Carre, Amsterdam, Oct. 5/6/7, 2011 (Page 2 of 3)

Now THAT is a great TRIPLE show report Bibi!    Wow, I can only dream of three back to back shows like that. Glad to hear that all went well and the banner is now on the way to our fine UK Bonabuddies. Rock On! Cool vids too. A wealth of Bonagoodness flows from the Carre.
Rick

The complete BOJH from the last night, including Cathy laughing at Tal's hysterical antics. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCvuo64BZds

Pics coming up next after I sort through the hundreds I took on two cameras.

Here is Cathy's contribution as she was unable to post from her profile on MY pc!! (The same issue that I had on HER pc!)

DAM!! I do mean DAM!  This place is special! What a grand time. I'm so bummed it's over

G and I didn't go Weds. So we were more than ready when Thursday rolled around. The weather threatened, but had mercy. (You walk most of the time here, so rain and wind = misery.) Like most, I was so excited to see Forum Friends!! A brief hello then off to the meet and greet. First Joe sighting in months and he's looking good! Big smiles. He says this tour will be calm compared to BCC's...can you imagine?   So many people all wanting a little time, and poor Warren trying to get Joe fed before the show, and Joe wanting to please everybody. You know..
  Then off to the front doors to pass out flyers. I said "Free Joe" so often I fear some thought he was in the slammer! lol Great contest for those who video songs and a free download for all...too bad I have no skills!
   You all know the drill..8 o'clock on the nose..."Cradle Rock" starts with Joe mid-stage, lights down. Total rush!! (Side note..He played one of his two, yes two,  '59 Les Paul's) The set list is already posted so I won't repeat, but I'm really taken by "Midnight Blues". It's all about the guitar and the tone. It hits that certain spot!
   I had such fun! I smiled, laughed, closed my eyes and floated, uttered wow's and yeah's. This band is solid out of the gate!!! Joe is on his game, Rick is rested and sassy, Carmine has the spring back in his step and Tal is radiant with good vibes. This all makes me happy to my core. I know things may get tweeked with the pending CD, but I think this may well be the set list for the taping at the Beacon.  I'm ready to pre-order now!
   Friday meant another opportunity to see Bonabuddies including Ian and Max who had come from England. There's never enough time!!  2013  We'll change all that   Rushed to get back to the front to pass out flyers only this time the Carre said no because they have a "no taping" policy. Cost of tickets, complaints of screens in their viewing line, all valid. However..taping did occur without any problems.
  Friday's show was another perfect night. The intro to "Sloe Gin" is becoming iconic. It still thrills! "Song of Yesterday" was my fav BCC, so it's nice to hear the Joe version. As the songs progressed the party continued because of this cohesive, happy aura that surrounds this "band". A much needed survival skill IMHO.
  I need to stop before the bot bites, but thanks to all including Bob at the Merch table and Ian who drives the rig, breaks down the equip and passes flyers with the best of them! I will look forward to my next reunion with my Forum Family. XXXX

http://www.bluesmagazine.nl/verslag-fot … -amsterdam

For most of you abacadabra (penned by me), but nevertheless worthwile taking a look at because of the pictures made by the one and only Marco van Rooijen. This guy is one of the best, if not THE best concertfotographer in The Netherlands! And a nice person too!!!

Well it took me a little longer to get home than most – I had a little further to travel , and a little extra weight in my bag too.
What a great weekend. We had tickets for the Friday show and flew into Amsterdam from the UK on Thursday evening getting to our hotel room at about the time Joe and the guys would have been taking to the stage at the Carre. After grabbing a bite to eat we headed off to a small music bar where we were later joined by Amsterhammer, Cathy, and Bonapostle, fresh from the Thursday Carre show.

Friday we did a little sightseeing before meeting up with Bibi, Blues Sissi, Harald, Bonapostle, George, and Cathy for more food and drink before the show. Heading from Rembrantplein towards the Carre, Mrs Icon stopped dead in her tracks and I was wondering why. Then I realised where we were – opposite the hotel the band had used last year, and the spot where we had said goodbye to Bogie, not realising of course that that would be the last time we would see him play with Joe. It also occurred to me that our last Joe show was Amsterdam 2010, as Joe played no UK dates in the Spring this year.

At the Carre, we were met by many more familiar smiling faces, and took our seats on the front row (Big thanks George – you are a star!) and away we went. I really don’t know how that two hours and ten minutes could slip by so quickly, but before I knew it we were on to the closing notes of Just Got Paid, and the guys were taking their bows. Not before we had been dazzled by Joe’s brilliance of course, and had a little fun with the Bonabanner (which is now sitting here with me taking a break before its next curtain call at Blackpool).

You’ve already heard about the set list and had some detailed descriptions of the songs, so I’ll cut straight to the highlights as I saw them. “Slow Train” was just epic – “Sloe Gin” tore at the heartstrings – “Mountain Time” as always provided the feel good factor and “Just Got Paid” rocked us all the way home. “Song Of Yesterday” was the best of the new additions – just superb!

Did I miss anything?  Without wanting to be critical, I’ll be truthful and say that I understand it’s been around for a long time in Joe’s set and can understand he may be tired of playing it, and I never really thought I’d miss it, (and now I’m starting to sound like Jane ), but a Joe show without “So Many Roads” is lacking something. That was Joe’s “Big Blues” song. That’s not to say he couldn’t find another – “Reconsider Baby” perhaps, or even something totally new.  Also missed Bogie’s drumming, but can’t really say too much about Tal as the drums were a little lost in the mix where we sat – far left of front row. We are at Nottingham on Sunday – far right (Tal’s side) row B, so should get to hear a bit more of him.

So – show over – more hellos and goodbyes, and back to the Old Bell for more drinks and the official handover of the Bonabanner. Arrangements have been made to get the banner to Blackpool (thanks Maggie), and I’ll see it again at Nottingham and Hammersmith.

Feels like I’m carrying the Olympic Flame – I wonder which burns brighter?
Ian

Rocket you knows I gotta be carefull what I say, if, when, whatever, or I'll be sleeping in the spare room . Tal seems a fun guy alright . Alright?   Anyways, besides not hearing Tal well, there was some dude with a guitar - well several guitars and a "Mad Professor" gizmo actually - and dark glasses - kept getting in our line of sight so we couldn't see him well either

Ian

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=d5247a4c … ;sc=photos

This should work. Visible 'till january 8.

Yes, and now i'm also a member of the forum, it was so nice to meet you all, and ofcourse the band (especially Tal ;)