• From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Topic: Venues we miss

I inadvertently posted this under "Off Topics" yesterday. I believe it belongs here. Sorry for the repeat.

I listened to a few live shows on my drive to & from work today.
Both shows happened to be recorded at Shank Hall in Milwaukee.
Shank Hall does not look like much when you walk in. A typical storefront type place, rectangular bar in front, stage in back, men's & womens toilets to one side. Holds a maximum of 300 people and your first reaction would be "one step short of a dive".
But there was something magical about it when Joe came out and took the stage. The place was intimate and came alive with his music. It was more too. Joe seemed to have a special connection with Shank Hall or at least it appeared that way to me. I remember Joe talking about playing there early in his solo career with less than 50 people there and how good it felt to come back there and see "sold out" on the marquee. I absolutely loved that place.

Change and progress is good. I like Joe's path towards theaters (although I like the club type venues and look forward to the House of Blues show) and have enjoyed those  recent shows.

Listening to those Shank Hall shows today though, I was feeling a bit nostalgic...almost feeling like I had lost something that I'd never find again. I don't like to say it or even think it, but Joe has outgrown Shank Hall and it's ilk. I have known this for awhile, but listening to these shows today hammered home the point.

Are there venues that you miss too? Are there other places that Joe used to play that were dear to your heart, where he will not play again? I for one would love to hear about them.
And Joe, if you read this, are there places that you'll miss playing?

Bill S
P.S. Shank Hall still stands, still puts on shows with some very talented musicians. I speak of it in the past tense only as it relates to Joe.

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"
  • From: Dayton, OH
  • Registered: 2007-04-06
  • Posts: 276

Re: Venues we miss

Bill,

I will miss Joe's playing at the Gilly's Night Club in Downtown Dayton, OH...It was small and very intimate...Joe and Mr. Gillotti always made sure that the sound system was perfect...The show were always sold out and the crowd was energetic and yet polite...They trully listened and were amazed and Joe's guitar playing and vocal skills...The background chatter was always held to a minimum...Joe and band always mingled with the crowd after the show at and around the merchandise table...I have pictures with Joe , Bogie, my wife and my son...I also have several autographed T-Shirts...Gilly's just celebrated their 30th anniversary...We all know that Joe and band are off on a trajectory far beyond the Gilly's sized club...But I will always remember the shows at Gilly's...

The Other Joe B.

  • From: Springfield, MO
  • Registered: 2006-04-25
  • Posts: 112

Re: Venues we miss

Nathan P. Murphy's Springfield, MO. Joe would play there twice a year for many years. Holds about 100 people, not a bad seat in the house, man have there have been some magic Joe shows there. I actually work there now doing sound, wish I would have when Joe was coming through, he probably won't be back, this year he played the Blues Fest at the Shrine (seats about 2,000) ... :-(

4 Reply by Bluezman (edited by Bluezman 2007-10-26 13:59:51)

  • From: Sonoma Ca.
  • Registered: 2007-08-20
  • Posts: 551

Re: Venues we miss

Bizzer wrote:

Bill,

I will miss Joe's playing at the Gilly's Night Club in Downtown Dayton, OH...It was small and very intimate...Joe and Mr. Gillotti always made sure that the sound system was perfect...The show were always sold out and the crowd was energetic and yet polite...They trully listened and were amazed and Joe's guitar playing and vocal skills...The background chatter was always held to a minimum...Joe and band always mingled with the crowd after the show at and around the merchandise table...I have pictures with Joe , Bogie, my wife and my son...I also have several autographed T-Shirts...Gilly's just celebrated their 30th anniversary...We all know that Joe and band are off on a trajectory far beyond the Gilly's sized club...But I will always remember the shows at Gilly's...

