• Registered: 2013-10-16
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Topic: Moscow, Russia 16 October, 2013

I went to see Joe at Crocus City Hall in Moscow last night. The show was almost sold out and I had second row seats. Maybe Joe was just having a bad day but it seemed like he was really phoning it in last night. Over the course of the show he kept cranking the volume on his amps until they were almost completely drowning out the vocals as well. Maybe he hears a different mix in the monitors but I couldn't hear the vocals but the end of the night and the guitar was hurting my ears.

Another thing that made me think his enthusiasm was less that usual is that he came out for an encore and the first song was "Slow Gin" but he made some comments like he didn't really want to play it but people complain if he doesn't. Maybe he should be glad that people still want to come and see him for anything and if they request songs it is because they like the way he plays it.

I think Joe needs maybe a good vacation and maybe rejoin a supergroup so it isn't all on him all the time.

  • Registered: 2013-03-26
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Re: Moscow, Russia 16 October, 2013

Hi Scott, welcome to the forum.

Joes been giving the stand up humour bit before Sloe Gin all over Europe, merely humour to interact with the crowd.

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Re: Moscow, Russia 16 October, 2013

G3ddy 96 wrote:

Hi Scott, welcome to the forum.

Joes been giving the stand up humour bit before Sloe Gin all over Europe, merely humour to interact with the crowd.


Well Scott, I was in Prague and I didn't get the joke either. And I'm a Brit so I normally recognise a joke!

  • From: Vienna
  • Registered: 2010-01-16
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Re: Moscow, Russia 16 October, 2013

I was there as well... first row seats... I thought it was only me, who had this impression... It was a good working music machine... Energetic, yes, extremely proficient and technical, yes, but... (see above).

Regarding the sound: it was way better, than in the House of Music last year or in 2008, but... I don't know whoes idea was it to place a set of monitors at the edge of the stage? First, sitting in the first row it turned out, that the monitor is at the level of my head and I can't see a bloody thing behind it! So, sorry, Tal, I didn't see you drumming smile well, I heard it... since the speaker was at the level of my right ear...directly... oh, yeah, I could hear the guitar alright! :-) so, it was a bit upsetting paying $300 a piece for a ticket and having this THING blocking the view in the front row... Oh, well, it's just Mother Russia! :-)

By the way, inspite of the comment made by Joe, I wouldn't say, that Slow Gin was played "automatically", you know what I mean? It was a very emotional piece with great arrangement.

Overall, the impression is very positive - almost made me cry a couple of times... but I was emotionally empty by about 85% of the show - Joe pulled it all out.

I've been to 8 Joe's shows since 2010, so can compare: Joe has grown up enormously - very mature performance. Lost some of the raw vibe we all saw in ANDY concert, but it was sooooo long time ago... smile but gained much more, of course.

It's great to notice, that Joe has listened to his fans and now plays longer solos, than, say 3-4 years ago. At least, that's what I saw recently.

Anyway, solid performance, loved Derek's playing... I said to my friends, he might have had a deja vu playing Song of Yesterday... BCC, then JB Band. :-)

Thanks again, Joe!

  • From: Vienna
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Re: Moscow, Russia 16 October, 2013

GMac wrote:
G3ddy 96 wrote:

Hi Scott, welcome to the forum.

Joes been giving the stand up humour bit before Sloe Gin all over Europe, merely humour to interact with the crowd.


Well Scott, I was in Prague and I didn't get the joke either. And I'm a Brit so I normally recognise a joke!

Looks like it WAS a joke after all. We just didn't get it. smile

Found in another thread:

Joe Bonamassa2013-10-07 17:44:42
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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: Moscow, Russia 16 October, 2013

HellRot wrote:
GMac wrote:
G3ddy 96 wrote:

Hi Scott, welcome to the forum.

Joes been giving the stand up humour bit before Sloe Gin all over Europe, merely humour to interact with the crowd.


Well Scott, I was in Prague and I didn't get the joke either. And I'm a Brit so I normally recognise a joke!

Looks like it WAS a joke after all. We just didn't get it. smile

Found in another thread:

Joe Bonamassa2013-10-07 17:44:42
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Posts: 1,080
You didn't get the joke.... I don't mind playing Sloe Gin that's why I save it for the encore.

Joe B

Yes, that was Joe's comment on my post! Fair enough if he was trying to be funny, but I just didn't feel it came across that way.

