication, briefly leaving the stage only to return moments later for a 20-minute encore featuring Low Down Boogie and Bob Dylan's Highway 61.
The gig took place in a clean, lush green park on a small island in the heart of Prague, the "Pearl of Europe." At 8:00 PM, the speaker announced that Johnny was already backstage and would start in 15 minutes. The audience was asked to take photos only during the first three songs, or the rest of the concert would be canceled. True to the announcement, Johnny arrived punctually, smiling broadly. His face appeared thinner and healthier compared to his appearance three weeks earlier in Vienna, and his muscles looked stronger. He sat down and played a fine solo improvisation to warm up his fingers before launching into Hide Away.
From the first moment, it was clear that this was a completely different Johnny than the one seen in Vienna weeks earlier. He was in much better shape, with faster guitar playing, more focus, and less stress. His right hand and foot trembled much less, and his voice was stronger and more articulate. He announced all the numbers and directed the band members during their solos and improvisations. Johnny enjoyed himself throughout the entire 1.5-hour set, delivering short, crystal-clear, speedy solos without mistakes, along with some successful improvisations. The band followed his lead and played flawlessly, with much more freedom than in Vienna.
If a live recording had been made of this concert, it would have been a huge success! Johnny was nearly in the same form as he had been on Live in NYC in 1997–98, playing practically the same set, along with new numbers from the upcoming album, sung by James Montgomery and Wayne June. Some other classics, like Messin' with the Kid and Mona, were also performed, with slide guitar closing out the night. The audience gave Johnny a standing ovation!
If Johnny continues recovering this way, he will soon be able to finish his recording, and we can all be very happy and thank God! According to the local promoter, Johnny is a warm-hearted, good-natured, and easy-going person, without any superstar ego. He arrived days early, enjoyed Prague immensely, and showed no signs of "world-star" attitude.
Sorry for my basic English, but I wanted to capture the atmosphere of the concert and share the good news with you all.
Go Johnny Go!
With love to you all,
Andras from Hungary
