Do y'all want a Miami Review? (Page 1 of 2)

Lay it on us, Doctor Funkadelic!

Hit me, Funky D, hit me.....

Bad, bad BJJ!! Consider yourself cyberslapped! I've half a mind to tell Ms. Tia. You know I'm immune to guilt. Now you can add begging to that list. You are now known as Big Tease Jeff. So Brair Rabbit, Mr. Man, please don't tell me anything about the show. Nope, don't want to know. I would like to blues your bottom!!   Double, double, toil and trouble.....where's my cauldron?..........C

OK I'm back and me ol skinny arse is dragging...

Big surprise.  The Gusman Hall was way more crowded than I expected it to be. 

Set List was the same...if memory serves:

Ballad of John Henry
Last Kiss
So Many Roads
So Its Like That
If Heartaches were Nickels
Further on Up the Road
Sloe Gin
Lonesome Road Blues
Happier Times
Bridge to Better Days
Had to Cry Today
Great Flood
Woke up Dreaming
Mountain Time
****Encore****
Ball Peen Hammer
Just got Paid

The acoustics were insanely good.  The band was LOUD but complete definition & separation were the rule rather than the exception.  Nice job mixing.  I saw some really old (er than me) couple there.  I never saw them flinch.  They liked it.

The first six tunes were just a powerhouse of non-stop, modern day, push the edges in all directions, blues done in a way that is all Joe and only Joe.  Man, he can play.  I even jeard a little section that caught me by surprise...a Black Sabbath riff?  Did I hear what I think I heard?

Joe is a bluesman.  His lights and production and that Gibson/Marshall roar is a gut punch like a hard rock show.  It occured to me that in a perfect storm, Joe is the lightning and the boys are the thunder.

Bridge To Better Days begins a hard rocking  turn with another funk overload intro.  I just love that.  Had To Cry Today is an Old Rock song but even that gets the TREATMENT. 

My disclaimer here is simply this.  Even though I recognize the genius of Steve Winwood, this is not my favorite tune of his, or Traffic's.  Carmine puts a special twist and feel on this tune and Joe just beats it into complete submission...I'm glad they do it.   Nice change-up.

I really listen to what each and every one of the musicians are doing.  Occupational Hazard, I reckon.   Rick adds so much.

But those tom tom war drums brought in The Great Flood and I was back in 2009, again.  They make me feel a disturbance in the force.  Joe just sings that song like it's the end of the world.

Woke Up Dreaming gets it's own variation of Flamenco with those Arabesque (Gypsy?  Greek?) scales and as usual I could look around the room and see which people were guitarists in the audience.  They were all sniffling and shaking their heads and giving it up to Glory...from dumfounded to weeping in just a few minutes.  heh heh.  Take that you wankers. 

MountainTime is another one of those soulful weepers.  Simply Awesome.

The encore ripped all the paint off the walls and nobody could remain seated.  Joe had us in the palm of his hands.  Yes the Zep segue was there and Jimmy Page (wherever he is) felt clammy for a moment.

I made it 244 miles in less than 4 hours on the way down to Miami.  I made it back today in 3.5 hours exactly.  Do NOT try this at home. 

Had a fantastic hang with Bogie.  He's like my lil bro... or sumpn... Rick joined us for his version of an 8 minute dinner and Carmine was out and about.

We walked back to the gig then.  I "ushered" in that Olympia Theatre when I was much younger.  I was walking around just sucking it all in.  Evidently they just spent 4 mil renovating that place.  It's very much like the Jax theater...only plusher.

Much to their credit the road crew handled the lunatic chaos involved with it being the last gig in this part of the world, this part of the tour, with aplomb.  It was a little bit chaotic.  Just a lil inside glimpse.  Certainly invisible to the rest of the world.  So respect to all road dogs.  and Thanks for working so hard! 

I was surrounded by a bevy of beauties before the night was over but I was a good boy and went up to my room and crashed...alone.  I'm really getting old.

So in conclusion; Joe never needs to worry about filling up that hall again.  Miami awaits your return, Kemosabe.

MuchLove
MuchSmoov
BJJ

  Dr Funkapotamus??

4 wheels , mate...my Town Car.

Jeff - you made it feel like I was there - great review.

Was " Heartaches Were Nickels" the acoustic version from LFNIP or are we back to electric now?
Hope it stays in the set when the guys head over here at the end of the month - I've not heard either version live before but it's a great song, and one of Mrs Icons favourites.
And "Bridge" is back too!

Ian

Thanks Jeff!

Sandy