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Re: Moscow, Russia 16 October, 2013

Joe normally doesn't talk during the shows. Usually once and whatever he says is humorous and some way and a thanking the crowd for their support. He did stop playing Sloe Gin for a moment and a fan really did beat him up over it. Wanted his money back. So he started joking about it because it is not like he doesn't like the song it was just his attempt to mix the set up a bit. He says that the two most requested songs at M&G's are Sloe Gin and Mountain Time. He listens to his fans.

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Re: Moscow, Russia 16 October, 2013

HellRot wrote:

Regarding the sound: it was way better, than in the House of Music last year or in 2008, but... I don't know whoes idea was it to place a set of monitors at the edge of the stage? First, sitting in the first row it turned out, that the monitor is at the level of my head and I can't see a bloody thing behind it! So, sorry, Tal, I didn't see you drumming smile well, I heard it... since the speaker was at the level of my right ear...directly... oh, yeah, I could hear the guitar alright! :-) so, it was a bit upsetting paying $300 a piece for a ticket and having this THING blocking the view in the front row... Oh, well, it's just Mother Russia! :-)

I think those monitors you're referring to are called fill speakers and they are used quite regularly here in the USA as well and not just by Joe and his crew. It is one of the potential drawbacks to sitting in the front row.

  • From: Wien (Vienna) Austria
  • Registered: 2013-01-03
  • Posts: 233

Re: Moscow, Russia 16 October, 2013

jim m wrote:

Joe normally doesn't talk during the shows. Usually once and whatever he says is humorous and some way and a thanking the crowd for their support. He did stop playing Sloe Gin for a moment and a fan really did beat him up over it. Wanted his money back. So he started joking about it because it is not like he doesn't like the song it was just his attempt to mix the set up a bit. He says that the two most requested songs at M&G's are Sloe Gin and Mountain Time. He listens to his fans.

I think he´ll never be a "entertainer" like B.B.King.
I read that Eric Clapton played with his back to the audience, in the early days and he don´t talk much today (while a gig).

Take him as he is - if you want a stand-up comedy Jeff Dunham is the better choice wink...

  • From: East Lancashire, UK
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Re: Moscow, Russia 16 October, 2013

The Wolf wrote:
jim m wrote:

Joe normally doesn't talk during the shows. Usually once and whatever he says is humorous and some way and a thanking the crowd for their support. He did stop playing Sloe Gin for a moment and a fan really did beat him up over it. Wanted his money back. So he started joking about it because it is not like he doesn't like the song it was just his attempt to mix the set up a bit. He says that the two most requested songs at M&G's are Sloe Gin and Mountain Time. He listens to his fans.

I think he´ll never be a "entertainer" like B.B.King.
I read that Eric Clapton played with his back to the audience, in the early days and he don´t talk much today (while a gig).

Take him as he is - if you want a stand-up comedy Jeff Dunham is the better choice wink...

Onlywith Walter though, definately not peanut. lol

Come on the Blades (sorry Idolbone just had to borrow your line)
  • From: Vienna
  • Registered: 2010-01-16
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Re: Moscow, Russia 16 October, 2013

The Wolf wrote:
jim m wrote:

Joe normally doesn't talk during the shows. Usually once and whatever he says is humorous and some way and a thanking the crowd for their support. He did stop playing Sloe Gin for a moment and a fan really did beat him up over it. Wanted his money back. So he started joking about it because it is not like he doesn't like the song it was just his attempt to mix the set up a bit. He says that the two most requested songs at M&G's are Sloe Gin and Mountain Time. He listens to his fans.

I think he´ll never be a "entertainer" like B.B.King.
I read that Eric Clapton played with his back to the audience, in the early days and he don´t talk much today (while a gig).

Take him as he is - if you want a stand-up comedy Jeff Dunham is the better choice wink...

we all know why Clapton played sometimes with his back to the audience...or lying on the stage with mic adjusted to his position smile:):)

  • From: Wien (Vienna) Austria
  • Registered: 2013-01-03
  • Posts: 233

Re: Moscow, Russia 16 October, 2013

PSmith1946 wrote:
The Wolf wrote:
jim m wrote:

Joe normally doesn't talk during the shows. Usually once and whatever he says is humorous and some way and a thanking the crowd for their support. He did stop playing Sloe Gin for a moment and a fan really did beat him up over it. Wanted his money back. So he started joking about it because it is not like he doesn't like the song it was just his attempt to mix the set up a bit. He says that the two most requested songs at M&G's are Sloe Gin and Mountain Time. He listens to his fans.

