Mark Plati talking about the Story Tellers Gig.
This Journal was first submitted to BowieNet.

For me, the Storytellers gig was an amazing show to have had the opportunity to be a musician. I've known David and most of the band for quite some time now, but always in my capacity as producer/engineer. When I heard about the Storytellers gig and the possibility of there being an expanded band for it, I knew it was something I'd love to do (in fact, I'd 'pestered' Reeves long ago about being a second guitarist if David ever did MTV 'Unplugged'). It seemed obvious to me to play with this band - I was already playing with them on record anyway - though arriving at that situation could be a bit awkward. Kind of like asking out a girl whom you've known for a while. You know it'd be great, but what if she just wants to be friends?

I finally asked David and he was into the idea. (How did I do this? In our 90's universe, by email of course.....). Soon I was in the band making the transition from my usual instrument (bass) to 12 string guitar, meaning fresh callouses and sore tendons for a little while. I've worked with Holly and Lani before on other sessions, so this was like one big happy family for me (in db's words at the gig, 'all lovely and warm and moist'). I played bass on 'hours...' so I knew all of the new songs, and the older stuff is just burned in my memory anyway. Indeed, on the day of the show David pulled me aside and said 'Hey, we're in a jam - do you know 'Rebel Rebel'?' To me, this was on par with asking 'Who is buried in Grant's Tomb?'.

The band was very together from the start, and songs like 'Word on a Wing' and 'Drive in Saturday', which hadn't been done in years, had an amazing amount of life. The new songs fit in seamlessly with the old. 'Can't Help Thinking About Me' was a pleasant surprise to all (and it let me work out a lot of Who fantasies, thank you very much). I felt that David had cooked up a fabulous set list - new and old, popular and obscure. One of my favorites was a song I didn't even play on, 'Life on Mars'. What a piece! And that voice.....

The show itself was fantastic, it felt like we were doing something very special. The setting was ideal- I agree with Tony Visconti, let's do more of these little get-togethers! The audience seemed genuinely happy to be in this small theater, having David perform directly for THEM. I could see it in their faces. His stories were fantastic (my favorite? The Marzipan Berlin Wall, followed by Doug Bennett the roadie). And being onstage with this group of people/musicians- David, Mike, Sterling, Gail, Holly, Lani, and my soul brother Gabrels - was such a privilege.

Afterwards people actually asked for my autograph, a first for me - a bit startling (hey, what did I do?), but okay! Also, I see that a chart I made for Mike Garson ended up in somebody's hands and got scanned and posted on the site. Hey, that's mine! Later I mixed the show for broadcast, and my feeling at the time was confirmed- we really kicked.

I'm taking the fall off from making records to play more shows with these guys. It's a great break for me from the four studio walls, and besides, they rock!

It's every musician's dream to play with some of their musical influences, and this has surely fulfilled one of mine.