Sydney, Australia - October 5th 2012 (Page 1 of 2)

I know that buzz only too well Shadowblue.  I'll get it again next Thursday in Melbourne where I'm betting we will have Mr Barnes as a guest (not that I have any inside knowledge - just a guess).  Check out my work colleague's review of the Sydney show here http://plummetonions.com/2012/10/06/joe … e-theatre/

Great show. I was still buzzing when I got home and found it hard to sleep. Couldn't fault any part of it at all. Joe's shows are all about the music and the audience, no need for flashy light shows or effect. Highlights for me was the accoustic set at the begining, especially Driving Towards the Daylight and Midnight Blues, Ballad of John Henry, Song of Yesterday, Django/Mountain Time, Sloe Gin and Just Got Paid from the electric set. Man, I loved it all actually. Interacton with the audience was excellent too. And as a player, just watching the subtleties of Joe's playing was awsome, the light and shade as Jimmy Page calls it. The changes in pick attack, use of volume and tone controls, swapping pickups, finger picking. Excellent stuff, a lesson all in itself along with a great show. Being in row 5 helped to see all this up fairly close.

I saw Joe last year at the Emnore Theatre, and gear wise this year was a bit pared down. Had only 3 Les Pauls for the electric side of things, but obviously a few accoustics as there were more accoustic songs this time. For the gearheads, all Les Pauls looked to be reissues, one appeared to be his Rossington Les Paul. I think I could make out one of aging dings behind the tail piece. The bigsby Les Paul could have been his 60 Burst, but also one of the recent Collector Choice #3's. I'm pretty sure Joe had Magellan out here for last years tour. Maybe other gearheads who were there last night could chime in and maybe correct me if i'm wrong.

Also just want to add that the support act Claude Hay was excellent too. Have to admit I'd never heard of him before (I know, shame on me) but as a one man act he was superb and had a great rootsy vibe to his music. Well worth checking out if you haven't seen him.

No 59's Pete. Nothing Joe played looked like Magellan or Principal Skinner. The bigsby Les Paul could have been his 60 Burst, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was one of the recent CC #3 Les Pauls, which is based on Joe's 60 Burst. Given the rigmarole with airlines and trying to transport such valuable instruments around the globe, maybe it's not worth the hassle of taking them out of the States. I think Joe did post that last year he had disagreements with Jet Star about getting Magellan into Australia.

DTTD is a great album, and I like that artists look to do something a bit different with each new album. I think opening the show with an acoustic set is a good change to the show and as a player I do love the diversity. I think it was well received by the Sydney audience, and they certainly warmed up during the electric part of the show. For the encore, which was Sloe Gin and Just Got Paid, the crowd in the stalls stood and moved up to the stage. Joe and the band got the audience involved in the performance, especially Tal during his drum solos. I can only speak for the Sydney show of course. I guess not as much gear is being lugged around this time round, but then for overseas artists I can't imagine touring Australia is an inexpensive exercise. I'm just grateful and thankful that I get to see an artist I admire at the top of his game. So many other artists I admire have never made the trip Down Under or have done so later in their careers.

Thanks for the reports and reviews. I'm so looking forward to hearing the new set list. I'm sure that the cost of transport and risk with a priceless and irreplaceable instrument had everything to do with leaving the 59's safe at home. The airlines have broken two of Joe's favorite guitars during the last Asian tours.
Rick

Thanks for posting those links Rick. It never even occured to me to search for footage from the Sydney show, let alone that it would be out there so quick.

Those videos are really excellent quality. Thanks for finding and posting them.

Hi datam0nk3y. I hate to be pedantic , but it was Neil Schon who played the solo on the original 80's version of TMAEL. Can't wait for the Melbourne show (I have front row tickets), and glad everyone has been enjoying the tour so far.

Thanks Oz!! Great reactions and quality films. Sounds like the boys are doing well trying to cover the continent. I do hope J Barnes shows up in Melbourne because I really want a video of "Too Much..", some of my fav JB guitar riffs from DTTD are in that song.   Cathy