Topic: San Diego 3/20/2009

Another incredible show. Joe was on fire.  How could he possibly top the performances I saw in Buffalo and Syracuse?
One thing I really liked is they brought up the volume of Joe's microphone. MUCH better! Thank you!
Every show, Joe tweaks his playing here and there on various songs, bringing a whole 'nother dimension.

WUD was a complete jaw dropper again. He mixed it up on the lead in to Mountain Time unlike anything I've heard before.
I'm so cranked now I'll be lucky to get to sleep.

We had three Bonabaptisms in our group tonight.  One of my coworkers from Cleveland was also working out in SoCal this week and I brought him along. He was completely blown away. One more disciple is born! Libby and Steve had two friends along who I'm sure were just as impressed.

And I got to meet Rocket in the flesh!

What a great evening!

For all of you who haven't gotten your tickets yet to tonight's show:  AFAIK there are still lots of great seats available.
Ignore the link to the Cerritos site that says sold out. WRONG!  Hundreds of people cancelled out when they heard Etta would not be appearing (fools!). Call the box office when they open in the morning!

Etta, get well soon!

Major Tom to ground control...

Re: San Diego 3/20/2009

Hey Tom you're putting in some Bonamiles there , i see you're going for the duty free and airmiles lol
Glad you got to meet Bonabah ! Libby & Steve and the sound was improved to your liking
And the songs gettin' tweaked all the time from just a few weeks on the road , it's shapin' up nicely .... see ya in 6 weeks

............................ Michael

Joe Bonamassa .......  His Greatest 3 Videos ... IMMHO   After Much Deliberation
3rd ...... Mountain Time / Rockpalast       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h01xa6NMsJo
2nd ...... Sloe Gin       /  Vienna            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRASS8O8ZnE           
1st ....... Blues Deluxe / The Borderline    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnl3E_KLxYg

Re: San Diego 3/20/2009

Michael, living out of a suitcase mostly sucks. But every once in a while the planets align. I had the same circumstances 2 years ago and got to see Joe perform in a small club in Phoenix. I think those days of small club gigs are largely over as Joe has been averaging about 1000 or more fans each show on this tour. He's had to move his performances to larger capacity venues.

All I can say is if you have tickets to see Joe and the band on a future date on this tour, prepare to get blown away like never before. I keep asking myself how can these shows possibly get any better? And then he goes and does it!

Yup, counting down the days until RAH!  I just know the man has some surprises for us!

Major Tom to ground control...

Re: San Diego 3/20/2009

My second Joe show! Awesome.  I'm sitting in my hotel room on the Pacific Hwy waiting for a cab to the airport.  OK, here's my story, I had tickets to see Joe in Tucson on Wednesday, and was going to drive down from Phoenix, but the show was canceled  at the last minute and I was majorly bummed.  After realizing that Joe would not be coming back to AZ anytime in the foreseeable future, I decided I needed to go to him.  So, after doing some quick math, I decided to spend the $450 for a roundtrip ticket to SD, the best seat available for the concert, and a cheap hotel room.

Well, I had the time of my life, and I'm writing this to memorialize it for all time.  The Spreckels is one of those older theatres that has been restored, with the boxes on the side, beautiful place,  great atmosphere, and great acoustics.  My "best available" seat was in the second last row of the lower level.  A good seat but I wanted something better.  Not sure if it was the amount of cash I laid out to get here, or the Patron Silver, but whatever it was, I was feeling bold. All of the boxes along the side were practically empty, so I walked down and sat in the first box on the left hand side.  Talk about best available! 
I never saw Rick and Carmine until they took their bows, but if you've ever been within 5 feet of Joe ripping through a solo, you know what I'm talking about.   At the end of the show he even reached over and shook my hand.  (I'm getting goosebumps as I type this.)  My favorite part of the show was when Joe was shooshing the crowd while he concentrated on holding this incredibly long note.  A female voice shouted out SEXY, and Joe looked up with a sheepish grin on his face and the crowd laughed at his reaction.

Shoutout to Rocket, who I met after the show.  Enjoy your trip to England, I'm jealous as hell.

Re: San Diego 3/20/2009

It was great show and a treat to hear the new album tracks live. We met several people in the lobby who were about to get their first taste of Joe and it was fun pumping them up. Some people were saying they had heard his recordings but never seen him live which we thought was a good sign. For many of us it was the other way around. Joe told a cute story about the first time he played SD in 2000 at Fat Katz and only 17 people showed but it was now great to be playing for 1500.

Being a neophyte with only about two dozen shows under my belt I wasn't able to memorize the set list so if anyone has it I would appreciate it as I'm tracking out my recording. I got a good one I think although we were in the mezzanine and it probably has a bit more echo than I would normally like. As always I'm happy to share individual tracks or the whole show. I don't do torrent so it will have to be the old fashion way by email or snail mail. Warning Joe caught me napping when he came out solo to open the show with BOJH so I'm missing the first line or two.

