Llandudno November 28th (Page 1 of 2)

We got to the theatre early to pick up my photo pass and two guest passes specially for Sue's birthday which Joe had graciously promised at the last Sheffield gig, only to find we were too early and no passes were to be found. So we skulked around the back of the venue and found the tradesmans entrance (Stage Door) and located Barney Vernon from the Gig Cartel and his colleague. Great, they had my name down for the photo pass but not for the guest passes - oops, we had given our original tickets to two Bonavirgins on the suggestion of Rachael in the States. Fortunately I had Rachael's e-mail confirming the passes so we were good to go. Then Barny said, "any chance you could take some pictures of the Blues in the Schools thing for us, we don't have a photographer here" Sure no problem" says I, "where do I go?

We walk into the venue, which is huge and about 85 young guitarists are sat on chairs to the side of the hall and Joe is standing with one of his guitars chatting to the group. I unpack my photo stuff and the group moves to the stage, where Joe Bogie, Carmine and Rick set up for an impromptue demo of a couple of numbers from the show. I snap a couple of shots from the floor of the auditorium and then sneak behind the scenes and onto the stage to try and get the rear view of the band with the students in the picture. I then move around the other side of the stage and whilst Joe's chatting to the students from the stage, he spots me and says - "Hey Geoff, how you doin'. Got your big lens with you - you could shoot me from Manchester with that!" Well, he walks over cool as you like and shakes hands with me right there on stage - I felt like I was receiving the Nobel Peace Prize right then - Jeez, he remembered my name after all that time! I was truly humbled by that I can tell you.

Anyway Joe wound up by offering to sign pictures, guitars, anything that they brought along then spent some time with 18 year old Virgil McMahon of Virgil and the Accelerators and proceeded to show him round his Amp and effects set up. I don't know who was more humbled by this, Virgil or his manager Martin!!!! Then Joe pulled out the Ernie Ball twin neck 12 / 6 string monster, gave a quick demo and handed it to Virgil, adding "it's the only one of it's type in the world" - you could see Virgil gulp! Joe then went on to explain that he uses it for the Encore at the moment adding " it's funny when you walk on stage with this and look out into the audience, you see maybe 2-300 little red lights, then wait, wait - FLASH!" Well I nearly choked, what a graphic description of exactly what happened later that evening.

Took time out to chat with Carmine, Rick and Dave and also some of the guys from Stone Soul River, who opened for Joe in 2006/7. Missed speaking with Bogie, which was a shame. But he handed me a stick at the end of the show later that night, which made our day complete.

We took some 25 guests with us to Llandudno, about half of them being Bonavirgins. All were just blown away by the show and Joe's playing, then it was back to the hotel to celebrate Sue's birthday, with not just our own crowd but some new friends we had met form Cardif and some old friends we had met on previous Joe Shows.