Joe @ Phoenix, 5/16/2007

rmorter, wish I was going!!!!!  Being stoked is part of the process!!  Kinda Joe foreplay! Sold out is great news since you have your ticket! Please leave a review!! Have a great time..Cathy

Oh man, what a show!

Sorry, but no set list. I will say he did If Heartaches Were Nickles - on acoustic with the band. Too cool - thanks Joe!

I've got a bit to say, so bear with me...

I hadn't seen this band line up - it's the third band I've seen Joe with in 3 years. It's the first time I had any inkling he's got a keyboardist. That is a great addition - not that Joe was bad before, but I really like keys and they way they can compliment the guitar. The piano and Hammond sounds were excellent.

The new bass player and drummer were both great as well. I like the 5 string bass & the extra low notes it offers. The drummer did a great solo towards the end of the show - I would have liked a bass solo too!

Sorry I don't remember the band members names - and I can't find them on the web site either. The band members should have some mention on Joe's website...

Joe played a lot of new material since I last saw him with his band in 2005 (I did just see him last month in Phoenix doing an acoustic show). I thought it was really good, much more sophisticated and refined than his earlier work which was already top notch. The new material sounded more Santana / Schon like - more legato (?sp) phrases that were more emotional and melodic than what Joe's done in the past. The songs were at the same time very powerful. There were times when I think the entire audience was mesmerized - they got really quiet, intensly watching and listening. You go Joe!

Joe mainly used non-strat type guitars (he used a strat once, maybe for a couple of songs). Most of the time he played on gibsons, which was weird. He got some good gibson tones, but I found myself missing the cut and attack of the fender at times. There were a few solos on the les pauls that were probably better due to being played on an LP, but I'm really more of a Strat type of guy and enjoy the way a strat cuts through a mix.

Joe said the new material will be out on an album due this August - I can't wait!

The crowd was very engaged and supportive, shouting out "JOE" quite often. I met 2 couples that had never seen Joe before. One couple had heard Joe on the radio that morning and had to see him after hearing him play his acoustic live. The other couple had driven from New Mexico to see Jimmy Thackery play the night before and to also see Joe (with never having heard of him). Both couples were amazed and became fans.

Standing in line before the show and talking to people, we all agreed that it's a friggin shame that Joe doesn't get more recognition or play time on the radio. It also seemed unanimous that most kids these days just don't understand or appreciate real talent and proficiency. Everyone needs to work harder to get the word out about Joe! I know I've told probably everyone I know about him!

I do have a few bummer things to bring up, though...

Joe's vocals were not up enough in the front of house mix. Joe played with dynamics a lot and when the band was playing quietly his vocals were fine. But most of the time you couldn't tell what he was singing which sucked on the new songs. BTW, I was sitting directly in front of the stage, they have small JBL's mounted to the ceiling around the stage, one pointed directly at me. The rest of the mix was fine - although I would've brought the keys up just a bit too.

I don't like going to the venue Joe played at, at least when Joe's there. It's the 2nd time I've seen him there, and both times they've sold out a standing room only performance. The place is just too small - if you're not right in front you can't see much at all. If you gotta go to the bathroom or get a beer, you're probably SOL getting back to the front. I'd think Joe could get into a bigger place in Phoenix, like the Marquee (saw Trower there last October). It's probably twice the capacity.

I'd really like to see Joe back at the Dodge Theater with his band - sharing the bill if necessary - but getting into a real arena would be wonderful. At 49 years old it isn't always fun to stand up for 3-4 hours, and I know I wasn't the oldest guy there!

And another small problem - no XXL shirts. I could loose weight but it doesn't look likely in the near future, so I would like to have got a XXL shirt. I got two XL's instead - maybe I can sew them together (or, at least my wife can wear them).

Great concert - I hope you make it back here again soon, Joe & band, but please get into a bigger venue in Phoenix (Cricket? Dodge Theater? Marquee? Tostito New Years Eve Block Party?)

Thanks for the insight Randy. As Joe gets bigger I imagine larger venues will be needed. I also pay for standing too long, but if that's what it takes, I'm all over it! Someday we'll be looking back wistfully at the times when we could see him in intimate venues!

Randy,

I can relate to the standing, the sound problems, and the visibility problems.  We had the same problem at the House of Blues in Dallas.  However, I will say that Joe was amazing because my wife and I were standing 3 feet in front of Joe.  Joe is coming back to Dallas in October and playing at Cowboys, which is a great place to see him at and cannot wait.  My wife took our 12 year old son to the 2nd show and I can tell you that he does appreciate great music.  We have been grooming him on the blues and great rock and roll.  He is probably one of the few that does.  I really liked the 3 new tracks Joe played and cannot wait till the new CD comes out.  It is unfortunate that there are not more great songwriters and musicians that tour these days.  It seems that radio is for the absurd.  Although, in we just got a new station in Dallas, TX called Lonestar, 92.5 fm, and we heard Joe on the radio for the first time.  They have played a few of his songs now, so maybe there is hope.  I can also say with confidence that the sound problems were not Joe's fault.  I have never seen such persistence on quality sound at a show.  It was the venue.  Thanks for the writeup of the AZ show.  I welcome you to come to Texas and see Joe.  We will be there and my wife and I enjoy meeting fellow Joe fans.

Take care.

Clay Saylors

Correction, he used a strat for one song ("Django").

I was a little disappointed in this show and this isn't Joe's fault; The mix was bad. I couldn't hear Joe's guitar that well and his vocals were way down.  The other two times I saw him at the rhythm room 

I've been a huge fan of Joe's for 10 years.  I think his best performance was that show he did at the Martini ranch a year and a half ago, either that or the show he did 2 years ago at the rhythm room. Those were both amazing shows.  His last show at the rhythm room had amazing playing but it felt like it was 110 degrees and it made it hard to enjoy the show.

The big news is that there was a keyboard player. After seeing this show I think Joe plays best with a trio.   The keyboard definitely added to certain songs but I just think that it sounded tighter when it was just a trio. That's just my opinion and maybe I'm in the minority.  I think the keyboard took away some of the edge

This is not the first time that this has been mentioned recently; I also think it is a continuing issue. Joe's vocals are an instrument as well and on the new stuff is absolutely killer.

Vocals up in the mix please.

PC

Band is great. Very tight and taking JB to different places that haven't been explored before. Versatility is at an all time high, and it allows new arrangements to make Joe's classic tunes sound fresh and alive. It's great.

That being said, there has been a lot of talk lately about the mix of the show losing the vocals when the band gets loud, and not being able to notice keyboards unless it is an intro/outro or solo. I've heard it from more than one person and more than one show lately, before seeing it posted on the board today.

Vocals need to be up in the mix.

PC