• Registered: 2012-12-16
  • Posts: 1

Topic: show of Dec. 15th Germain arena

I have been a fan of Joe's since he was a child. I am disabled 61 f. and have every song he has recorded on CD. I wish to post a negative comment about the show yesterday at the Germain Arena. This is a hocky rink. It is not good acoustically, and not meant for someone as good as Joe is. I don't know who decided to do a show at this venue, but it was a mistake. I have seen the greats, Janis Joplin, the Doors, Cream, Greatful Dead. I have never been exposed to such a poor site for such a great artist as Joe Bonamassa. Lyrics could not be heard over the music, and there is nothing wrong with my hearing. I saved a long time to be able to go to this concert, and I was deeply disapointed. It wasn't "Joe" it was the person responsible for putting him in an arena, that was not meant for music. I am ever so sad today. The two hour drive home with my friend was in silence. Choose Van Weizel, Ruth Eclkard hall, choose a place that has the building to show off what he can do. This was an utter dissapointment.  After waiting 6 months and having my hopes dashed, I sure feel low today. The only song that came across good was Midnight blues, and the acousticals in the beginning of the show. I am not a negative person, but truely this wasn't a concert to be proud of. vgnvz6021

  • SgtB
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Re: show of Dec. 15th Germain arena

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. My wife and I flew down from Chicago to take some family as a Christmas gift to this show. We all enjoyed the show very much and thought it sounded quite well in comparison to the many other places I've seen him and I've seen him about 10 times

Gibson Collectors Choice #6
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  • ERP
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Re: show of Dec. 15th Germain arena

I have to agree with "vgnvz6021".  We were there right in the middle of the floors, and the guitar, while awesome all on its own, completely "walked over" the great vocals and the rest of the band.  It may have been a localized thing in the arena, I don't know, because its my first time at Germain.  Have a chat with the folks in charge of sound.
I will see you guys at Rama in May.  Peace.

  • ERP
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Re: show of Dec. 15th Germain arena

ERP wrote:

I have to agree with "vgnvz6021".  We were there right in the middle of the floors, and the guitar, while awesome all on its own, completely "walked over" the great vocals and the rest of the band.  It may have been a localized thing in the arena, I don't know, because its my first time at Germain.  Have a chat with the folks in charge of sound.
I will see you guys at Rama in May.  Peace.

By the way, a great venue, if in Toronto, is Massey Hall.

  • Registered: 2012-12-17
  • Posts: 1

Re: show of Dec. 15th Germain arena

I was at the Germain Arena show and I must tell you that the amplification was ridiculous!!  Joe's type of music is meant to explain every string touch in clear and concise tones.  What we got was over amplification which gelled most of the music into a high pitched slurry.  I would venture to say that a reduced amplification of 30% would have made his guitars sing and his voice would have been clear to the bone!  Unfortunately, I could hear it coming from the very first songs he did solo.  Whenever an acoustic guitar string strike sounds like hits from drums you are going to be in trouble when what he does best presents itself.  Sure enough, that was the case.

Joe, whoever sets up your amplification needs a reality check!!!!  We are there to hear possible the greatest guitar player in our lifetime.  This is not a Who Concert!!  We want to hear every note clearly and concisely!!  You at least deserve that and we as your fans also deserve it!!

  • Registered: 2012-12-17
  • Posts: 1

Re: show of Dec. 15th Germain arena

Van Wezel in SRQ, is an excellent venue! Great acoustics.... Not complaining, but it was our first Joe~B show, so we were thrilled to see him!  Incredible talent! Peace

  • From: East Lancashire, UK
  • Registered: 2011-06-24
  • Posts: 3,019

Re: show of Dec. 15th Germain arena

Was at the  show we were centre by the sound desk and the sound was great he the vocals were a little quiet. The show and the flying v were also great to see. J b left immediately after so must have been exhausted.

Come on the Blades (sorry Idolbone just had to borrow your line)

8 Reply by agbowes (edited by agbowes 2013-01-25 23:42:24)

  • From: Naples
  • Registered: 2013-01-24
  • Posts: 17

Re: show of Dec. 15th Germain arena

7th row center.  Got the tix for a $200 donation to PBS. Not a symphony hall, but no complaints when you can count the drops of sweat without binoculars.  Remember, this is Fort Myers, not the Beacon or Royal Albert Hall.  He could play in an outhouse and make it sound great.

