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Topic: Prague

Had been looking forward to this for months after seeing Joe in Ravensburg in March and Joe and Beth in London in July.  Seeing Joe is always special, he's such a great talent. But somehow felt there was something missing on Saturday, so wasn't surprised when he subsequently tweeted that he "only had 80% to give". Sometimes he just seems to push himself too hard with his huge tour schedules..

His playing was - as ever - a delight, but the set was very rock-oriented, and the keyboard sound very "epic". Was this a sop to the BCC fans? Personally I much prefer his bluesy stuff and the more subtle playing of Rick Mellick or Arlan Schierbaum.  One of the few really bluesy songs was Midnight Blues - which got one of the best receptions of the evening, so I suspect plenty of others in the audience like the blues too. And missing out Django/Mountain Time was a big disappointment after he has played it at all the previous gigs on this tour.

Sloe Gin as an encore was great, but only after he'd made us as fans feel guilty about making him play it for the "effing umpteenth time". Come on Joe, either play it with good grace or don't bother!

80% of Joe is still better than 100% of most people, but somehow, for me at least, the magic wasn't quite there. But I'll still be one of the first to book a ticket for his spring tour!

  • Registered: 2006-04-22
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Re: Prague

You didn't get the joke.... I don't mind playing Sloe Gin that's why I save it for the encore.


Joe B

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Re: Prague

Joe Bonamassa wrote:

You didn't get the joke.... I don't mind playing Sloe Gin that's why I save it for the encore.


Joe B

OK, maybe I had a sense of humour by-pass! Glad to hear it's not so terrible for you ;-)

  • From: Wien (Vienna) Austria
  • Registered: 2013-01-03
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Re: Prague

I´ve seen him on Friday in Vienna.
I think, it was almost the same setlist (o.k. the missing of Mountain Time is not good).
But all of the songs are based in Blues. He had two Freddie King-Covers on the setlist.
I remember, when Gary Moore started with the Blues - many people said "That´s no Blues!" (even John Mayall!).
Now he has his place in the book of Blues...

He had the same anouncement on Sloe Gin in Vienna, but for me it ment to be a joke.
Btw - thats the reason why the Beacon-Dvd will never be my favorite - no Sloe Gin, no John Henry...

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Re: Prague

The Wolf wrote:

I´ve seen him on Friday in Vienna.
I think, it was almost the same setlist (o.k. the missing of Mountain Time is not good).
But all of the songs are based in Blues. He had two Freddie King-Covers on the setlist.
I remember, when Gary Moore started with the Blues - many people said "That´s no Blues!" (even John Mayall!).
Now he has his place in the book of Blues...

He had the same anouncement on Sloe Gin in Vienna, but for me it ment to be a joke.
Btw - thats the reason why the Beacon-Dvd will never be my favorite - no Sloe Gin, no John Henry...


Sure, everything he does is based on the blues. I'm only expressing a personal preference that I like some of the quieter blues and there was less of that this time around. Still a great show!

  • Registered: 2006-04-22
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Re: Prague

Mountain needed to be cut in Prague due to a 10 pm curfew by the way. We still went over by 4 mins. Anywhp that's why it was omitted. It was back in Last night in Holland.

Joe B

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  • Registered: 2013-08-01
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Re: Prague

I love the Beacon Dvd, having Beth Hart, Paul Rodgers, and John Hiatt only added to the greatness of that concert! Personally one of my favorites!

The Wolf wrote:

Btw - thats the reason why the Beacon-Dvd will never be my favorite - no Sloe Gin, no John Henry...

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Re: Prague

Joe Bonamassa wrote:

Mountain needed to be cut in Prague due to a 10 pm curfew by the way. We still went over by 4 mins. Anywhp that's why it was omitted. It was back in Last night in Holland.

Joe B

OK, thanks for the feedback Joe - good to know I can blame the venue not you for the omission! Hope to hear it next time. Enjoy the rest of the tour (and take some rest!) and look forward to seeing you sometime someplace in Europe in the spring.

