Joe @ Moe's Alley, Santa Cruz, CA. 09/27/2007

The evening started off with my own personal, private Bonamassa sound check about 5 o'clock. Joe was playing his acoustic, amplified of course, getting warmed up and getting the sound dialed in. I don't recall ever seeing a mixing board like that Allen and Heath that they use.  I called my Blues Brother Mike and he asks where are you, I hear music. I tell him and he laughs but he couldn't make the show as he just got off of a plane from the East Coast. The bass player and drummer come in, Joe plugs in an electric and I've got a pint and a happy hour smile on my face. The instrumental song that they played sounded familiar but sorry I can't tell what it was. Then the keyboard player walks in, they do a couple more tunes and it's over for now.

I got back to Moe's just in time for Crosby Loggins. He played acoustic solo and gets a nice full sound out of his guitar. Nice voice, good songs, and he covered a Jackson Browne song that I enjoyed.

Ran into some friends Lew and Bobby and Bobby was telling me about the Palace of Fine Arts show. Got to meet JDawg and ShredIt and they were telling me about their road trips to see Joe. I was telling people about sound check and that it was going to be loud. Joe even had plexiglass in front of both speaker cabinets that are wired into four different amplifier heads. The band came on and they rocked the roadhouse. I started off standing about 5 or 6 people away from the stage. After a while I notice some more friends Barb and Dave were right in the front of the stage. Maybe somebody else can post a set list but I heard some new material and an acoustic version of "If Heartaches were Nickels" and the solo Joe which showcases his classical training. We also got some Led Zepplin and "Just Got Paid" by ZZ Top. I enjoy the contrasts between the amplified intense songs and the dynamics that the band has with the ability to play loud and soft, sometimes all in the same song. During one of the many wicked blues tunes that Joe played he got the crowd so quiet that it was like the church of the blues. They keyboard player needs to assert himself, turn up and play some more solos. The band only played one long set and one encore and I was suprised that the show was over before midnight. Considering the ticket prices I expected a second, late night set. Joe did thank the crowd for supporting the band and the new CD and appreciated the crowd for coming out to see them on a week night.

The night ended with Bobby getting Joe to get autograph a picture that he took when they played Fire on the Mountain Blues Festival in Sonora. We may not get another chance to see Bonamassa play at such a small club as Moes and I heard again that they are trying to book the band for next years Santa Cruz Blues Festival. A few of us got to talk to Joe and Tiran Porter, the former bass player for the Doobie Brothers was there the talking to Joe. I asked Joe about his guitar that looks like it has the metal finish on it and told him that I had never seen a guitar like that before. Joe was talking baseball, music, sports, more music, and was gracious to take the time to talk to all of us and sign CDs and pictures.

On the way home today heard a DJ on KPIG 107.5 FM talking about how much fun everyone had at Moes last night. He really like Joes guitar playing and said that all of the musicians in the band were stellar. He highly recommended checking Joe out the next time he plays live.

What  a night.

Gr8ful Fred