I think he´ll never be a "entertainer" like B.B.King.
I read that Eric Clapton played with his back to the audience, in the early days and he don´t talk much today (while a gig).

Take him as he is - if you want a stand-up comedy Jeff Dunham is the better choice wink...

Onlywith Walter though, definately not peanut. lol

Ahmed the dead...! lol lol lol

  • Registered: 2013-10-16
  • Posts: 14

Re: Moscow, Russia 16 October, 2013

I wondered about the same thing in Helsinki. He introduced Sloe Gin by stating "Here's a song you might know, and it's also a song I should know, since I've played it every freaking day of mylife, since the year 2006!", with the last part very emphatically, so somehow it didn't feel like a joke, rather that he was fed up with playing it over and over again. But then when he actually started playing it, there was no question about it: he put his whole heart into it. Check the video in my playlist (Bimbomable) Joe Bonamassa Helsinki October 13, 2013: the video starts with the above banter, so see for yourself.

14 Reply by DougH (edited by DougH 2013-10-18 10:39:43)

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Re: Moscow, Russia 16 October, 2013

bonafidemassa wrote:

He introduced Sloe Gin by stating "Here's a song you might know, and it's also a song I should know, since I've played it every freaking day of mylife, since the year 2006!", with the last part very emphatically, so somehow it didn't feel like a joke, rather that he was fed up with playing it over and over again. But then when he actually started playing it, there was no question about it: he put his whole heart into it. Check the video in my playlist (Bimbomable) Joe Bonamassa Helsinki October 13, 2013: the video starts with the above banter, so see for yourself.

here's a link to your youtube post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBJbBY_WkRk

I would say that he's using a sarcastic whit, esp when you see him sort of tilt his head up and rub his chin.

I use it a lot and have gotten myself into a lot of hot water over the years with things I've said and how they've been heard.

Just to add food for thought
I saw an interview with Eric Clapton one time: he was asked why he doesn't play Tears in Heaven
He said I've tried to add it to a set list and he said it just didn't work out.

Some songs I guess have an emotional bond, maybe Sloe Gin is one of those that Joe has from a now bi-gone era but is a big fan favourite, so he keeps it in the set list even though his life has move on.

Just like his mom gets him a DeVry University brochure every year for Christmas
(that's her kind of way of sarcastic whit saying; maybe you shouldn't rely on a music career; probably started when he was young and just continues now)


Just my thoughts.

---------------

(If only I had 1% of Joe's guitar talent)
  • From: Wien (Vienna) Austria
  • Registered: 2013-01-03
  • Posts: 233

Re: Moscow, Russia 16 October, 2013

It´s funny...
JB - the master himself - posted, it was a joke.
But a few forum-members knows it better...
Seen a shot of Las Vegas (April ´13) he begins the song the same way and the audience was laughin.
Maybe humor works not everywhere... (I don´t understand "german humor")...

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Re: Moscow, Russia 16 October, 2013

The Wolf wrote:

It´s funny...
JB - the master himself - posted, it was a joke.
But a few forum-members knows it better...
Seen a shot of Las Vegas (April ´13) he begins the song the same way and the audience was laughin.
Maybe humor works not everywhere... (I don´t understand "german humor")...

It's not that I don't believe JB when he says he was joking! I just didn't understand that he was joking at the time.

  • From: St. Charles, IL
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Re: Moscow, Russia 16 October, 2013

I saw the link for the video, man does he do a good job on that song, even after 8 years of playing it everyday. You would think it was a new release because he plays with so much heart. As for the joke, I don't think people should take it so seriously, I don't think he is trying to make us fans feel bad about it, more so poke fun at the fact that ALL of us want to hear it every concert! I don't think he should get scrutinized for one little thing said, we all know how good he is to his fans! Just my two cents! big_smile

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Re: Moscow, Russia 16 October, 2013

edragoo wrote:

I saw the link for the video, man does he do a good job on that song, even after 8 years of playing it everyday. You would think it was a new release because he plays with so much heart. As for the joke, I don't think people should take it so seriously, I don't think he is trying to make us fans feel bad about it, more so poke fun at the fact that ALL of us want to hear it every concert! I don't think he should get scrutinized for one little thing said, we all know how good he is to his fans! Just my two cents! big_smile

This reminds me of a recent gig here with Bad Co on their anniversary tour. Paul Rodgers stepped out and said he couldn't believe they were still doing Seagull after 40 years. When there is a song that sticks, play the heck out of it because it is always a winner.

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