This is the first time I've seen the Therimin thingy. Did he just starting using that? Its really fun in a 1950s futuristic way. Also whats the story on guitar he used on Just Got Paid? Gibson Holy V? I do not have a particularly sophisticated ear (and can't read the guitars and gear threads with out my head exploding so my apologies if this has been covered) but it seemed the tone wasn't quite up to what he gets from his Les Paul style axes. I assume it was a tip of the hat to ZZ.

The best drug in the world are those endorphin inducing chord changes!

Re: San Diego 3/20/2009

PaulN wrote:

It was great show and a treat to hear the new album tracks live. We met several people in the lobby who were about to get their first taste of Joe and it was fun pumping them up. Some people were saying they had heard his recordings but never seen him live which we thought was a good sign. For many of us it was the other way around. Joe told a cute story about the first time he played SD in 2000 at Fat Katz and only 17 people showed but it was now great to be playing for 1500.

Being a neophyte with only about two dozen shows under my belt I wasn't able to memorize the set list so if anyone has it I would appreciate it as I'm tracking out my recording. I got a good one I think although we were in the mezzanine and it probably has a bit more echo than I would normally like. As always I'm happy to share individual tracks or the whole show. I don't do torrent so it will have to be the old fashion way by email or snail mail. Warning Joe caught me napping when he came out solo to open the show with BOJH so I'm missing the first line or two.

This is the first time I've seen the Therimin thingy. Did he just starting using that? Its really fun in a 1950s futuristic way. Also whats the story on guitar he used on Just Got Paid? Gibson Holy V? I do not have a particularly sophisticated ear (and can't read the guitars and gear threads with out my head exploding so my apologies if this has been covered) but it seemed the tone wasn't quite up to what he gets from his Les Paul style axes. I assume it was a tip of the hat to ZZ.

Hi Paul, welcome to the forum!

As far as sharing videos, try opening an account on youtube. Even an internet dummy like me figured out how to upload videos and it's free.

The theramin thing started last summer, when he first started playing "The Ballad of John Henry" live. Early on it was called the "Spike Driver Blues". There are videos up on youtube of him last summer playing it.

The Gibson flying V (as far as I can remember) Joe picked up at a music store in Germany last fall. It's an early one from the early 60's I think (the flying V was introduced in 1958).

I couldn't detect any drop off in tone with that guitar but Joe does switch amplifier configurations in different songs. There is a thread about this in the gear section on the forum. His main amp is the Fender Super Lead, but he switches in the other three to "color" his tone, to go from a fat crunch to cleaner tone.

Major Tom to ground control...

Re: San Diego 3/20/2009

Thanks for the info. I was recording audio. I've distributed quite a few tracks to fans around US and Europe but I don't post on the forum very often. If you know any one with a set list please put them in touch. I'm so jealous you are getting to go to London. We have a previous commitment or I would definitely be there.

The best drug in the world are those endorphin inducing chord changes!

Re: San Diego 3/20/2009

PaulN wrote:

Thanks for the info. I was recording audio. I've distributed quite a few tracks to fans around US and Europe but I don't post on the forum very often. If you know any one with a set list please put them in touch. I'm so jealous you are getting to go to London. We have a previous commitment or I would definitely be there.

Setlist was as follows:
Ballad of John Henry
Last Kiss
So Many Roads
india / Mountain Time
Another Kind of Love
Sloe Gin
Great Flood
Lonesome Road Blues
Happier Times
Your Funeral My Trial
Blues DeLuxe
Woke Up Dreaming
Just Got Paid

Encores
Ball Peen Hammer
Story of a Quarry Man
Asking Around For You

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

9 (edited by Rocket 2009-08-07 13:01:29)

