1 (edited by bobkatmsu 2014-03-14 21:10:48)

Topic: Who besides "Boomers"?

I am a "Baby Boomer".  For my first job, while I was in high school, I was hired by a local country club to caddie, $3 for 18 holes, during the day and wash dishes in the restaurant, $1.25 per hour, in the evening.  The majority of my first paycheck went to purchase my first albums,  "Wheels of Fire" by Cream and "Are You Experienced" by Jimi Hendrix. (Which I still have)  I have been in love with this style of music ever since.  To me and others of my ilk, Joe is a God send.  We have been waiting for something new, in the same vein, for decades.  I can say, in complete honesty, Joe is one of the best things that has ever happened to me.  Family, faith and career are my greatest pleasures.  I would put music next and Joe is at the top of that list.  All this being said, I do not believe I am alone.  I have seen Joe 4 times.  3 in Clearwater, Fl and once in Ft. Meyers, Fl.  My estimation of the demographics at those shows was al least 70% of the attendees were "Boomers".  Is this an anomaly only in Florida, the retirement capitol of the world, or is the same every where?

The only thing we deserve, is an opportunity.  Everything else has to be earned.

Re: Who besides "Boomers"?

I believe it is the same at most shows I've attended. I'm sort of on the tail end of "boomer", being born in late 1956.
BTW, my first job (while I was a sophomore in high school) was at a record distributor. I made $1.60/hour but had first crack at all of the new releases...since the record stores bought from us, I had all the new releases before they were in the stores and was the envy of all my friends.
Even with the great discount that I received, I usually wound up giving most of my paycheck back to the owner.

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"

Re: Who besides "Boomers"?

I've been to two of Joe's shows, one at the Chicago Theatre and one in Louisville. I did also notice the demographic was on the older generation side. I also noticed quite a few people my age though, and even some "kids" younger than me! When I saw Rock Candy Funk Party at the Baked Potato recently I was looking around at the people and definitely noticed my brother and I were the youngest ones there.

It has gotten to the point for me where when I go to a concert I expect to be one of the youngest ones because the music I like is from the "older" generations. I can honestly thank my parent's for having the biggest influence on my music taste. They are music nuts and that definitely got passed down to my brother and I! Since we're throwing out our first jobs we had mine was at a Hallmark store when I was 16. Started at $7.50/hr. I feel spoiled now reading both of you were hired so cheap! tongue

Re: Who besides "Boomers"?

Boomer here. Buck ten an hour Summer job stamping new books for a Junior High. Glad you got here.
Rick

Free download from Vienna! http://mbsy.co/bNLR
Lots of unique videos of Joe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwd5vL8fXTw
Buy Joe's merchandise here. http://www.jbonamassa.com/affiliates/id … hp?id=1381

5 (edited by storiesbysteve 2014-03-14 03:36:42)

Re: Who besides "Boomers"?

boom boom boomer here too!

My first job was hauling hay in the Louisiana summer heat. I made 25 cents an hour - not bad wages for a 12 year old country boy at the time.

Joe brings "back" all of the other great guitarists I have ever heard. If I had to pick only one guitarist out of my collection to keep it would be Joe ( I have lots of Hendrix, Allmans, Betts, Winter & John Campbell) I would give them all up for my collection of Bonamassa - he is that good and his stuff is very well recorded.

I only started listening to him about a year ago - after some very bad seizures that hit me in the middle of the night. Sometime early in the recovery period I heard his music with Beth Hart.  Within six months I bought everything either artist has released. I bet lots of fans have similar stories (but I hope not the seizures!)

SBS

NP: Chains and Things from Shepherds Bush

Re: Who besides "Boomers"?

Boomer too (1954) best time to grow up especially as a teenager. Demographics from concerts in the UK and at Fort Myers exactly the same. Good music from our youth follows us thank God. And long may it continue. I have introduced my kids (28 and 35) and they are fans too. big_smile

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

7 (edited by whirlwind 2014-03-14 05:38:22)

Re: Who besides "Boomers"?

+1.....another boomer

I agree with you 100%  SBS

I have collections of Hendrix.....SRV.....Buddy Guy....Many more

I have never heard a better guitar than Joe's..........the guy has another gear, that I have never seen nor heard before.

His studio stuff is very good quality as far as the recordings go.....still waiting on my live stuff to get here.

As far as I can tell....everything about Joe is....well.....top notch.