  • Tibor
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Re: Prague

I liked this rockier set, but I think it was all blues based. I was in Budapest and Vienna, both were great shows. Joe, hope you liked the bottle of wine I gave you. Rock on.

  • Registered: 2013-03-26
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Re: Prague

Joe Bonamassa wrote:

You didn't get the joke.... I don't mind playing Sloe Gin that's why I save it for the encore.


Joe B

And long may you continue playing it Joe...but no Django/Mountain Time?? Start earlier when in Prague next young man... Now there's a Blues Clues, speaking of Beacon lol

  • Oetzi
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  • Registered: 2013-02-03
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Re: Prague

Sorry Folks, it's not a question of early curtain or earlier start. It is first of all the superiority of the Artist. I always respect the choice of Artist which Songs get on the setlist and which don't Honestly: A concert shouldn't be a list of ordered Songs to be played. I want to be, no I love to be surprised by a live performance with unexpected songs, spontaneous following of the tracks. Sloe Gin btw was my personal highlight in Vienna last friday - for the first time. Before I preferred Django / Mountain Time as "the Peak of a JP-gig". Incredibly played. Caused tears... Looking Forward to the tourdates next spring. Thanks Joe for an extrordinary year.

12 Reply by RickB (edited by RickB 2013-10-08 13:32:55)

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Re: Prague

Oetzi wrote:

Sorry Folks, it's not a question of early curtain or earlier start. It is first of all the superiority of the Artist. I always respect the choice of Artist which Songs get on the setlist and which don't Honestly: A concert shouldn't be a list of ordered Songs to be played. I want to be, no I love to be surprised by a live performance with unexpected songs, spontaneous following of the tracks. Sloe Gin btw was my personal highlight in Vienna last friday - for the first time. Before I preferred Django / Mountain Time as "the Peak of a JP-gig". Incredibly played. Caused tears... Looking Forward to the tourdates next spring. Thanks Joe for an extrordinary year.

Totally agree. Even with the same or mostly same list from show to show there are those little inserted licks from other famous songs of yesteryear to hit the ear of the avid fan as Joe  continuously mixes it up. The big songs like BOJH and Mountain Time are works constantly in a state of flux with new variations added all the time. Just play it Joe.  Rock, Blues, Jazz, Funk, Prog, and that killer acoustic stuff now. A total treat to be witnessing a prodigy virtuoso in his prime.  What ever you fancy and I'll be there.

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  • From: Maryland
  • Registered: 2012-05-13
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Re: Prague

RickB wrote:

Totally agree. Even with the same or mostly same list from show to show there are those little inserted licks from other famous songs of yesteryear to hit the ear of the avid fan as Joe  continuously mixes it up. The big songs like BOJH and Mountain Time are works constantly in a state of flux with new variations added all the time. Just play it Joe.  Rock, Blues, Jazz, Funk, Prog, and that killer acoustic stuff now. A total treat to be witnessing a prodigy virtuoso in his prime.  What ever you fancy and I'll be there.

Big +1 !

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Re: Prague

I totally agree with you guys that it's a privilege to see and hear Joe play live, whatever he plays! I didn't want to make out that the show was bad or that I didn't enjoy it - but this forum is here as a chance to discuss all things Bonamassa, and this was just my reaction as I came away from the show. Certainly don't want to dis Joe or be negative, as he is far and away my favourite artist. But I'm always interested to hear other fans' reactions to different shows, what people like to hear etc. And I'm very impressed that Joe takes the time to read these posts and respond to some of them - one of the reasons I like him so much apart from his incredible talent is that he is such a down-to-earth guy who cares about his fans and the performance he gives.

  • Registered: 2012-04-18
  • Posts: 125

Re: Prague

Joe definitely puts 100% into every show . We as fans all have our ideas of what we like about Bonamassa .  I have been harping on the forum for a Zebra pattern suit . But its probably too hard to find a tailor that could make it .  Bottom line is this for me , I love these shows .  The first time I ever saw Joe was a sold out Chicago Theatre show from the 2nd row .  I remember saying to myself in the middle of Slow Train ,  "  this is cool and it defines the term " .