• From: St. Louis
  • Registered: 2009-09-21
  • Posts: 6

Topic: St. Louis - My First Review

Well, it's official.  I am no longer a virgin.  Saw Joe last night at The Pageant in St. Louis with my buddy who was also a first timer.  Here are some of my initial thoughts.  I can't believe that Joe is not selling out The Pageant yet.  It just goes to show you how unpopular Blues/Rock is when arguably the best musician in the genre alive today can't sell out The Pageant.  I have to believe this is only a marketing issue.

As me and my friend are showed to our seats we get really excited because of how close we are.  Then we get to our seats and see that they are folding chairs pushed right up next to each other.  I don't mind the folding chairs, but I'm 6'4" and have pretty broad shoulders.  On either side of my friend and me are two huge dudes.  We made it through about 2 songs and then went up to the balcony were we could breath.  We really started to enjoy the show after doing that.

Joe, and the crowd for that matter seemed to take about 4 or 5 songs to start loosening up, but after that it was on!  You really come to grips with how good an artist is when you see them live.  Most of the time, the music does not sound as good as you thought it would, but Joe was the complete opposite.  The sound was next to flawless.  The band was just incredible.

The best parts for me were when Joe brought out the acoustic.  You could just see peoples jaws dropping when Joe was playing Woke Up Dreamin.  Seeing Joe playing the acoustic live is on a whole other level.  Woke Up Dreamin was my personal show highlight of the night, if I HAD to pick one.

On a side note, Joe comes out to do his encore sporting a Cardinals jersey.  All I could think is how the Cardinals just got swept out of the playoffs and how funny Joe looked wearing black dress slacks and a Cardinals jersey.

If I HAD to pick my least favorite part, I would say that I was a little dissapointed in the sound of the Flying V guitar.  It sounded rather muffled or something.  Joe still played the crap out of it.  I don't know if it was supposed to sound that way, but if I had to pick my least favorite part it would be that.  Oh and when Joe thought he was in Houston for a second rather than in St. Louis.

Overall, l I really enjoyed the concert and most importantly I will go back to see him again and try to bring more newbies when I go.

Quaerite autem primum regnum Dei et iustitiam eius, et haec omnia adicientur vobis.
  • From: St. Louis, MO
  • Registered: 2006-06-20
  • Posts: 960

Re: St. Louis - My First Review

stlcards wrote:

Well, it's official.  I am no longer a virgin.  Saw Joe last night at The Pageant in St. Louis with my buddy who was also a first timer.  Here are some of my initial thoughts.  I can't believe that Joe is not selling out The Pageant yet.  It just goes to show you how unpopular Blues/Rock is when arguably the best musician in the genre alive today can't sell out The Pageant.  I have to believe this is only a marketing issue.

As me and my friend are showed to our seats we get really excited because of how close we are.  Then we get to our seats and see that they are folding chairs pushed right up next to each other.  I don't mind the folding chairs, but I'm 6'4" and have pretty broad shoulders.  On either side of my friend and me are two huge dudes.  We made it through about 2 songs and then went up to the balcony were we could breath.  We really started to enjoy the show after doing that.

Joe, and the crowd for that matter seemed to take about 4 or 5 songs to start loosening up, but after that it was on!  You really come to grips with how good an artist is when you see them live.  Most of the time, the music does not sound as good as you thought it would, but Joe was the complete opposite.  The sound was next to flawless.  The band was just incredible.

The best parts for me were when Joe brought out the acoustic.  You could just see peoples jaws dropping when Joe was playing Woke Up Dreamin.  Seeing Joe playing the acoustic live is on a whole other level.  Woke Up Dreamin was my personal show highlight of the night, if I HAD to pick one.

On a side note, Joe comes out to do his encore sporting a Cardinals jersey.  All I could think is how the Cardinals just got swept out of the playoffs and how funny Joe looked wearing black dress slacks and a Cardinals jersey.

If I HAD to pick my least favorite part, I would say that I was a little dissapointed in the sound of the Flying V guitar.  It sounded rather muffled or something.  Joe still played the crap out of it.  I don't know if it was supposed to sound that way, but if I had to pick my least favorite part it would be that.  Oh and when Joe thought he was in Houston for a second rather than in St. Louis.

Overall, l I really enjoyed the concert and most importantly I will go back to see him again and try to bring more newbies when I go.

Congratulations on your Bonabaptism! Yes the chairs in the orchestra area are a bit cramped. I prefer the seats along the first tier, it puts you directly in line with the stage and you don't have to worry about anyone in front of you. I like to have a good view of Bogie, Rick and Carmine!

I know Joe is a big Yankees fan, and am thinking that the Cardinals jersey was given to him by a fan. If a fan has given Joe a shirt or a hat from the local sports team he has been known to wear it during the encore!

