1 Topic by B-More Bonamaniac (edited by B-More Bonamaniac 2009-04-02 09:25:34)

  • From: Baltimore, Maryland
  • Registered: 2007-08-31
  • Posts: 181

Topic: Reading/Wyomissing, PA, Berk's Jazz Festival 4-1-9

No, that's not an April Fool's joke.  Joe and the boys played a jazz festival in a hotel ballroom with 10 foot ceilings.  However, much to the pleasure of those in attendance, Joe did not play any jazz.  The ceiling was so low above the stage that Joe hit two guitars on the lights during the show.  This obviously prevented Joe from standing on the amps with the Flying V above his head during Just Got Paid. 

Here's another true story.  Joe and his wireless went all Buddy Guy and took a stroll through the crowd, right up the center aisle.  Go on with your bad self!   

Speaking of jazz festivals and Buddy Guy, I saw him in the same room at the same jazz festival last year and he didn't sound anywhere near as good as Joe did tonight.  How the sound team made that happen in this room, I'll never know. 

The best however of the whole night was some f*@#ing moron walking right up to Joe with his CD and pen for an autograph--IN THE MIDDLE OF JOE TELLING A STORY TO THE CROWD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SHOW!!  Joe initially indicated to the gentleman that he didn't normally sign DURING A SHOW, but never one to turn down a fan, Joe signed the CD.  As security escorted this gentleman out of the ballroom, Joe joked(?) that he signed the CD Kenny Wayne Shepherd, to which Bogie responded with a quick rim shot.  To quote the Guiness commercial, brilliant!!

And to round out a perfect evening, the Hooters restaurant was virtually in the parking lot of the hotel!

The set list was identical to Hagerstown, South Orange and Birchmere-Monday.

-Rob

P.S.---Why a music festival would be held in a hotel ballroom with 10 foot ceilings as opposed to some sort of an auditorium is beyond me, but what do I know?  They were also complete D-bags about cameras of any sort.  Because the ceilings were so low, the spotlight was virtually parallel with the amps so that the glare from it off the Marhall amp was terrible.  And to round out my gripes with the venue, my center aisle seat became the second seat in when they just decided to put another seat next to me.  For the record, the added seat was not to accomodate a disabled person as I would never gripe about something like that despite it taking away from my evening. wink

Bonamania is a disease with no cure.  Give it to all your friends.
  • QC Dan
  • Bronze Member
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  • From: Moline, IL
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 34

Re: Reading/Wyomissing, PA, Berk's Jazz Festival 4-1-9

Bummer, but it sounds like Joe had some fun with it. smile

"It was a new day yesterday, but its an old day now."  -  JB cool
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 1,168

Re: Reading/Wyomissing, PA, Berk's Jazz Festival 4-1-9

Honestly.. Warren Deserves all the credit for making us sound good everyday.. Each room is different.. That was a hard one.. But as I walked out into the audience it sounded great.. again.. double tough duty for my guy Warren,.  But thanks for the compliment..
Joe b

PS>> "It was a new day yesterday but its a old day now"  that was Ian Andersen.. not me..

  • Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 2,578

Re: Reading/Wyomissing, PA, Berk's Jazz Festival 4-1-9

B-More Bonamaniac wrote:

The best however of the whole night was some f*@#ing moron walking right up to Joe with his CD and pen for an autograph--IN THE MIDDLE OF JOE TELLING A STORY TO THE CROWD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SHOW!!  Joe initially indicated to the gentleman that he didn't normally sign DURING A SHOW, but never one to turn down a fan, Joe signed the CD.  As security escorted this gentleman out of the ballroom, Joe joked(?) that he signed the CD Kenny Wayne Shepherd, to which Bogie responded with a quick rim shot.  To quote the Guiness commercial, brilliant!!

Ha ha, superb! lol

"The recently formed Edinburgh Blues Club has identified an appetite for the personal communication between musicians and audience that the blues long ago perfected." The Herald Newspaper (Scotland)
http://www.edinburgh-blues.uk
  • Registered: 2009-04-03
  • Posts: 1

Re: Reading/Wyomissing, PA, Berk's Jazz Festival 4-1-9

Hey out there -
Another knock-out concert last night in Reading, PA., Joe.  This was my 4th experience since first hearing you blow Tito Gonzalez's doors off, after you opened for him at the Chameleon Club, in Lancaster, PA, (you were in 9th grade - I listened and met/talked with your dad in the center of the floor as you played).   My next exposure was when you played your first public performance with Bloodline, in the same place in Lancaster. (1992).
    But last night I loved the comments I got of envy, as I wore/modeled my favorite t-shirt - signed by all the band, so many roads, ago, that I got from that aforementioned Bloodline debut.  (even though it was the Troc gig you recalled last night).
    I've followed your career ever since, and am proud of my complete CD collection, including that live, pre-release, copy of "New Day Yesterday", that you laid on me when you spotted me in the same t-shirt up in Wilkesbarre, PA, on your last stop of a tour when you were settling into NYC for awhile.  (2002, I think).  I meant to get a written request backstage to you last night, for a favorite, special, cut that I wanted you to dedicate to my lady friend who's been fighting cancer for over 6 years now.  I failed in achieving that.  BUT you must have gotten the message telepathically anyway, as it was the last tune you did, with your encore.   Because I would have requested: "Asking around for you".  Incredible synchronicity in energies!!  Indeed, there are no accidents!
    I thank you, send our blessings, love, and encouragement to keep on keeping on, with continued success, my friend.  We look forward to the next crossing.
    Namaste'
         "Kreadyville Mayor" and Linda Weitzel, too.

