MN Zoo Amphitheater - August 16, 2008

The set list:

Spike Driver Blues
Bridge To Better Days
So Many Roads
Mountain Time
Another Kind Of Love
Sloe Gin
High Water Everywhere
Your Funeral And My Trial
Blues Deluxe
Woke Up Dreaming
Just Got Paid
encore
One Of These Days
Asking Around For You

The term "best show ever" gets used a lot on this forum in relation to a Joe show you just witnessed - quite understandable. Well, I think the term applies here for me.

Joe played to a full or nearly full house in the amphitheater at the MN Zoo for the second year in a row. Last year when Joe played this venue his show was interrupted by a downpour of rain as Joe called it "of Biblical proportions". Joe remembered how amazed and honored he was last year when most everyone stuck around after the rain let up and he was able to continue with albeit a slightly shortened set.

Well this year there was no rain - just a nice warm summer evening and an enthusiastic crowd eager for some good music and Joe, Bogie, Carmine and Rick certainly delivered that.

Highlights included:
"Spike Driver Blues" - can't get enough of this song.
"Mountain Time" - again on a Les Paul.
"Sloe Gin" - as the guy (who I had never met before) seated next to us said, "One of the greatest songs ever". Joe delivered it brilliantly and passionately with a wonderful guitar intro and an absolutely spine-tingling finish.
"Blues Deluxe" - I've said it before - when I think of Joe this is the first song that comes to mind. I really, really like this slightly reworked version. To me this song is like a roller coaster of blues.
"Woke Up Dreaming" - Huge standing ovation after this one which led to a very rousing "Ain't Superstitious" intro to "Just Got Paid", the end of which had Joe stepping off the stage for the final chords to get as close to the crowd as he could and show his appreciation.
"One Of These Days" - powerful, mind-blowing, heavy blues. Sensational!

I certainly hope Joe becomes a regular fixture in the Music In The Zoo series. It's a great venue with excellent sound and lighting and not a bad seat in the house. And It's just a short drive from home!

Thanks again to Joe, the band, and the crew for a great evening!!!