• Registered: 2011-12-17
  • Posts: 3

Topic: Oakland California Concert Critic

First, I want to make it clear that I wouldn't be writing this if I didn't like Joe's playing very much. Sooo, here's the deal:

The concert in Oakland was way too loud. It was an assault on the senses. I love the Paramount Theater and I have seen and heard many great acts there. The problems were: The drums were too loud, so loud that you couldn't hear anything else. The drummer was not the right choice for Joe's tunes. He was funny and heavy, but not good. You couldn't hear the Keyboards, you couldn't hear the guitar and barely hear the singing. The concert was just one overly miced kick-drum and banging tom-tom in the ear. Also the bass player was out of tune or hitting the wrong notes because he couldn't hear himself.
Now before you ignore everything I have written; know that I have been to hundreds of concerts and used to work in the sound reinforcement business. I've helped do the sound for Jefferson Starship, Elvin Bishop, The Sons, and other fairly well known musicians and bands. Joe's playing was great (what I could hear) but the concert was not. In this day in age, with all the great PA equipment out there, there is no reason not to have good sound... except if you turn every damn thing up to 11 and leave yourself no headroom. Sorry, that's just the way it was. Instead of saying what a great concert it was while walking out, the people I could hear were saying, "man that was too loud".

Ears still ringing,


John

2 Reply by RickB (edited by RickB 2011-12-17 11:32:49)

  • RickB
  • RickB
  • BONAMEGAMETAL
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  • From: San Diego
  • Registered: 2009-10-30
  • Posts: 12,198

Re: Oakland California Concert Critic

Ummmm... Where were you sitting? We were pretty close and on the right closest to the drums and bass.  Not my experience, but then, I like it LOUD! Sorry your first post has to be tossing rocks. Welcome anyway.
Rick

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  • From: El Dorado Hills, Ca.
  • Registered: 2010-01-01
  • Posts: 797

Re: Oakland California Concert Critic

Yeah....I concur Rick. I was sitting left of center, 5 rows deep almosT directly in front of the left monitor and other than some heavy drum bass coming at us, I thought the mix was great. Compared to the last time I saw him (Sacramento, 3/10) this was nowhere near as loud. I personally would have liked a little more volume on the guitars at least. Like Rick said, don't know where you were sitting jmcmurty, but everything was great from my end. By the way, welcome to the forum. Opposing views are what keeps this place lively!

Why don't we eliminate all the warning labels and let things sort themselves out?
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 1,996

Re: Oakland California Concert Critic

Interesting to see so many shows on this latest tour with differing opinions on the quality of the sound.  Something needs to get sorted out better.  I thought the sound in Detroit was very good, while others complained right here in this forum.  Where there is smoke, there must be fire.  Gotta figure out how to improve the sound balance in these bigger venues.  Makes no sense to ignore.

Gibson 60th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Reissue, Gibson LP Standard Faded CSB, Gibson Gary Moore LP Standard, Epi Joe Bonamassa GT LP, Epi Zakk Wylde LP, Dean Michael Schenker Flying V, Jackson Randy Rhoads V, ESP/LTD George Lynch Kamikaze, EVH Striped Series R/B/W, Fender/Squire John 5 Telecaster, Fender Joe Strummer Relic Telecaster
  • From: Essex
  • Registered: 2010-01-11
  • Posts: 2,119

Re: Oakland California Concert Critic

...Whack Em's drums too loud!?! ...that's  kinda like walking into the Vatican and saying the Pope's too holy! wink

Everyone is born a genius, but the process of living de-geniuses them.
R. Buckminster Fuller
  • From: Cambridge
  • Registered: 2011-01-15
  • Posts: 912

Re: Oakland California Concert Critic

i thought the ONLY thing needed to be improved with the whole concert at the Apollo was the drums needed to be a bit quieter and Joe's guitar needed to be a little louder

other than that...best concert i've ever been to!

Jonny L

Videos of my playing: http://www.youtube.com/user/JonnyLowtherMusic
  • From: Wisconsin
  • Registered: 2011-04-03
  • Posts: 593

Re: Oakland California Concert Critic

I suffered the same experience in Chicago. Sat in first row on the side right in front of Tal and Carmine. Bass and drums were overpowering everything else and the keyboards were nonexistent. Still had a great time (it is Joe). Thing is, I had the exact same seats, only second row, in March 2011 in Milwaukee and the sound was absolutely, perfectly amazing. Go figure.

