Gateshead 22/4/09 (Page 1 of 4)

Totally agree the venue was amazing but Joe was sensational. Unfortunately  I’ve only had the privilege of seeing him once before with my son who went again last night. This time I took another son along.  And my brother and a cousin who plays guitar rather well himself also attended for the first time but it won’t be there last, my cousin at the end of the show said it was an honour and a privilege to see Joe in action. The only downside if there has to be one was having to sit and no singing-along with Joe. Hope Joe doesn’t see this as lack of enjoyment from I would say an awestruck audience.
Anyone catching the other shows on the tour are in for a treat and I'm quite envious especially for RAH. Keep spreading the word !

Yes indeed the Sage is a superb venue and as BBJ said Joe and the guys didn't put a foot wrong.
He started the show with Django and then into The Ballad of John Henry then;
So It's Like That
Last Kiss
So Many Roads
Stop!
Further On Up The Road
Woke Up Dreaming
High Water Everywhere
Sloe Gin
Lonesome Road Blues
Happier Times
Your Funeral My Trial
Blues Deluxe
Story Of a Quarryman
The Great Flood
Just Got Paid
-----------------
Mountain Time
Asking Around For You

It was great to hear SILT for the first time, played  more in the style of You Upset Me than the album version, really great. We were also treated to Stop! one of my favourites from the new cd with  that wonderful solo, so emotional.
Then, as Joe said on PR, we got Further On Up The Road which I'm sure we'll hear again at the RAH. Woke Up Dreaming was awesome as ever with the lovely Spanish style intro and then as that finished Bogie started up this booming almost tribal sounding rhythm Joe joined in on acoustic with High Water, truly fantastic. The whole sound quality in the Sage is second to non.
Every number was perfect and the audience were awestruck. In fact when Joe did the Suuuuure bits in Blues Deluxe not a soul joined in for the first two. Joe took his guitar off then his jacket and when into the routine of saying to Rick that he didn't think that we were feeling it. Then on the final Suuuuure everyone joined in. I think there's something about sitting at a gig that makes you more reserved. There's no way that we weren't feeling it.
Another thing about a seated gig is that when you need the loo you have to disturb people to get out. By the time The Great Flood came around I just couldn't wait any longer and had to disrupt the row and get to the ladies otherwise I would have had my own Great Flood!!
Just Got Paid was one of the highlights for me. Joe at his Rock Star very best and at the end he got a standing ovation from the entire audience for ages til they came back on for Mountain Time and Asking Around.
At the end of Asking Around when everyone was standing again we got a burst of God Save The Queen, very nice touch Joe. Getting some practice in for the Royal Albert Hall

Great to meet up with Ges, his son Chris and his friend......didn't know you guys were sitting right behind us.

Everything about the day was perfect....the weather, the venue, the performance and the audience.
We hung around by the bus afterwards and Joe signed my RAH poster in lovely silver ink and a couple of mags too.

This was a terrific opening show for the UK tour and has really whetted my appetite even more for the RAH.

Thanks Joe, Carmine, Rick and Bogie ....you're all stars

Tripsy xxxx

Edited to add....    Not dreaming Duncan.....typing!!

Glad to hear that you have some vids Si. I took some from right at the back level 2 but I'm sure yours will be far better. Look forward to seeing them.

Tripsy

There was support, forget his name.. Jow came on at 8:20 ish and was off at about 10:30.

Support was Ben Montague, solo accoustic. Think it must have been arranged at short notice though as he only met J and the band briefly before going on stage.

Nice reviews everybody...  Really appreciate you posting the setlist Tripsy, nice to see SILT in the setlist.   Sounds like an awesome venue.

fantastic set from joe and the band - pity about the venue.

yet again the sound was dire to start with - very muddy and joe sounded like he was singing down a well. luckily the sound engineer was good enough to pull it together and after about 4 songs in it was getting there - i've seen a few electric bands there whose sound never recovered from the acoustics.

i guess the hall is set up for an orchestra as every group i've seen there struggles to create an atmosphere - perhaps joe's comments bore this out - maybe we're just english and don't get that excited about anything. the hall is very tall for its size and perhaps this is a problem. also the poorly staffed bar struggles to serve a decent pint - not good! i'd really hesitate before seeing another band in this hall.

anyway enough moaning - joe was fantastic - a thrilling guitarist whose playing really moves you.

Thanks for the review Trispy and all the comments too, it really helps to paint a picture of the night.

Sounds like all was great except possibly the venue, and for that reason I'm pleased I'll be going to a standing venue in Glasgow.  So It's Like That is certainly a nice surprise and will be great to hear Further... too.

I would advise against playing GSTQ in Scotland or Wales though Joe... it is used as a sports anthem too.

The Great Flood: I laughed out loud at that one too Tripsy