The Other Joe B.

in the words of Jerry Seinfeld saying to Newman "hello Bizzer" we share the same avatar:)

I got blisters on my bloody fingers (JL)

Bluezman's Website

  • Jaci
  • Titanium
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2007-04-09
  • Posts: 697

Re: Venues we miss

Bill I feel the same way about Shank - really love the place - good sound plus nice
people.  When we get those tables up front it feels like the band is playing in our
livingroom for a private show.  I think I may have sat up there with you a couple
years ago - I remember standing in line with a guy from Illnois and just have a
feeling it may have been you.  I can't tell you how many friends we have made
just standing outside in line.  Many times we have remarked "my god, we saw
that incredible show for $15.00 - Joe, Walter, Eric and Chris just to name a few.
Plus the show are nice and long - some of these guys play for 3 hours where as
in other venues, for example we saw Frank Marino in a casino and he played 90
minutes - at Shank I bet it would have been twice that long.  Jaci

Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind.  Mick Jagger
  • From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Re: Venues we miss

Jane H. wrote:

The Recher theater in Towson, MD, like Bill said, just how it relates to Joe probably not playing there, it still rocks otherwise. http://www.rechertheatre.com/
saw Joe for the first time there and two other times


(btw Bill S. - I located one of those things I have been looking for so its hopeful I will find the other more preferable one soon.... smile )

Wish I could see pictures of the inside, but Recher looks like my kinda place.
Jane, I'm glad you're uncovering stuff you've been looking for. It's frustrating trying to find something without success. I have been going thru that for the last week and am STILL looking. Thanks...

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"
  • From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Re: Venues we miss

Jaci wrote:

Bill I feel the same way about Shank - really love the place - good sound plus nice
people.  When we get those tables up front it feels like the band is playing in our
livingroom for a private show.  I think I may have sat up there with you a couple
years ago - I remember standing in line with a guy from Illnois and just have a
feeling it may have been you.  I can't tell you how many friends we have made
just standing outside in line.  Many times we have remarked "my god, we saw
that incredible show for $15.00 - Joe, Walter, Eric and Chris just to name a few.
Plus the show are nice and long - some of these guys play for 3 hours where as
in other venues, for example we saw Frank Marino in a casino and he played 90
minutes - at Shank I bet it would have been twice that long.  Jaci

Jaci,
I've been to every one of Joe's appearances at Shank Hall since January of 2005. After that first show, I have been there at least 2 hours before the doors open, wanting to be right up front. I think I've always been one of the first 5 or 6 people there. I have to believe we've met and stood in line together at one of those shows. I'll be at Alverno next Saturday, we'll have to find each other and reintroduce ourselves.

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"
  • From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Re: Venues we miss

BluesMan wrote:
Bill S wrote:
Jaci wrote:

Bill I feel the same way about Shank - really love the place - good sound plus nice
people.  When we get those tables up front it feels like the band is playing in our
livingroom for a private show.  I think I may have sat up there with you a couple
years ago - I remember standing in line with a guy from Illnois and just have a
feeling it may have been you.  I can't tell you how many friends we have made
just standing outside in line.  Many times we have remarked "my god, we saw
that incredible show for $15.00 - Joe, Walter, Eric and Chris just to name a few.
Plus the show are nice and long - some of these guys play for 3 hours where as
in other venues, for example we saw Frank Marino in a casino and he played 90
minutes - at Shank I bet it would have been twice that long.  Jaci

Jaci,
I've been to every one of Joe's appearances at Shank Hall since January of 2005. After that first show, I have been there at least 2 hours before the doors open, wanting to be right up front. I think I've always been one of the first 5 or 6 people there. I have to believe we've met and stood in line together at one of those shows. I'll be at Alverno next Saturday, we'll have to find each other and reintroduce ourselves.

Bill,

Jacque and her husband Ken, are sitting right behind Ben a I. They're in the Center section Row 2 and seats 10, 11 or 12. Just look for the goof ball (me) with his son in the first row seats 11 and 12 and go back one row.

Roy

Oh Roy,
I'll find you way before that. You and I need to tip a couple next Friday as a warm up for Saturday. By the way, don't you have a life??? It's almost 9PM on a Friday night! LOL

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"
  • From: Clackamas, Oregon
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 196

Re: Venues we miss

Bill:

Good topic.

Moving to the Left Coast, I rec'd word a couple of weeks ago that Lefty's Blues Club in Salem, Oregon has closed the doors.

John and Karen ran a first class small club that hosted Joe, as well as a host of other killer bands over the last 4 years that I have been going there. It is about 50 miles from my place in Portland, so it was a bit of a drive, but always worth it.