Re: San Diego 3/20/2009

I had some sound issues at this show, as I have very high expectations for the next few weeks & months...
I have to say Joe's vocals WERE loud.  However, they were too much too loud and way over compensated at the very high treble end and repeated on several (conditional) incidents, only to then be buried blurrily in the muddle (sic) range.  Very irritating at times. Sorry, but I almost made my way to the mixing board for unsolicited advice, something I do only very rarely at any show by anyone (I didn't).  Rick wasn't brought up on one of his solo runs until he was almost done!  The spotlights were a little slow at times too (completely missing Joe stage right at one point), but interestingly placed only on Joe's guitar body at some very appropriate times.  However, the sound overall was great, with Joe's guitar solos being brought up "hotter" just enough for the volume level, said to be loud by some, but given the dynamic range the band goes through it makes for great contrast.  Very powerful work coming from the support of Carmine, Bogie, & Rick.   The sound was great from the balcony, up front, back row, first level, center, left & right mid floor, everywhere, exceptions noted .  RICjunkie is right, Joe was on fire!!! Trouble was the fire department showed up after the show-true story! Sirens blaring.  Right up to the marquee!!! lol Although it might've been an paramedic call, so I hope no one was hurt or anything.  But the theater was cleared by this time, so dunno what was up.  Again, hope all was OK.  I gave you the set list (above), and I had several neopyhtes in attendance who had the recordings but were NOT ready for the live rendition, no matter how excited they were pre-show.  I happened to be seated beside and behind the 2 loudest guys in the crowd, also first timers although they were familiar with material (excepting the latest), who high-fived over 40 times (not exaggerating), guy in front to guy in back.  Guy in front and guy in back yelling "Yeahhhh"!!! another 50 times loud (not kidding), and guy in front said "Wow" to guy to right of him over 100 times (again, no b.s.), to his wife or gf to the left a merciful 25 times or so.  The crowd peppered the show with various jumping up and throwing arms skyward,  LOTS & LOTS of cheering & screaming (no kidding)...
Joe used Carol Ann & Van Weelden left (clean) & Marshall & Cat 5 right (cotton pickin' dirty), w/Cat 5 cabinets.  Amethyst Burst Ernie Ball John Petrucci BFR Baritone guitar is what Joe uses for The Ballad of John Henry... Carmine has some new basses this tour.  They & he both sound great.  Watch Bogie Bowles for his best drumming yet.  He is one of the hardest hitting drummers you will ever see.  See if the pounding double stick flam he flails on Story of A Quarryman doesn't seem to spear & then sear the beat right into your skull to the center of your cranium...
Met a man limping, with a cane for assistance, an 81 year old black man named Frank post show, who had been a volunteer usher, and he was TOTALLY blown away (again, not kidding).  He said Joe was not just a great musician, he was "Amazing, just amazing"!!! "He has so much energy, unbelievable to put out that much energy"  "I've never seen anything like it"!!!  No kidding, his 70ish lady co-worker (also quotable, "...fantastic" ) was escorting him out the door and he saw me again and started his accolades up again to me as we were leaving-I had to tell Joe about that privately before he and the guys boarded the bus.

The India intro to Mountain Time has a new twist.  Woke Up dreaming has a ah, more Classical twing (sic) to it now...plus banjo style picking Danny Gatton meets Chet Atkins jazzed up country riffing into the song itself, which ironically had the best vocals and clarity with superb enunciation by Joe back to the Classical Gas outro and a thunderous standing ovation by adoring and or amazed fans...

Good to attend with my bud John, and to meet up with Lovely Libby & Steve, plus Bob from Victorville again, Mike the dude from Phoenix ( he got the onstage handshake from Joe in first totally euphoric, I might add, when I met up with him, so I passed on the low-to-high five with Joe...that was me in Syracuse doing that Tom), Tom from Buffalo with Kevin from Cleveland and many other locals... a Grrrreat night.  Joe said "Good Night San Diego, you've been fantastic"!  Forrest Gump says "Fanatastic is as Fanatastic does"... lol

cool
Rock On & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

10

Re: San Diego 3/20/2009

RICjunkie wrote:

I keep asking myself how can these shows possibly get any better? And then he goes and does it!

The forever unsolved mystery of the Joe Bonamassa Band ... big_smile

Thanks for all your reviews guys and great to see so many new faces on the forum - thanks for your stories Mike and Paul!

Rocket - tell me if I got the wrong impression ... but did you actually go to ALL the shows the guys played this month?! lol Thanks for all the details and the setlist!

Eva

Re: San Diego 3/20/2009

RICjunkie wrote:
PaulN wrote:

It was great show and a treat to hear the new album tracks live. We met several people in the lobby who were about to get their first taste of Joe and it was fun pumping them up. Some people were saying they had heard his recordings but never seen him live which we thought was a good sign. For many of us it was the other way around. Joe told a cute story about the first time he played SD in 2000 at Fat Katz and only 17 people showed but it was now great to be playing for 1500.

Being a neophyte with only about two dozen shows under my belt I wasn't able to memorize the set list so if anyone has it I would appreciate it as I'm tracking out my recording. I got a good one I think although we were in the mezzanine and it probably has a bit more echo than I would normally like. As always I'm happy to share individual tracks or the whole show. I don't do torrent so it will have to be the old fashion way by email or snail mail. Warning Joe caught me napping when he came out solo to open the show with BOJH so I'm missing the first line or two.

This is the first time I've seen the Therimin thingy. Did he just starting using that? Its really fun in a 1950s futuristic way. Also whats the story on guitar he used on Just Got Paid? Gibson Holy V? I do not have a particularly sophisticated ear (and can't read the guitars and gear threads with out my head exploding so my apologies if this has been covered) but it seemed the tone wasn't quite up to what he gets from his Les Paul style axes. I assume it was a tip of the hat to ZZ.

