John Waite, Wonderdrug
Spin Nightclub
Saturday, March 10, 7 p.m.

To many, John Waite is better recognized by his leadership of 1980s rock band Bad English, but before he was an American heartthrob, he was scrounging up pub gigs in the British countryside. The Englishman has tasted humble beginnings to chart-topping hits and back again. His newest album, “Downtown … Journey of a Heart,” still crowns Waite the “king of the ballad,” but offers a seasoned and more reflective approach.

With guest appearances from musicians like Alison Krauss, “Downtown … Journey of a Heart” takes us back to a suburbanite’s way of playing music. Krauss helps reinvent Waite’s long-ago hit “Missing You.” The two show us where British countryside and American riverside meet. Waite’s cover of Bob Dylan’s “Highway 61” adds to the Southern feel, but influences from Waite’s early days with The Baby’s and Bad English spike the album still with elements of rock. Other guest appearances include Indiana’s own Kyle Cook (guitarist, Matchbox 20) and Eric and Marc Johnson (Pop Machine, Wonderdrug). Both will perform with Waite at Spin Nightclub on Saturday.

Guest appearances aside, Waite’s latest album proves his craft as a solo artist. After all, that’s how it began. Waites’ extensive tour has also earned him recent performances on “Jay Leno” and at Nashville’s Grand Ol’ Opry.