Las Vegas - House of Blues - March 17, 2009

First of all...... let me apologize for opening a new topic....... I swear, when I looked right after the show, there WAS another Vegas thread, with several comments and reviews....... hmmmm...... I did a search and couldn't find it.  The only thing I found was just opened yesterday and is called "Not Happy about Vegas", which was addressing the fact that the House of Blues wouldn't let our Forum member's underage daughter in.  While I did have a few issues with the venue, I was VERY happy with the show....... and so I'm just going to post here, if you don't mind.............

How incredible it was to see Joe, Carmine, Rick and Bogie after what felt like such a long, long time.  I know that some of you have gone years without a Joe fix, but for me, after seeing him SO often last year in particular, and then NOT at all for SIX months....... well, it was a bit like going cold turkey!!!  (I can't wait to see what Andre and Geko may make of that little idiom!!)

The show was great.  Sixteen songs.  Six of them from the new album.  All of them awesome.  PERFECT choices Joe.  The new gorgeous purple guitar came out.  Joe looked fantastic.  They ALL did.  Two hours of musical bliss.  I thought I would DIE as Joe played the new intro to Woke Up Dreaming........ absolutely GORGEOUS Spanish influenced guitar........ lovely, lovely, lovely........... I haven't kept up enough with the Forum to know whether he had rolled that out prior to Vegas or whether we were the first to hear it...... but, I just LOVE IT........     

Here's the set list:

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

Encore

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

It was Steve's birthday, and I know that there is no other way he would rather have spent it.  We very much appreciate all of the special things that went on during this very fantastic evening.  Thank you Joe, Bogie, Carmine, Rick, Warren and Aaron.  It was great to see you all and to get a little wave in to Dave before he flew out that night, and to say 'hi' to that darlin' Clancy too.

After the show, I was standing next to a striking woman.  I touched her arm and said, "I just have to tell you what a beautiful woman you are."  She thanked me and then LIT UP before adding "The bass player is my SON!!"  I went on to tell her how proud she should be that she has a son who is as warm and sweet as he is talented.  ;-)

We ran into a long time fan from Southern California, Bob Witt, who we had met at the Vegas show in September.  Bob attended the next two shows as well, and we definitely have a new friend in him.  He is a great fan, and a great guy.  He's going to RAH.  I'll have to hook him up with a few trusted Bonabuddies. 

What was I disappointed with??  Our seats.  You're gonna laugh, but....... check this out.  I knew my seats were in the front row.  I knew they were CLOSE to center, but, we got there and they were LITERALLY the two center seats.  There was an aisle thru all the rows heading toward the stage, and the aisle stopped because our two seats were there.  How incredible is that??!!!  How, you ask, could that possibly be a problem??  I'll tell you.  The stage was high and deep...... probably better for a standing room only crowd....... and the chairs were too close to the stage.  Got the picture??  So........ I literally could NOT see Bogie at all during the show unless I stood up.  I could see the top 2 or 3 inches of Rick's head, most of Carmine (somehow), and...... when Joe was at his mic, I could only see the top half of him.  I had to tip my head back so far, in order to see everything that I did see, that my neck is still numb, sore, and tingly, after almost two weeks.  Granted, when Joe came to the front of the stage it was INTENSE and FANTASTIC as he LOOMED over me.  I just think they should have started the seating back several feet.  I don't think there is an excuse in the world to have an obstructed view from the front row.  Just my opinion.  I did get up at one point and go to the back of the room and stand (okay..... I was dancing....) for a few songs.  If we ever go back, I will know that the best seats will be 4 or 5 rows back and NOT in the front row.  Who would have guessed?? 

BTW, we stayed at the Palazzo (next to the Venetian) - it was gorgeous and the staff was SUPERB.....super friendly, with excellent customer service skills.  I was wearing my 'You and Me' T-shirt when we checked in and the agent at the reception desk recognized Joe's name, knew who he was, and where he was playing.  Later, our bellman spent nearly a half an hour in our room chatting to us about Joe once he saw my T-shirt.  He was going to the show too..... ended up sitting just behind us.  Super nice guy.

We also met a terrific couple from Canada.  A guitar player and his wife - HUGE blues fans.

As always, it was a GREAT pleasure to watch the neophytes get blown away.  Hehehe. 

  Libby