  • From: East Lancashire, UK
  • Registered: 2011-06-24
  • Posts: 3,019

Re: show of Dec. 15th Germain arena

agbowes wrote:

7th row center.  Got the tix for a $200 donation to PBS. Not a symphony hall, but no complaints when you can count the drops of sweat without binoculars.  Remember, this is Fort Myers, not the Beacon or Royal Albert Hall.  He could play in an outhouse and make it sound great.

Wasn't complaining I have a place in N Fort Myers and so know the Germain Arena. Good he comes here. I came over specially early for the show.Enjoyed every second as always. big_smile big_smile

Come on the Blades (sorry Idolbone just had to borrow your line)

10 Reply by ERP

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Re: show of Dec. 15th Germain arena

Those PBS tix were amazingly great .. smack dead center of floors!  Folks, Joe did not play a note wrong, the band did not play a note wrong, they all jelled, and the tone was amazing.  My post is directed to the dude responsible for setting up sound.  During the sound check, while the band is playing, this dude is responsible for walking around the concert hall making sure the sound is right.  Dude:  Make sure you check the floor area too ... not just the nose bleed section, or by the mixer console.

PSmith1946 wrote:
agbowes wrote:

7th row center.  Got the tix for a $200 donation to PBS. Not a symphony hall, but no complaints when you can count the drops of sweat without binoculars.  Remember, this is Fort Myers, not the Beacon or Royal Albert Hall.  He could play in an outhouse and make it sound great.

Wasn't complaining I have a place in N Fort Myers and so know the Germain Arena. Good he comes here. I came over specially early for the show.Enjoyed every second as always. big_smile big_smile

  • From: Naples
  • Registered: 2013-01-24
  • Posts: 17

Re: show of Dec. 15th Germain arena

And the icing on the cake is the tax deduction!  May help pay for a Les Paul to keep my Strat company. 

ERP wrote:

Those PBS tix were amazingly great .. smack dead center of floors!  Folks, Joe did not play a note wrong, the band did not play a note wrong, they all jelled, and the tone was amazing.  My post is directed to the dude responsible for setting up sound.  During the sound check, while the band is playing, this dude is responsible for walking around the concert hall making sure the sound is right.  Dude:  Make sure you check the floor area too ... not just the nose bleed section, or by the mixer console.

PSmith1946 wrote:
agbowes wrote:

7th row center.  Got the tix for a $200 donation to PBS. Not a symphony hall, but no complaints when you can count the drops of sweat without binoculars.  Remember, this is Fort Myers, not the Beacon or Royal Albert Hall.  He could play in an outhouse and make it sound great.

Wasn't complaining I have a place in N Fort Myers and so know the Germain Arena. Good he comes here. I came over specially early for the show.Enjoyed every second as always. big_smile big_smile

  • From: Geneva, Switzerland
  • Registered: 2012-03-07
  • Posts: 14

Re: show of Dec. 15th Germain arena

<<<I came over specially early for the show. Enjoyed every second as always>>>

Me too. Drove in from Savannah after flying into there from Geneva. Was worth every minute it took to get there. May do it again this year, if it all falls together.

I was right of center in the back, up in the cheap seats and the sound was dialed-in after the 1st song in the electric set. No complaints at all. I thought it sounded pretty good for a frikkin civic arena;-).

KEN///

  • From: East Lancashire, UK
  • Registered: 2011-06-24
  • Posts: 3,019

Re: show of Dec. 15th Germain arena

Me too just to the right of the sound desk. I also flew in the night before from the UK. Great show, good sound for an arena and worth the travel and money. Pity Joe left straight after as I took new fans to the bus on the off change he was signing autographs, but no moan. These tours must be really tiring. I must admit that we all went for food and drinks after and both myself and my wife fell asleep at the table. Getting older is a bummer. lol

Come on the Blades (sorry Idolbone just had to borrow your line)
  • From: Geneva, Switzerland
  • Registered: 2012-03-07
  • Posts: 14

Re: show of Dec. 15th Germain arena

(Me too just to the right of the sound desk. I also flew in the night before from the UK. Great show, good sound for an arena and worth the travel and money. Pity Joe left straight after as I took new fans to the bus on the off change he was signing autographs, but no moan. These tours must be really tiring. I must admit that we all went for food and drinks after and both myself and my wife fell asleep at the table. Getting older is a bummer. lol)

We went out by the bus and waited along the fence as well. I had a couple newer fans with me also and they wanted to see if they could get a look. It wasn't the night for that, obviously. But, the show was just great, in my opinion.

You're spot on about getting older. Its a day per hour of time zone change for me to recover and I do a dozen crossings a year. I can't imagine how tired the band and roadies were - If you remember, after they took their bows, Joe kinda laid down at the back of the stage demonstrating he was exhausted.