LIVE MUSIC IS BEST
  • Registered: 2006-12-28
  • Posts: 3,742

Re: Oakland California Concert Critic

Interesting....I was probably a row or two directly behind Guido (if you saw a handsome dude with a Raider hat and JB "live from nowhere" shirt that was me)....the mix was loud but nothing to uncomfortable...right after JB came on, the sound guy came right down the aisle and stood behind the pit area for about 30 seconds.....I tried to see if hear if he would tweak anything and he may well have, but nothing I could pick out...then again I'm deaf in my left ear and tone "stupid" in my right.....I really thought all was just right for this burnt out hippy  smile

Shreddy

9 Reply by ohiodawg13 (edited by ohiodawg13 2011-12-17 17:14:25)

  • From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 5,828

Re: Oakland California Concert Critic

jmcmurtry wrote:

First, I want to make it clear that I wouldn't be writing this if I didn't like Joe's playing very much. Sooo, here's the deal:

The concert in Oakland was way too loud. It was an assault on the senses. I love the Paramount Theater and I have seen and heard many great acts there. The problems were: The drums were too loud, so loud that you couldn't hear anything else. The drummer was not the right choice for Joe's tunes. He was funny and heavy, but not good. You couldn't hear the Keyboards, you couldn't hear the guitar and barely hear the singing. The concert was just one overly miced kick-drum and banging tom-tom in the ear. Also the bass player was out of tune or hitting the wrong notes because he couldn't hear himself.
Now before you ignore everything I have written; know that I have been to hundreds of concerts and used to work in the sound reinforcement business. I've helped do the sound for Jefferson Starship, Elvin Bishop, The Sons, and other fairly well known musicians and bands. Joe's playing was great (what I could hear) but the concert was not. In this day in age, with all the great PA equipment out there, there is no reason not to have good sound... except if you turn every damn thing up to 11 and leave yourself no headroom. Sorry, that's just the way it was. Instead of saying what a great concert it was while walking out, the people I could hear were saying, "man that was too loud".

Ears still ringing,


John

Howdy John, your complaints definitely won't fall on deaf ears, except maybe Shreds, as I've hung out after shows and have watched Joe tweak the sound if he wasn't happy with it that night to get it right for the next gig. He is constantly striving to get it right, but he's on the stage come showtime and not workin' the board. My own hearing isn't all it used to be, but I put most of the blame on The Who @ The SF Civic Auditorium (now known as the Bill Graham Civic) in 1970. My ears rang for 3 days after that one. I have however been to many shows with the bands you worked with back in the day. you probably worked with P.D.(Paul Dowell) who I met years ago through a mutual friend up the hill in Mill Valley. I've also become aquaintences with Donny Baldwin, Michael "Fly" Brooks, and Terry Haggerty over the past 15 years. Don't give up on JB based on one experience. Maybe you could offer up some technical expertise that could be helpful.

                                                                                                                                         Merry Xmas Damnit!

                                                                                                                                         J Dawg

What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint
  • From: California
  • Registered: 2010-12-31
  • Posts: 535

Re: Oakland California Concert Critic

Not my experience at all. I was in the front balcony and the sound was awesome. I thought everyone in the band was stellar and loved the addition of Tal Bergman. He gave the rocking songs the kick they deserve but held back when appropriate on the mellow stuff.

Now a Beth-O-Bona-Holic
  • From: El Dorado Hills, Ca.
  • Registered: 2010-01-01
  • Posts: 797

Re: Oakland California Concert Critic

Shredit wrote:

Interesting....I was probably a row or two directly behind Guido (if you saw a handsome dude with a Raider hat and JB "live from nowhere" shirt that was me)....the mix was loud but nothing to uncomfortable...right after JB came on, the sound guy came right down the aisle and stood behind the pit area for about 30 seconds.....I tried to see if hear if he would tweak anything and he may well have, but nothing I could pick out...then again I'm deaf in my left ear and tone "stupid" in my right.....I really thought all was just right for this burnt out hippy  smile

Shreddy

You know......my cousin did mention a particularly handsome gent behind us but I just let it go as he generally doesn't have the same tastes as me!

Sorry I missed out meeting all of you.

