Harrisburg, April 25 (Page 1 of 2)

Hey, I called the G-Man and asked them to move the reservation for tables from 6:00 to 5:30.  Just so you know, there are 2 sides to the restaurant - one is a bar with pool tables where folks can smoke, and one side is a restaurant only (non-smoking).  I wasn't sure who smokes and who doesn't, so I set it up on the restaurant only non-smoking side.  The reservation is under my name - Chris M, but I told them folks may not know my last name so they might ask for the table for a Joe Bonamassa pre-show party. 

T minus 8 hours and 10 minutes!  Wahoo!  We watched RAH last night to get (even more) psyched about tonight's show!

Just released 10 tickets for the show. Come and get them......

Can words describe Joe Bonamassa on stage?  If you’ll pardon my feeble attempt, here’s a description of what happened up on the mezzanine level in Harrisburg last night. 

Before we went up, the crowd outside was psyched, buzzing with excitement waiting to get in and see The Man.  One woman asked me for a light, and mentioned she has never seen him before but heard such great reviews she felt compelled to come.  I told her there was a word for her - Bonavirgin – and warned her that she would never be the same again, so she should remember this moment in time because she was about to get Bonabaptized, and later, when she exits the building with a religious fervor for Joe B, she would understand what I was trying to tell her.  Did she think I was being melodramatic?  Probably, but she graciously smiled and laughed.  Little did she know… (more on her later)

And there he was.  Larger than life… with that presence.  He owned the stage.  He is a showman.  He is the man.  Does he understand how he mesmerizes the audience?  How time stops when his fingers work their magic?  I think so, but I’m not sure he fully understands his power to hypnotize.  He goes to the zone.  He IS the music.  It is clear he loves what he does, and we believe it.  I believe it.

The show was powerful, with a great line up.  I thought some of his songs were better than I’ve ever seen him perform before.  I personally thought Further on Up the Road was even better than RAH. (Yes, I said it, and I make no apologies for it.)  Last Kiss and So Many Roads were kickin’.  It’s always magic when Joe plays Sloe Gin, but last night… it was… a religious experience.  Or maybe it was a sexual experience.  I’m not sure, LOL.  I’ve never seen him nail it like that.  Every nuance of every note was the most incredible experience I’ve ever heard/seen/felt.  I looked around and realized everyone – EVERYONE - was sitting on the edge of their seats.  That’s when I noticed I was too!  I was holding my breath.  People were sighing.  Gasping.  Those five rows on the mezzanine level literally forgot to breathe!  This will sound lame, but I cried, just a little.  (I cried!  What was that about?  Joe nailed the emotion lyrically and musically.)

I won’t bore you with more details because most of you reading this were probably there, but I have to tell you about our girl.  I was hanging around the lobby killing a few minutes before heading out to the bus, hoping for a chance to meet Joe, when who walked up and touched my arm with this doe-in-the-headlights look in her eyes.  It was our Bonavirgin.  She said, “Do you remember me?  I just had to tell you.  You were right.  You were so right.” And then she was speechless.  She looked at me with this look that begged for an explanation of what just happened to her.  I smiled and laughed, and silently proclaimed her Bonabaptized.  Another soul has clearly joined our masses, and she will go forth and proselytize.  I think we have a new recruit for the Street Team!

Hey, almost forgot... who called Joe a show off last night?  It was one of y'all sittin' up front.  That was funny!

Sorry this is so late, but you know how it is with Mondays! But it was worth it!

The pre-show meeting of Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Dutch fans was the perfect "warm-up". We met a local Joe fan who had a "Joe Bonamassa"  embroidered, leather, base-ball cap he had made..props to "Michael". He and the "Mistress of all Embroidery", Gale, have mad needle skills. Tim (Hombre), had www.joebonamassa.com embroidered across the back shoulders of his jeans jacket. Extra Street Team points to them all.

The venue is user friendly. Great acoustics, comfy seats, and, sold out! Joe and the boys were in good spirits and were playful all night. The mix was spot on. I had moments that allowed me to marvel at how well Rick and Joe's voices blend. Bogie is so tight! He never seems to tire. Carmine again defied the limits of the chair. Joe was amazing. No signs of the lingering respiratory issue. He continues to stun me every time! I love the big red guitar. (I'm sorry to say Joe told me what it is and I forgot..a '79???) I'm also a big fan of the ever evolving intro to "Sloe Gin". I agree with everything Chris said about the crowd response. There were moments when "wow" came out of my mouth like the faithful saying "amen" at a revival.

That's how I felt after the show...revived..filled with the Bona-spirit. As I went out the front door I ran into Joe's Dad. What a nice man!!! He couldn't stop expressing his gratitude to Joe's fans and was raving about how amazing they were. I told him we were grateful to him and his wife, for raising such a great young man. (ed - http://www.flickr.com/photos/49663389@N07/4557126254/)

And now for a big shout-out to the group from Lititz Pa. Fifty Bonamaniacs loaded onto a school bus and made the journey! What a sight. Parked in front of the tour bus. Hats off to whomever organized that trip!

Finally..Don and Jocelyn!! We've been meeting at shows for years now!! Time to jump into this community!!!

THANKS Joe and all for another great show, adventure, and memory! Cathy

Edit: Apologies to all my phone buddies (Rick, Patty, Libby, Shred)...I left the phone in the car..

I'll have more to add once I get around to it, but here are some people (rather than show) pics of the night.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49663389@N … 816622025/

You know me... still the newbie with so many questions.  I have a suggestion for a merchandising idea, and wonder if you can tell me who I should ask?  And I want to make it known that if these end up going on sale, I WANT ONE!   

If anyone noticed the bus Sunday night, you probably saw the license plate.  If not, I have a picture of it posted here (along with concert pics and a few of us who gathered together that night):  http://www.flickr.com/photos/49741985@N … 21678363/.

Here in PA we only have "official" license plates on the rear bumper, so that leaves my front plate free to advertise for Joe.  I want a "Bona-Who" plate so I can tell everyone who asks.  And believe me, they will ask.  I used to have a personalized plate that said "Type O" and I got sick of everyone asking me if that was my blood type, so I traded it in.  I think a Bona-Who souvenir plate would be just the ticket for word-of-mouth advertising.  So where can I get one??????

And, yes, I was a pest and stood behind Joe's bus and photographed this.  I felt bad doing it, but I did it.  I confess.

Edited to fix the link.

Chris, you will have more success getting one made. There are a ton of sources online that will do one for about 25 or 30 bucks. A suggestion for an official license plate holder with JB script has been requested for a while with no results. I got tired of waiting and had one made and in my hands in a week for 25. Many states do not allow a custom front plate. This is one.
No patience,
Rick