    thought i'd include another musician of good energies, and gifts. He's Kelly Joe Phelps:
http://www.kellyjoephelps.net:80/video/ … yblues.htm


B-More Bonamaniac wrote:

No, that's not an April Fool's joke.  Joe and the boys played a jazz festival in a hotel ballroom with 10 foot ceilings.  However, much to the pleasure of those in attendance, Joe did not play any jazz.  The ceiling was so low above the stage that Joe hit two guitars on the lights during the show.  This obviously prevented Joe from standing on the amps with the Flying V above his head during Just Got Paid. 

Here's another true story.  Joe and his wireless went all Buddy Guy and took a stroll through the crowd, right up the center aisle.  Go on with your bad self!   

Speaking of jazz festivals and Buddy Guy, I saw him in the same room at the same jazz festival last year and he didn't sound anywhere near as good as Joe did tonight.  How the sound team made that happen in this room, I'll never know. 

The best however of the whole night was some f*@#ing moron walking right up to Joe with his CD and pen for an autograph--IN THE MIDDLE OF JOE TELLING A STORY TO THE CROWD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SHOW!!  Joe initially indicated to the gentleman that he didn't normally sign DURING A SHOW, but never one to turn down a fan, Joe signed the CD.  As security escorted this gentleman out of the ballroom, Joe joked(?) that he signed the CD Kenny Wayne Shepherd, to which Bogie responded with a quick rim shot.  To quote the Guiness commercial, brilliant!!

And to round out a perfect evening, the Hooters restaurant was virtually in the parking lot of the hotel!

The set list was identical to Hagerstown, South Orange and Birchmere-Monday.

-Rob

P.S.---Why a music festival would be held in a hotel ballroom with 10 foot ceilings as opposed to some sort of an auditorium is beyond me, but what do I know?  They were also complete D-bags about cameras of any sort.  Because the ceilings were so low, the spotlight was virtually parallel with the amps so that the glare from it off the Marhall amp was terrible.  And to round out my gripes with the venue, my center aisle seat became the second seat in when they just decided to put another seat next to me.  For the record, the added seat was not to accomodate a disabled person as I would never gripe about something like that despite it taking away from my evening. wink

  • From: Wisconsin
  • Registered: 2008-08-15
  • Posts: 7,284

Re: Reading/Wyomissing, PA, Berk's Jazz Festival 4-1-9

Hey Rob, very nice review of the show. Sounds like that young feller of ours is having a lot of fun with the crowds that are showing up! smile

You Go Joe, You Go.......

Roy

Joe is the Best!
  • From: Pennsylvania
  • Registered: 2009-04-06
  • Posts: 32

Re: Reading/Wyomissing, PA, Berk's Jazz Festival 4-1-9

Bonamaniac's review is spot on. What an INCREDIBLE show this was!!! My mind is still reeling from it! After wanting to see Joe for years, me and my best friend ~finally~ got to see him Live for the very first time at this show. I'll never forget it. big_smile It was very much an El Mocambo moment for us both. Jaw dropping to say the least. We're already set to see him again.

And Yes! Major Props to Warren! We've seen Larry Carlton play this same venue 2 years ago and believe you me the sound is quite challenging there!

http://www.leshockarts.com/
"Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life." ~ Beethoven

audiophelia's Website

  • From: Central PA, USA
  • Registered: 2007-11-18
  • Posts: 1,037

Re: Reading/Wyomissing, PA, Berk's Jazz Festival 4-1-9

Thanks for the Reading reviews... sounds like it was a great show, despite the low ceilings and sound challenges... I wondered if that's what that venue would be like, lol.  I actually had been planning on this show since last year, but ended up passing on it in favor of the Hagerstown show the week before.  I'm located smack in between the two, and was tempted to do both, but in the end I just couldn't afford both, and I knew the Maryland Theatre was a great venue, plus I knew other people going to that one, whereas none of my friends could make Reading.

Any of you people who made the Reading show gonna make the 8/14 Penn's Peak show too?  That's only like 1 1/4 hours north of Reading, and it's a GREAT venue.  I might make that show... not sure yet, as it's a 2-hour drive for me, and I'm doing the Hot August Blues Fest in MD the next day and don't want to be too tired.  But I just don't know if I can pass up a summertime Penn's Peak show, and if I knew there was gonna be a pre-show meet-up, it would become even more tempting, hehe. wink

--Vik cool

  • From: Pennsylvania
  • Registered: 2009-04-06
  • Posts: 32

Re: Reading/Wyomissing, PA, Berk's Jazz Festival 4-1-9

I don't suppose anyone recorded this show? This was pure magic for me and Joe was in a chatty mood to boot! It would be so awesome to hear it again.

http://www.leshockarts.com/
"Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life." ~ Beethoven

audiophelia's Website