Here is the set list for Sunday 10-25-09 at The Pageant, St. Louis, MO (it is the same set list from 10-17-09 if anyone is looking for that set list!)

1. Ballad of John Henry
2. Last Kiss
3. So Many Roads
4. So It's Like That
5. If Heartaches Were Nickels
6. Further on up the Road
7. Sloe Gin
8. Lonesome Road Blues
9. Happier Times
10. Bridge to Better Days
11. Had to Cry Today
12. Great Flood
13. Woke Up Dreaming
14. Mountain Time
Encore
15. Ball Peen Hammer
16. Just Got Paid

Hope to see you at the next Joe show!

~Rhonda

"I don't think obsessions have reasons, that's why they're obsessions....National Geographic likes their pictures in focus..." Robert Kincaid

photogal's Website

  • Registered: 2009-10-25
  • Posts: 2

Re: St. Louis - My First Review

I was at the pageant for my first Joe concert as well. My inital reaction was that the seating was a bit cramped, however th sound was perfect. As a guitarist I know that you want it to cut through and not make the audience deaf.  Joe is good about his levels. After the show my wife and I were staying at the moonrise hotel just a few feet from the venue. We had dinner at the resturant and as I am paying the check in walks Joe. I got to have a five minute conversation with him and shake his hand.  He is very gratious and I thank him for taking the time to meet a fan. Needless to say the five hour trip from Memphis was worth it...  I will be seeing  Joe again in concert.   I may never again meet him, but he does inspire me to go home and practice on my own guitar....

4 Reply by dknight16 (edited by dknight16 2009-10-26 21:37:14)

  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 1,996

Re: St. Louis - My First Review

stlcards wrote:

If I HAD to pick my least favorite part, I would say that I was a little dissapointed in the sound of the Flying V guitar.  It sounded rather muffled or something.  Joe still played the crap out of it.  I don't know if it was supposed to sound that way, but if I had to pick my least favorite part it would be that.

Hmm.  That guitar seemed a bit muddy at the Chicago show as well.  Joe needs to tweak something on his pedal board.

Gibson 60th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Reissue, Gibson LP Standard Faded CSB, Gibson Gary Moore LP Standard, Epi Joe Bonamassa GT LP, Epi Zakk Wylde LP, Dean Michael Schenker Flying V, Jackson Randy Rhoads V, ESP/LTD George Lynch Kamikaze, EVH Striped Series R/B/W, Fender/Squire John 5 Telecaster, Fender Joe Strummer Relic Telecaster
  • From: St. Louis
  • Registered: 2009-09-21
  • Posts: 6

Re: St. Louis - My First Review

Kennethw82 wrote:

......As a guitarist I know that you want it to cut through and not make the audience deaf.  Joe is good about his levels.....

I couldn't agree with you more about the levels.  I even mentioned something about that during the concert how the volume was nice and loud, but not too loud.  You could hear every note clear.  If it's too loud the notes start to mesh together.

Kennethw82 wrote:

......After the show my wife and I were staying at the moonrise hotel just a few feet from the venue. We had dinner at the resturant and as I am paying the check in walks Joe. I got to have a five minute conversation with him and shake his hand.  He is very gratious and I thank him for taking the time to meet a fan. Needless to say the five hour trip from Memphis was worth it.......

That's a cool story.  You are dedicated coming up from Memphis.  I'm glad you got to meet him.

Quaerite autem primum regnum Dei et iustitiam eius, et haec omnia adicientur vobis.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 1,168

Re: St. Louis - My First Review

I too know what you mean about the sacred -V-... Its been sounding dark the last week..  ??? 
Rest assured I am on the problem.  Im gonna brighten up the Bogner which is i the amp I use for that song.. It is usually great.. I think it might need tubes. 
Joe B

  • From: Saint Clair, Missouri
  • Registered: 2007-06-07
  • Posts: 21

Re: St. Louis - My First Review

Joe Bonamassa wrote:

I too know what you mean about the sacred -V-... Its been sounding dark the last week..  ??? 
Rest assured I am on the problem.  Im gonna brighten up the Bogner which is i the amp I use for that song.. It is usually great.. I think it might need tubes. 
Joe B


Maybe it was where I was sitting, but my favorite tone of the evening WAS the Flying V. All of the guitars sounded great, and some were like comparing apples and oranges as each had their place. But among the Gibbys my personal sonic favorites were the Flamed Les Paul (no Bigsby) followed by either of the Joe Signature models. At the top of my list though, was the Flying V and yes, it was not as bright as the others but the mid-tones were goosebump-raising in my opinion. And yes, I'm a musician so I do pay attention to tone!

I was better, but I got over it...........