turn up the keyboards

I'm not out to insult anyone, which means my comment is totally serious but not intended to demean or in any way imply your experiences aren't as you comment, as this is a much repeated "complaint".  However, in my earnest opinion, many people would not realize they really do hear Rick Melick's keyboards unless he suddenly wasn't playing in the band, period.  Again, that is not meant to be a swipe in any way at anyone's perception and experience.  He doesn't play in a manner some people expect, this I know for sure, gathered from many comments and discussions I've had regrading this with others, but of course do not know if it's the case for most people who say they cannot hear his keyboards, let alone for you specifically as individuals.  He has a few "special" parts.  Maybe the band really ought to consider playing Another Kind Of Love again, and then take my repeatedly unsolicited advice of playing Goin' Down with some serious extensible Rick Rack Zig Zag Padda Whacka Give the Dogs a Bone of Tonically Keypersonal Sakes Alive soloing before going into the Melickholy intro to Sloe Gin, a number he certainly has great bearing on the sonic palette of it's pseudo-operatic movements with his stellar playing.  But, I hear ya.  And Rick too.

Rock ON & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! "
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

I'm about to get sarcastic here...

Rock ON & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! "
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

I was at last nights show in Redbank NJ and I was seated dead center in the orchestra section. As always the show was outstanding but the only instruments I could hear throughout the whole show were the guitars and the drums. Joe you are an awesome guitarist but you have an amazingly talented band which need to be heard too. The little you could hear of the keyboards sounded amazing and the Hammond organ is an important part of creating the blues sound,  so someone please turn the volume up on the keys!! The same with the bass. I have followed Carmine's career from his Bowie days and I know he can rock it out on the bass, and it was difficult to hear any of his great bass runs last night. I saw the band a couple of years ago and the sound was so much better. I don't know what has changed, but as a band its important all your talents are heard to create the ultimate show for all the fans. I hope next time I see the band live that this will ring true.

I have heard several recent shows and the bass has sounded good to great depending on location and room. I think the room and posiction make a great deal of difference in the sound of the bass. If you are up close enough to the stage to hear the bass's stage volume it could compete with the sound out of the FOH speakers and muddle up the sound. The last show I saw was in a pretty large room 2,400 and I was middle of the house and further back. Carmines sound was very articulate from there.

And unfortunately, in a sitting venue, you are confined to the place you sit.  In a standing venue, movement (as a rule of thumb, or thumb in your eye if packed sardine club) within the diameter of a circle that is equal to an average person spreading their arms out straight while standing and moving within that imaginary circle which would be made if they spin in a circle, or just outside that circle will dramatically change the bass/treble content to a significant degree.  Whether it is acceptable or not, good luck....... Sitting, options are available for seat swaps, from a couple exchanging to a group shuffling places, it can become satisfactory....Of course only sometimes I suppose.  Standing waves just sometimes won't step aside, but again, sometimes they can be side-stepped.

Rock ON & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! "
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

I too was at the Factory gig in Sydney and many times couldn't understand the mix.  Sooo hard to hear Rick on keyboard.  I kinda thought it was all skewed to make JB the only hero for the night which seemed fair as he is the boss, BUT it also seemed to blatantly miss out on some wicked moments that I had to strain to catch from Rick.
Seemed pretty obvious actually - the mix at the Factory seemed to be set for a big stadium which was odd for the venue.  Just so loud particularly in the beginning but missing lots of dynamics that eventually crept in a bit. (Probably perfect by the time it made it to Blues & Roots)
No doubt of course JB was awesome and would make you weep with joy anywhere but Carmine and Ricardo were so lush to enjoy that night also.
Simple fix Mr Mixer Please turn him up.  Methinks he is like a very very fine red and just keeps on getting better so for goodness sakes don't miss out on hearing him.

Great concert at the Wilbur in Boston, but I couldn't hear Rick's hammond AT ALL.  His other keys were barely audible.  The rest of the rhythm section sounded great. Too bad.  Blues + B3 = Religious Experience.