Cleveland House of Blues (Page 1 of 2)

The volume did not seem too low to me from right up front.  However, it's usually so loud that close that I have to wear earplugs; I didn't have to this show, though, and did not end up with ringing ears.  If it seemed just right up close, perhaps it would not seem to have adequately reached around the room.  I've only been to 2 other shows there, and the volume level was similar, I think.  My next show there will be Buddy Guy in April, so I wonder how the volume will be then.

After reading many of the comments here, I felt I should toss my two cents in. The show was a little on the low side but that really didnt bother me too much. It could have been a little more booming but no big deal. I do want to comment on this venue though. The House of Blues I thought sucked. I mean it sucked seating wise. Unless you were one of the lucky ones to get a seat, it would have been fine. I along with two other couples drove from Michigan wich was about a 3 1/2 hour trip arrived in Cleveland around noon or as little later. I loved Cleveland! Would like to spend more time there. We went to the HOB and ate lunch and they signed our checks and said we could get in earlier but nobody bothered to tell us where to go in at. We came back later to a fully crowded resturaunt that had an hour wait and we did not want to wait that long because we wanted to get in loine and try to get a decent view of the show. We stood in line for about 45 minutes only to find out that the dinner reciept that gets you in the front of the line was at a different door!!!!! So, by the time we got into the venue everything was gone! I didnt realize that there were all these seats that were reserved as did the party I was with. It was like getting standing room only tickets to a Red Wing Game and watching the tops of the players heads skating around.. I guess I was suppose to feel privaleged for just getting in the same room Joe was at?? My Son and I finally left about half way through the show because he was so tired of standing in one place for so long and I felt sorry for him so I relieved him by going back to the hotel. So, my Son never got to meet Joe. This HOB was like a big mystery. You couldnt see the inside until it opened or nothing. We all showed up early to get in line early to get a decent seat or standing place. Usually when you do this your reward is a better viewing area. Not that night.
I never even met anyone from the Joe board either and that was one big reason I wanted to go so bad. I see all these people on Joes board posting but never met one person! Definetely a weird weekend. Personally I will never go back to the Cleveland HOB again. Management did a pisspore job with the seating arangements. I guess if your from that area you have no problem with the venue because you are allready aquainted with it but me and the others that came with me all pretty much felt the same. We had no idea what seating was like there. If I would have known that it was like this, I would have just showed up at 8:30pm. My Son would have been able to endure the standing and he could have met Joe. Very bad communication for sure.
I will say that Joe did a fantastic job on Dazed and Confused and So Many Roads! It would have been dynamite if I was not to ticked.
Well, thats just my two cents. People in the Cleveland area and Ohio, please dont take offense. I loved your town but just wanted to get this off my chest.

Rob

Hey guys...I've got to agree with some of your comments about the set up at the Cleveland HOB...And I want to go on record as never having said a negative word on this board before...We had dinner at the HOB which was just fine...We got into the venue at about 7:15...We were very surprised at the seating arrangements...or should I sat standing arrangements...We stood in the center right behind the sound technicians...It made for a long stand for the group of 20 I was with...The sound was medium at best...I heard comments all around me asking them to crank it up...It was easier to hear the conversations around me than it was to hear Joe and the band...I think it had to do with the low ceilings above the standing room area...Oh well, congrads to Joe for selling out a big venue...I know that there were many folks seeing Joe for the first time...I enjoyed the show because I've seen it many times before...Joe, Bogie, Mark and Rick gave it the usual 150%...I hope that the first timers appreciated it over the many distractions...

The Other Joe B.

Out of the dozens of JBB shows ive seen ,this was by far the biggest dissapointment.
In the middle of the standing area the incessant crowd chatter was about equal in volume
to the bands louder songs and considerable louder than his accoustic numbers. Partially a combination of too low volume and dozens upon dozens of people who should stay at home if they feel the need to carry on non stop conversations at the expense of others who actually think listening to the band is the reason for being there.

Craig, great post! I think the Cleveland HOB is a nice place but just set up poorly. It definetly would not be bad if you had a reserved seat. I know I said I would never go back but if I had a reserved seat I would definetly think about it. Like I said, I really enjoyed Cleveland. The reason for my posting yesterday was to alert other people what kind of venue this is. If you have General Admission, you had better know the ins and outs of the place if you want to get a decent spot for the show, otherwise forget it and if you are taking a child for the show with GA, I wouldnt recommend it!. I really didnt know that all the reserved seating takes up about half or more of the venue. If your stuck in the back, unless your a diehard fan, its horrible. For anyone that is going anytime soon and is not familliar with the place and you have General admission, eat at the HOB resturaunt earlier in the day and have the waiter or waitress sign your reciept. Then show up a little before the doors open and there is a side door that can be accesssed from inside the resturaunt that will let you get in early!!!! Make sure you ask where because they never told us at all. We just assumed it was where everyone else goes in at. Hope this info helps someone!
Craig, its funny that your talked about SRV playing in a theater. I seen him my first time in a theater and it was awesome. A theater has sloped floors so everyone can see.
Joe Bonamassa, I did enjoy what I seen of your show. The addition of the keyboeardist was a great idea! Hope you cincider it in more of your future shows. I noticed your one step closer to pulling out that bow harp on Dazed and Confused as your version was really good.

Rob

Craig, the seats on the floor were not GA. Not that Im aware of anyways or I would have been up close but there were many others there that would have claimed them first before us anyways. I also had heard that the upper level was reserved when we were there for most of the shows. Ill be more aware the next time of whats going on.

Rob

While I am a huge Joe B. fan; I must admit that I did not go to the House of Blues (or should I say "House of Rules!!!!!!!" Cleveland show because in my humble opinion the venue  really sucks!!!! Besides the sound being really REALLY bad ; the staff and bartenders are very rude !!! I have been there probably 6-7 times for everything from blues, reggae, dancehall reggae , rock and never has the sound been good!!!! Or even closely remote to being good!! I think that it is the design of the venue!!! The only decent sound is on the dance floor right in the middle!!!! If you go further back on the sides off of the main floor the sound is really muffled - it must be because the upper balcony hangs down so low that it blocks most of the sound from the rest of the room!!!! Most of the staff are extremely rude and they usher you out usually A.S.A.P. (or should I say "herd you out like a herd of cows")  Do yourself a favor and drive to a distant venue (Like Pierre's in Ft. Wayne) if you want to see Joe B.     Again this is meant as no disrespect to Joe B.; but it is pure reality of how much the Cleveland House of Blues ( or House of Rules, House of Screws, House of Fools etc. etc.) really sucks wang!!!!!   Rock on Joe!!!!! I'll see you in Any(I mean ANY) other venue than HOB in Cleveland.  Do yourself a favor and avoid this venue at all costs!!!!!

......just to make sure...???

That's my guess and attempt at humor for the day.

PC