The people looked sweet.
Sure, it was a pretty damned silly generalization to make, just looking at them from the stage but they were bright and happy-looking. They didn’t look as if they wanted to or needed to get somewhere else. Most of the people back in the city had almost haunted looks.
I ran through a number of my regular songs. I had no idea how they would respond to them, but I wasn’t all that worried. The whole reason I wanted to sing right away was so if Mr. Fontaine didn’t like it, I’d have a bit of an excuse.
When I finally announced I was done and thanked the audience, though, they erupted in cheers. I was shocked. I was really shocked. I had to wipe a tear from my eye and when they shouted for an encore, I couldn’t believe it.
I played a song from Bobbie Gentry, and they really seemed to love that, too. They called for more, but Carl climbed up onto the stage.
He took the microphone and said, “I said to show her some love, not scare her away.”
Everyone laughed and he said to me, “I want to show you something. You can leave your guitar here on stage.”