One of SA’s top recording artists and 2oceansvibe friend, James Stewart, has finally had his moment in the sun with the great man. Increasingly elusive, it seems that stolen moments with the TBG (Tall Blonde Guy) are nothing short of sacred. Some call it the second coming. Some say he is an illusion, a myth. Call it what you want, the man is a gift to us all and we should embrace him – as we see him embracing young James here, below.

Let’s see what James had to say:

James Stewart and The TBG

Hey Seth,

Ok. Let me take a deep breath and start at the beginning…

I invited all my friends to Ignite some time ago to record a live album. We flew the fantastic Tom Fox (guitar player for The Usual & Bright Blue) out from New Zealand where he is hiding now. We also enjoyed the company of Yoyo (bass player The Usual) and Preston Heymann (drummer & percussionist for Eric Clapton, Peter Gabriel,Kate Bush and a host of pasty English bands).

I was in great company – sophisticated, yet rowdy. The weather was perfect. We played two great sets and our sound engineer Richard Black from Street Level Records said it couldn’t have gone any better…..well, bless him – he couldn’t have been further off the mark.

Admittedly by 11.30pm i was swimming like a miggie in a near-exhausted bottle of Famous Grouse. We were having a laugh. The room grew quiet. I looked up. I’ve seen so many pictures and heard so many wondrous accounts of chance (is it really chance?) encounters with the Tall Blonde Guy (TBG) but I immediately ‘understood’……….. there he was – at MY gig!!

“Nice show” he said.

Just those two words. I’ve had compliments from diplomats, CEO’s and captains of the music industry that simply fall away in their emptiness compared to this zen utterance.

Witty, warm, interested…..

The picture, seth, speaks for itself.

I’m a bastard. I said I’d keep the picture to myself as he’s wearied by the public obsession with him. But my ego got the better of me and i just hope The TBG understands that I simply couldn’t resist. I had to let you and your readers know of my blessing.

Thanks, for everything.

James Stewart

Well done, James. You deserve it. One cannot comprehend the magic you must have felt being held so tightly by the Atlantic Icon. Your joy in the photograph is tangible.