My Favorite Bonamassa Songs
Happier Times... Sloe Gin...Last Kiss...Lonesome Road Blues...Blues Deluxe...No Slack
Equipment For Listening To Joe
Sennheiser HD800 Headphones & Mad Ear+HD Headphone Amp

Re: Who besides "Boomers"?

same here, but where I may differ is that I do not see this as a good thing.... Sorry to be preaching again, but the future of music needs more young people engaging with the likes of Joe, and by young people I mean teenagers.

My YouTube channel with plenty of my Joe's videos dating from 2009 inc his first Hammersmith Odeon ones:
http://www.youtube.com/ian916fun

Re: Who besides "Boomers"?

Hi all
Yes I am a baby late boomer (57)
I am so happy to see this topic. I agree that this is not a good thing. One of my many projects since I have got back into music and met Joe and inspired by his music is to try to change the demographics. I too have turned around and looked and saw most say 80 to 85% in my age group. I have started many side projects since I met Joe and found his music, I will not bore you about my story. One side project has been to work to change the percentage to get more young people. I am targeting the ones under 20 and more specifically young talented guitar players to get them exposed to this music we all love. They need to be inspired to work to pick up the torch and follow Joe to become the piped piper of their generation to keep this music alive and hopefully bring it back to its past appeal. Call me old fashion but hey the music out there today is crap. All processed beat crap with no emotion other then pulled out of a beat machine. Utter crap.
A few things i am working on and have done is inspire by helping out a few talented young guitar players. One is Stefan Hawk from Oz check him out at http://www.stefanhauk.com he is a great young talent. I hope one day to see him make it to the states and tour.
I am working others things also.
One thing I do when I go to every Joe concert is try to bring along someone under 18 years old or give tickets to friends with young kids to have them bring them along. I love the looks on their faces after the show. It makes me almost cry. They are in a state of disbelief of what they just saw. They tell their friends and it keeps rolling. This has happened for when I brought a young kid the next season that kid asked me " hey Ron if you have any extra tickets I have a friend that would love to see Joe". That was a big happy day for me for it was working. Another thing I have been doing is getting my kids ( age 24 and 26) friends turned onto Joe's music. Every time my kids come over with their friends and they ask to see my studio before they leave they must listen to Joe's music. All have had that look of WOW on their face.
So in closing yes I view this as a bad thing but we all, us baby boomers, can help change this by simply pulling a young kid aside and say "hey listen to this" ( play a Joe tune). We all can do our small part to keep this music we all love alive.
Cheers Ron

"Joe B saved my soul, forever grateful Ron"
"Some people dream of worthy accomplishments while others stay awake and do them"
Skinner #1,JBLP 145(aged),252, (unaged),#285HM, Bburst #026, Joes 052 BCC black LP, Strat> RT,EC Gilmour,Beck,Lenny LP> PK 83,CC#2,3,4,9,Amps>Carol Ann RAH JB-100 SN 001,JB100 Red SN02,OD2, OD3,Tucana 2&3 Triptix,Twinkle land, Plexi ,JB Jub, Jubs,Plexi,Satch,Two Rock>others

10 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2014-03-14 08:12:57)

Re: Who besides "Boomers"?

I was born in the late 70's. In all the years I've seen JB - I noticed most of the crowds were male, probably 70-80%. A Bonamassa concert is the only major event I've been to where the bathroom line for men was longer than the womens lol

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool

11 (edited by cindyron 2014-03-14 11:51:25)

Re: Who besides "Boomers"?

Hi all
Yes I am a baby late boomer (57)
I am so happy to see this topic. I agree that this is not a good thing. One of my many projects since I have got back into music and met Joe and inspired by his music is to try to change the demographics. I too have turned around and looked and saw most say 80 to 85% in my age group. I have started many side projects since I met Joe and found his music, I will not bore you about my story. One side project has been to work to change the percentage to get more young people. I am targeting the ones under 20 and more specifically young talented guitar players to get them exposed to this music we all love. They need to be inspired to work to pick up the torch and follow Joe to become the piped piper of their generation to keep this music alive and hopefully bring it back to its past appeal. Call me old fashion but hey the music out there today is crap. All processed beat crap with no emotion other then pulled out of a beat machine. Utter crap.
A few things i am working on and have done is inspire by helping out a few talented young guitar players. One is Stefan Hawk from Oz check him out at http://www.stefanhauk.com he is a great young talent. I hope one day to see him make it to the states and tour.
I am working others things also.
One thing I do when I go to every Joe concert is try to bring along someone under 18 years old or give tickets to friends with young kids to have them bring them along. I love the looks on their faces after the show. It makes me almost cry. They are in a state of disbelief of what they just saw. They tell their friends and it keeps rolling. This has happened for when I brought a young kid the next season that kid asked me " hey Ron if you have any extra tickets I have a friend that would love to see Joe". That was a big happy day for me for it was working. Another thing I have been doing is getting my kids ( age 24 and 26) friends turned onto Joe's music. Every time my kids come over with their friends and they ask to see my studio before they leave they must listen to Joe's music. All have had that look of WOW on their face.
So in closing yes I view this as a bad thing but we all, baby boomers or not, can help change this by simply pulling a young kid aside and say "hey listen to this" ( play a Joe tune). We all can do our small part to keep this music we all love alive and change the demographics at Joe's shows.
Cheers Ron

"Joe B saved my soul, forever grateful Ron"
"Some people dream of worthy accomplishments while others stay awake and do them"
Skinner #1,JBLP 145(aged),252, (unaged),#285HM, Bburst #026, Joes 052 BCC black LP, Strat> RT,EC Gilmour,Beck,Lenny LP> PK 83,CC#2,3,4,9,Amps>Carol Ann RAH JB-100 SN 001,JB100 Red SN02,OD2, OD3,Tucana 2&3 Triptix,Twinkle land, Plexi ,JB Jub, Jubs,Plexi,Satch,Two Rock>others

Re: Who besides "Boomers"?

Without a single, it will be hard to get the corner piece of the 19-29 year old market. Even though I know they'd love it.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool

Re: Who besides "Boomers"?

Great to see what you're doing there, Ron. The best I've managed to do so far is take a 40-year-old along, but he's now turned on to Joe's music, so I'm hoping he'll start working on his 2-year-old daughter!

Re: Who besides "Boomers"?

Phil and I are not boomers. I was born in '65 and he in '68, but I find it's not just Joe who attracts the older crowd, it's nearly every artist we see. Gary Clark Jr was the only one who attracted a young crowd. Steckel, Schofield, Buddy Guy, Samantha Fish, RCFP, Beth Hart all attract an older audience.

Re: Who besides "Boomers"?

Boomer or not----------I think any music lover/guitar-driven person would be instantly attracted......no brainer for sure.

And so castles made of sand melts into the sea, eventually.........

Re: Who besides "Boomers"?

Boomer here as well, made pretty good money throwing newspapers and cutting grass for parent's friends. I have seen a lot of older folk at his shows in Birmingham and Nashville, but many young ones too. My son introduced me to Joe in 2008, he is 26 now and still a big JB fan. I don't think we have to worry about all of us dying off and leaving Joe with a bunch of Beiber fans. smile

As corn through a goose, so are the days of our lives

Re: Who besides "Boomers"?

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

Without a single, it will be hard to get the corner piece of the 19-29 year old market. Even though I know they'd love it.

Very true but if we inspire or should I say Joe then maybe that young kid will have that hit single in the future and bring all the young onto the Bonamassa Blues/Rock train. I say Joe will , although he has said his goal is not too have a hit single, will have that hit single soon and be known to all.
Cheers Ron

"Joe B saved my soul, forever grateful Ron"
"Some people dream of worthy accomplishments while others stay awake and do them"
Skinner #1,JBLP 145(aged),252, (unaged),#285HM, Bburst #026, Joes 052 BCC black LP, Strat> RT,EC Gilmour,Beck,Lenny LP> PK 83,CC#2,3,4,9,Amps>Carol Ann RAH JB-100 SN 001,JB100 Red SN02,OD2, OD3,Tucana 2&3 Triptix,Twinkle land, Plexi ,JB Jub, Jubs,Plexi,Satch,Two Rock>others

Re: Who besides "Boomers"?

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

Without a single, it will be hard to get the corner piece of the 19-29 year old market. Even though I know they'd love it.

actually I not entirely agree with you in terms of the single being the only route to the ear of the youth, - yes the “pop” music world is full of single releases, - but there is a massive teen and early 20’s audience for non single, non radio airplay music, - Anybody heard of Killswitch Engage? - Reached their audience via video game backing tracks, - they have significant following as do many other artists/bands who have done it without single release.

My YouTube channel with plenty of my Joe's videos dating from 2009 inc his first Hammersmith Odeon ones:
http://www.youtube.com/ian916fun