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Saw you website on SRV and think your compilation of concerts and "imports" was fabulous. Although I don't have exact gig dates for you, I thought I'd pass along some SRV memories as you appear to have some interest in their history especially from the period he was playing at Fitzgeralds.

While in college at Stephen F. Austin State Univ in Nacogdoches, Texas in the fall 1982, a friend said that we should check out this guy who was playing at the univ. auditorium - Stevie Ray Vaughan. The playbill indicated just back from Montreaux... funny that we didn't know how they received him there.

We sat in the second row next to the giant Cerwin Vega speakers and were blown away. Never seen anybody play like that or do that to a guitar. He pogo-sticked on #1 during Third Stone. Our mouths were agape. My buddy and I went back in the wee hours and he took the playbill saying one day this guy will be famous. My ears rang for 3 days.

Throughout the fall 1982 through the winter 1983 SRV returned to Nacogdoches every month or two, I guess on his way to or from Houston (Fitzgerald's). He played the only local bar, "The Crossroads". He would generally play 2 full sets pushing the limits of legal closing time. The Crossroads held about 100 people at best and looked like the video from Love Struck Baby w/ pool tables in the back, backgammon on the side of a little stage. We saw him there about 4-5 times. The first few times it was half full and if you wanted you might get a game of pool in during the break. The latter few we were hoping the fire marshall was home asleep it was so packed. The first time there, I sat at table right in front w/ our pitchers of beer and he had those same damn speakers in this small bar, thought my ears would bleed. He knew how loud it was and hit these ear splitting hi-fret bends grinning. Sitting on the edge of stage next to us at the encore playing Lenny, didn't relieve the pain. On subsequent times we sat at the side of the next to guitar roadie. Chris Layton would bum cigarettes off of me during sets... remember the look and snare pop he gave me the one time I tossed him a Marlboro Light instead of a red ... hey that's all they had in the machine. If we bought drinks, Stevie would have Crown and rocks. During one visit, a buddy from Austin who was did some rock'n'roll mag writing and passing time in school there, went to his hotel and interviewed him. I guess they hit it off well enough, they did dinner, drinks, etc...my roommate didn't give me the phone message to come over have a few w/ Stevie until too late. They talked about the new record and all. Lee passed away a year later and the interview tape was lost in the mix... Who'd have known.

In the summer 83, Stevie was doing the Bowie gig and that was the last of the clubs. I consider myself lucky to have been in the right spot at the right time. As SRV's career progressed, it was great to hear the stuff he played there at The Crossroads finally come out on commercial records. Some of my favorite moments in the world were.. the intro ... from Austin, SRV and Double Trouble and right into Testify or You'll Be Mine. The best was having Stevie in rare Buddy Guy - like moment, climb on and tighrope the railing at the side of the stage, stepping-stone onto a few tables and then onto our 3x3 table. I remember trying to play it cool while clearing off the pitchers and glasses and holding this little table with him on it still so he wouldn't fall, all while he played the entire solo to Little Wing practically in my face. Had never heard him play the song before, and did not again until it was released commercially. Assume that you've seen DVDs of that era, the showmanship stuff was great... behind the back, the head, with the teeth, throwing #1 everywhere. Could not understand how that guitar took what it did night in and out. The band cued off each other so well, and they really mixed it up well.

I saw on your website that there are recordings from Fitzgerald's from that era, and the most notable or best are considered Force of Nature 1 and 2. Those set lists appear to mimic The Crossroads shows. I would love to know how to obtain a copy of them and would appreciate any assistance/guidance you could provide. Unfortunately, I do not have any other shows to offer for trade, only some anecdotes and memories.

One side of me is hesitant to find and hear them, because I'm afraid what they do to my memories, but on the other hand I'm dying to hear them. My memory was that the shows from that time period were so tight and free and blew away all the later arena shows I saw, he never had the freedom to do what he did in those little places again.

Again appreciate your website work and keep it up.

Bill

P.S. As I'm writing this my son's looking over my shoulder asking what's up with the email address. He jibes me about SRV and was about this email. He is all Slash and GnR all the time. I toggled over to your site and now he won't stop chirping to press send so he can check out your site. Cheers.