Why don't we eliminate all the warning labels and let things sort themselves out?

12 Reply by Rocket (edited by Rocket 2011-12-17 22:05:56)

  • Rocket
  • Rocket
  • BONAMEGAMETAL
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  • From: San Francisco
  • Registered: 2006-04-26
  • Posts: 10,275

Re: Oakland California Concert Critic

I disagree.......


Sounded very good to me.  Joe's vocals clear, Rick's keys were splendid, Carmine's tone on (they were the right notes, he could hear himself) the bass, more than decent but certainly not too loud drums in the mix.....


It was a winner!!!


Rock ON & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
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.”
  • Registered: 2011-12-17
  • Posts: 3

Re: Oakland California Concert Critic

RickB wrote:

Ummmm... Where were you sitting? We were pretty close and on the right closest to the drums and bass.  Not my experience, but then, I like it LOUD! Sorry your first post has to be tossing rocks. Welcome anyway.
Rick

We (I came with 8 other people and they all encouraged me to compose my first posting while on our 160 miles home) were sitting in the middle of the middle balcony, in the vicinity of where I have sat many times before. I am coming to the conclusion that many people over thirty years of age have already damaged their ears and just don't hear very well (see Shreddy's message below). That makes it tough for the rest of us, especially when it's the guy who's running the board who can't hear. It should be of concern to those who run the show that the balcony could not hear the concert. I am supplying information that could make the listening experience better for people at future concerts. No rock throwing.


"The best sound is created in a vacuum".

  • From: Norddeutschland
  • Registered: 2008-12-03
  • Posts: 1,458

Re: Oakland California Concert Critic

Always interesting to hear / read critique which is well meant. I think the post from John is fair.

Sound is a big theme with me and overall with the advent of better technology I find live production is getting worse and not better! Not so with Joe who generally hunts good live production as much as he hunts better tone (as if THAT were possible!).

Nevertheless when playing bigger venues a large proportion of the audience are further back than most of the fans that have answered here and these are the people often seeing Joe for the first time that he needs to win over and add to his fan base. Ergo, the sound up in the balcony is damn important.

OK, it will always have to be a compromise and I hope that by playing the wide array of venues he does they are slowing building the database of 'what works where'.

I'm sure Joe's team is on the case and well minded comment will be heard - for sure.

Welcome John anyway. Why don't you let us know how your next concert at the venue in Oakland goes soundwise. It might prove interesting.............

No Hits, No Hype.......................Classic Rock Jan 2012
  • From: California
  • Registered: 2010-12-31
  • Posts: 535

Re: Oakland California Concert Critic

My ears are not damaged and as I said I was in the balcony. The sound was fantastic where I was. I don't understand the assumption that anyone who got great sound must have damaged ears. ???

Now a Beth-O-Bona-Holic

16 Reply by Rocket (edited by Rocket 2011-12-19 03:15:30)

  • Rocket
  • Rocket
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  • From: San Francisco
  • Registered: 2006-04-26
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Re: Oakland California Concert Critic

Beth-O-Holic wrote:

My ears are not damaged and as I said I was in the balcony. The sound was fantastic where I was. I don't understand the assumption that anyone who got great sound must have damaged ears. ???

That is not even possible!  Perhaps if one has dmaged ears, there is no good sound???  Sounds more plausible to my ears....


Rock ON & Keep the Fiath,
Rocket

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
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.”
  • From: oroville
  • Registered: 2011-12-11
  • Posts: 10

Re: Oakland California Concert Critic

I was front right in front of ohio dawg, and thought it did sound great minus the pretty much non exsitant keys, which always seem to be the case, either not there, or to there
I left actually thinkin wow, this was a great mixed show
Brian

  • From: California
  • Registered: 2010-12-31
  • Posts: 535

Re: Oakland California Concert Critic

Rocket wrote:
Beth-O-Holic wrote:

My ears are not damaged and as I said I was in the balcony. The sound was fantastic where I was. I don't understand the assumption that anyone who got great sound must have damaged ears. ???

That is not even possible!  Perhaps if one has dmaged ears, there is no good sound???  Sounds more plausible to my ears....


Rock ON & Keep the Fiath,
Rocket

Yeah I know, but that was the comment by jmcmurtry. Evidently anyone who thought the sound was great has damaged ears.

Now a Beth-O-Bona-Holic