Hi Paul, welcome to the forum!

As far as sharing videos, try opening an account on youtube. Even an internet dummy like me figured out how to upload videos and it's free.

The theramin thing started last summer, when he first started playing "The Ballad of John Henry" live. Early on it was called the "Spike Driver Blues". There are videos up on youtube of him last summer playing it.

The Gibson flying V (as far as I can remember) Joe picked up at a music store in Germany last fall. It's an early one from the early 60's I think (the flying V was introduced in 1958).

I couldn't detect any drop off in tone with that guitar but Joe does switch amplifier configurations in different songs. There is a thread about this in the gear section on the forum. His main amp is the Fender* Super Lead, but he switches in the other three to "color" his tone, to go from a fat crunch to cleaner tone.

Make that MARSHALL - I gotta stop drinking young scotch and then posting. It fogs my mind. Good malt doesn't do that.. LOL
Yeeesh!

Major Tom to ground control...

Re: San Diego 3/20/2009

Rocket - I was up at the back of the mezzanine and Joe's vocals were fine up there. At Buffalo and Syracuse the vocals were drowned out by the instruments. I guess Joe and his team are still working out the bugs. That and the acoustics of each venue are different so I guess it's pretty tough to get everything perfect unless the band is into doing a long sound check before every show. I hope they get it sorted out before RAH.

Eva, if you don't have tix to every show in Germany then you have some shopping to do! LOL

Major Tom to ground control...

Re: San Diego 3/20/2009

Thanks for the set list. I found the acoustics at Spreckels to be somewhat "bright" also. It sounded like they did some adjustments on the vocals and it wasn't as noticeable later on. After my post last night about the flying "V" I was surfing channels and came upon Spinal Tap and there it was. It totally cracked me up.

The best drug in the world are those endorphin inducing chord changes!

14

Re: San Diego 3/20/2009

RICjunkie wrote:

Eva, if you don't have tix to every show in Germany then you have some shopping to do! LOL

Oh well, you´re right ... people who live in glass houses probably shouldn´t throw stones ... lol

Eva

Re: San Diego 3/20/2009

RICjunkie wrote:

Rocket - I was up at the back of the mezzanine and Joe's vocals were fine up there. At Buffalo and Syracuse the vocals were drowned out by the instruments. I guess Joe and his team are still working out the bugs. That and the acoustics of each venue are different so I guess it's pretty tough to get everything perfect unless the band is into doing a long sound check before every show. I hope they get it sorted out before RAH.

Eva, if you don't have tix to every show in Germany then you have some shopping to do! LOL

Well Rick's vocals were perfect for once, and Joe's OK, but I can't buy a long sound check is going to make a big difference as the venues are really quite alike.  I know acoustics & microphones and this may well be a mic issue.  That and EQ.  There never is perfect sound when mixing live, but the things I was discussing were sharp teeth to the ear annnoyances that were asscociated with bringing up the vocal fader and a setting that worked at lower level was good, but NOT at the increased level.  And repeated.  More than twice.  Trust me I enjoyed the show tremendously.  There have been overall improvements since the last tour...Bogie and Carmine both have had their sound beefed up and I really love it.  Kudos on that!   


Rock On & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

P.S.-No, Eva, I don't go to every show, I only want to wink

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

Re: San Diego 3/20/2009

I've been a fan of Joe's ever since I saw him open for Kenny Wayne Shepherd at San Manuel Indian Casino. I can't quite remember when that show was (if anyone remembers, please tell me) but he blew Kenny Wayne away. Ever since then, I've been trying to catch him headlining at a good venue. I finally did by seeing him at the Spreckels in San Diego. I lived in San Diego for 17 years and had been to the Spreckels before so I knew what a great venue it is.

What a show! He WAS on fire! I was dead center in the mezzanine and I definitely had a few complaints about the sound but it's really just nit-picking. I couldn't hear the piano worth a damn and the spotlight guy must have been new at that job but those were minor distractions considering the quality of Joe's performance. He really tore that acoustic guitar up!

Overall, it was amazing. I'm so glad he's getting his due and I'm sure I'll get a lot more opportunities to see him as the headliner in a great venue.

17 (edited by BluesMan 2009-03-23 22:21:51)

Re: San Diego 3/20/2009

Hey Tom,

Thanks for updating us on Joe's show in San Diego. Man, brings back memories that are still fresh in my mind and makes me even more anxious for the RAH show to come along! smile

And Rocket, always enjoy reading what you right! wink

Roy

Joe is the Best!

Re: San Diego 3/20/2009

Yeah Roy - I'm no endocrinologist and I don't know what it is that gets pumping into my bloodstream when I'm parked in the jetwash from Joe's rig but that warm fuzzy feeling just goes on for days! smile smile smile

Major Tom to ground control...