Jacksonville 12/3/2010 (Page 1 of 2)

The Florida Theatre in Jacksonville,Florida.  She’s a beautiful and palatial venue and hostess.  Over the course of eighty-three years, she has hosted many different events, and remains an Historic establishment.  On December 3,2010 our Grand Ol Girl embraced Joe Bonamassa and his Band.  Joe Bonamassa, Carmine Rojas, Rick Melick, and Bogie Bowles and the crew set foot on that historical stage and cast out a merciless beckoning of Blues and Rock for about two delicious hours.  These guys brought it.  Assured, and without mercy.  This show is so damn good that it just leaves you only able to cry out for more from your seat.  And if you’re foolish enough to not have stood up and let your soul dance, then shame on you.

The Meet & Greet was a real privilege. 
This was my first time attending a Bonamassa Show.  I brought along my husband, and sixteen year old daughter, Kait.  This was her first concert/show for any musician, ever.  And she is getting to meet  Joe Bonamassa!   I couldn’t think of a better venue to bring her to, nor a better musician to introduce her to.  In a day and age where the art of honest musicianship with soul and meaning are dwindling, this was one of the best experiences I could have ever hoped to have had the chance to share with my daughter. 
Inside the greeting lobby, we gathered.  Mostly a group of people and members from WJCT, Jones College Television attended.  They had bought a special Meet & Greet/ticket package when Joe’s Royal Albert Hall PBS show aired back in August.  Then there was myself, Kait and two others who had Street Teamed our way to the Meet & Greet.   Joe appeared at the top of the stairs, and grinned while he announced to us all that “Today was going to be different”. “Today you can either meet OR greet, whichever you choose”.  Some folks went silent.  They took him seriously, and glanced around the room, and at each other.  Others like us, laughed and enjoyed Joe’s tension breaking humor. 
Joe made his way down the stairway to talk to us all.  Roy Weisman was in the back of the gathering, talking to the folks from WJCT.  Joe sported a Gray baseball hat, red t-shirt, and his signature JB gray sweatshirt was the comfy choice of outfit this afternoon.  Always pleasant, and always a gentleman.  One man brought a guitar for Joe to sign.  Joe gave us all a treat and gave the low down of this fine guitar.  Pictures were taken, stories told, many signatures obtained from Joe on CD’s, and items.  When it was our turn, a gal from www.Blues411.com took our photo with Joe, as well as took the picture of us all with my camera.  Super nice lady!
Joe signed our tickets to the show, also signed a picture of Katie Blue & the Joe Bobble for Jb Bowman that I promised to get signed for her.  I then thanked Joe for his time, and handed him two sea shell ornaments I created.  The shells were as identical as I could find while walking a beach close to our home in St Augustine, Florida.   One ornament was for Joe, and the other For Sandi Thom.  I told him that now they owned a piece of St Augustine, and they always had a reason to come back to see us.  He was taken back, as someone had brought him a gift. No one else at this meet & greet brought him a gift.  That in itself took me by surprise, as Joe gives so very much in every show .  Over the course of many years, I have met many musicians.  None have been the gentleman that Joe Bonamassa has been when it comes to meeting those who support him and enjoy his music. 
At 8:00pm sharp, the show began.  The lights dimmed down, and it was on.  In a daunting black suit and white shirt, Joe and the Band set the groundwork for the show by slicing fire and belting out Cradle Rock.   

The set list for the evening:
Cradle Rock
So Many Roads
When The Fire Hits The Sea
So It’s Like That
If Heartaches Were Nickles
Slow Train
Steal Your Heart Away
Sloe Gin
Ballad of John Henry
Happier Times
Never Make a Move Too Soon
The Great Flood
Young Man Blues
Woke Up Dreaming
Mountain Time
( Django- ZigZagWanderer noted it was Django- I got lost in enjoying my very first Joe show...apologies)
Encore:  Bird On  A Wire and Just Got Paid

During “When The Fire Hits The Sea”, one of Joe’s amps blew.  The crew was on it, and the show remained on going.  Joe took a brief break after this third song, and greeted Jacksonville.  He cited one of the first times he played a venue in Jacksonville, “The Freebird”.  He recalled a rainy Monday night, and a very quiet audience even after he peeked out and saw all ten people there to see him play.  Those ten people got their socks rocked off.  Joe then tells us WHY there were only ten people there that night.  On the calendar for the club that month, Joe’s band was a last minute booking.  And the Calendar had stated “Closed for renovations” for that evening.  Tonight in Jacksonville at The Florida, over 1,900 people were there and none of us could get enough of what Joe and the band was playing.  Most were chomping at the bit for the next chord played by Joe.  Others. Like my usually very quiet husband were busy picking their bottom jaws up off the floor, and yelling “BONN-A-MASS-AAAAAA” in between lyrics being sung by Joe. 
Things got very humorous while Joe played “If Heartaches Were Nickles” also.  Those in the front right seat of the venue had Joe nearly laughing as he sang “You KNOW about the high cost of lovin’, baby…”  Joe chuckled and shook his head, kept on going, but it was a good time.  Nothing stuffy about Joe’s performance-nothing like having over 1,900 friends to share a good time with while you rock out like Thor and his hammer…    The encore performance of “Bird On A Wire” was no less than stunning. 

The guys brought it, fierce, and with force.  Carmine Rojas, Bogie Bowles, and Rick Melick  were brilliant along with Joe.  The people seated behind us were from Pensylvania, and it was also their first time at a Bonamassa show.  They were an older couple, and the lady giggled as she eventually showed me that she had wadded up the wrapping paper from her straws from her drinks, and had inserted them into her ears.  She was still enjoying the show.  The sound quality was clear, warm, rich and enveloping.  The stage show, damn good.  Those who love all things Bonamassa got everything they wanted and more visually.  Nothing omitted from this performance.  Strong, soul –grabbing, wielding power, blues and soul, and just plain rocked the hell out of Jacksonville. 
Thank you, Joe Bonamassa and band along with crew, for THE best Friday night out in a long time. 
On the way out of the theatre, my daughter asks “So, um mom?  When does Joe play in Jacksonville again?  You DO know that Ashley plays bass guitar, and I think she’d like to hear Joe, too”.  (Ashley is my daughter's best friend)…….Out of the mouth of babes……  (: