• Registered: 2013-04-16
  • Posts: 20

Topic: Pure Perfection Sound in SLC

I am posting this because I have been hearing mixed reports about the sound on this 2014 spring tour.

I "sat" in the front row of the 3/30 show in Salt Lake. The sound was literally THE BEST I have ever experienced in my lifetime of live concerts of all sizes and types. Granted, Abravenal Hall is where the orchestra plays and the acoustics are super fine. But being upfront, I believe, is less advantageous for sound as it is directed way out beyond you.  I had previously seen Joe play Abravenal in 2012 from up in a nearby balcony, a better location for sound, IMO. But at this show the sound was definitely better and it was also WAY better than it was in the 2 other places I saw him; Kiva in ABQ and Bellco Theater in Denver.
I also felt that his and the bands performance was the best I have ever seen from them - but that could be subjective.

I am going to see him next at Red Rocks where I have seen lots of shows over the years and I am guessing the sound will be fantastic and I am super psyched for the show. I have 7 pairs of tickets that are spoken for all by friends I have converted to Joe! I think 1 or 2 are on track to go hook, line, and sinker like I am! :-)

2 Reply by Rocket (edited by Rocket 2014-04-11 00:14:07)

  • Rocket
  • Rocket
  • BONAMEGAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: San Francisco
  • Registered: 2006-04-26
  • Posts: 10,275

Re: Pure Perfection Sound in SLC

Hey, thanks for that encouraging review.  That great up front sound is no accident.  The stage sound is kept lowered by design.  My buddy Micheal Lynch from England and I were in the front row on the 2nd night of Joe's first Beacon shows, when his DVD was being recorded.  We both looked at each other early on and both of us were truly amazed at how good the sound was.  It was the best I/we had EVER heard Joe,...and we'd thought that the night before in the Loge...

Best "SO FAR" has been my saying for years concerning Joe.  It is truly amazing to me.


Rock ON & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! wink"
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”
  • jim m
  • jim m
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: Okie City, OK
  • Registered: 2006-04-24
  • Posts: 3,429

Re: Pure Perfection Sound in SLC

I will just jump in here to say that the Beacon 2nd show 2011 was one of the 10 perfect shows I have heard. I was in the balcony that show and in the same proximity as I was for the 1st show which was not perfect. It improved through the night till the last song and then the following night started perfect and ended perfect.

Sitting up close can be iffy because you get so much of the stage volume and the hangs are aimed further out so you must rely on the front fills for the vocals and the guitar clarity. There is a tendency to not want to get those too hot because it can part the hair of the front row so it is a delicate balance. Great to hear they had that dialed in.

jim m's Website

  • Registered: 2013-04-16
  • Posts: 20

Re: Pure Perfection Sound in SLC

Just adding that I was in the 2nd row dead center at the ABQ show last December and I was not pleased with the sound there at all- it was like it had holes in it.  But it was still better there than in Denver last spring where I was 11th row left. But Abravenal this spring was beyond compare.  I can only imagine how complex it is to get the sound right.  I am very glad that JBs org works hard at it. It's very important to this member of the audience!

  • Registered: 2013-12-27
  • Posts: 9

Re: Pure Perfection Sound in SLC

Seating location must have a lot to do with it.  In Abravanel Hall I was in row eight a bit off center to the left.  From that location, the sound was painfully loud.  Halfway through the second song (of the acoustic set!), my left ear was ready to bleed.  Thank goodness I brought earplugs, but it was disheartening to have to use them because they destroy so much of the sound quality.  Oddly enough, the painfully loud sound wasn't coming from the stage-level speaker bank on the left side of the stage (closest to my seat), but from the big speaker bank suspended 30 or 40 feet overhead.  Lesson learned, I suppose: next time I'll look for seats 20 or 30 rows back in the dead center rather than closer to the front and a bit to the side.

  • From: Salem, Oregon
  • Registered: 2010-01-07
  • Posts: 844

Re: Pure Perfection Sound in SLC

I have never experienced a sound issue in 11 shows....Of course, being in the first 3 rows for all those shows might have something to do with it....

Murfdog