I met up with fellow JBB Board poster Billie Masullo there, and have taken in a bunch of shows all over Oregon since then. I was fortunate to meet Deborah when Billie and me were groovin at the Mule show at The Roseland in Portland.

I remember saying to Bill over a few pre function beers, that it will be just a matter of time B4 Joe will not be able to play the small intimate clubs like Lefty's, cause they will not be able to handle the crowd.
I am happy to report that is the case!

Joe has moved to the larger venues in Oregon now, as more people discover him.

RockinRon

Two kinds of women in this world. Theres naughty and there's nice
Any man will tell you that one is a virtue
And the other is a Vice.
Warren Haynes-Inside Outside Women Blues #3-By a Thread
  • From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Re: Venues we miss

RockinRon wrote:

Bill:

Good topic.

Moving to the Left Coast, I rec'd word a couple of weeks ago that Lefty's Blues Club in Salem, Oregon has closed the doors.

John and Karen ran a first class small club that hosted Joe, as well as a host of other killer bands over the last 4 years that I have been going there. It is about 50 miles from my place in Portland, so it was a bit of a drive, but always worth it.

I met up with fellow JBB Board poster Billie Masullo there, and have taken in a bunch of shows all over Oregon since then. I was fortunate to meet Deborah when Billie and me were groovin at the Mule show at The Roseland in Portland.

I remember saying to Bill over a few pre function beers, that it will be just a matter of time B4 Joe will not be able to play the small intimate clubs like Lefty's, cause they will not be able to handle the crowd.
I am happy to report that is the case!

Joe has moved to the larger venues in Oregon now, as more people discover him.

RockinRon

It's one thing when Joe outgrows a place but it's still in operation. It's more of a loss when a place actually closes their doors because they can't make it.
Joe played at a place called Chord on Blues in St. Charles, IL a number of times. They had a unique set-up with a bar/restaurant on one side, a higher end restaurant and blues club on the other side and a kitchen in a "link" area in between. They would have great blues talent come through on the weekends.
The resataurant and bar are still open, but they were losing money on the blues shows and closed that part down about a year ago. I would only get there 2 or 3 times per year due to the distance (about an hour drive), but it's sad to see that the blues club is gone.

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"
  • From: Luling, LA.
  • Registered: 2007-06-23
  • Posts: 60

Re: Venues we miss

THE WAREHOUSE in New Orleans down on Tchoupitoulas Street is the Venue I miss the most. I saw so many bands there in the late 70's it's hard to remember them all. Of course there are other reasons why my memory isn't that good around that time. I do remember that I saw Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers, Robin Trower, Eric Burdon, Styx, Wishbone Ash, J. Geils, King Biscuit Boy with Crowbar, Golden Earring, and many, many, more. One of the most memorable nights there was when ZZ TOP recorded some of the songs that were on their Fandango album. One of the bad things about the location of THE WAREHOUSE was it's close proximity to the St. Thomas Housing Project which was only a few blocks away. There weren't any parking lots available in that area back then so you parked wherever you could. Most of the times I went they had neighborhood kids hanging out and they always promised to watch your car for a small fee. If you decided not to pay them up front then you paid them another way. I always paid and nothing ever happened to my car but others weren't so lucky. I always used to laugh when I would see someones car that looked normal on the street side but was up on blocks on the other side with both wheels missing. It was really a dangerous place to go but no one ever messed with us, I guess we were lucky because there were a lot of murders in that area later on. 

The other Venue down here in New Orleans that I miss is the Saenger Theatre on Canal Street. It had just gotten remodeled a few months before Hurricane Katrina, I think they spent around 3.5 million dollars on it, and it sustained about 9 million dollars in damages from the storm. They are in the process of getting things together to start renovation on it again sometime next year I hope. I saw some really good bands there too over the years. I saw The Moody Blues, Frank Zappa, Heart, Gov't. Mule, Bob Dylan, Steve Miller Band, Uriah Heep, and others. New Orleans is on the road to recovery but I think it will take another ten to twenty years for it to be back where it was before the storm.

One of the good things about today is that we have Joe and others to carry on the tradition of good blues and rock'n'roll that was started back in the late 50's and is still going strong. No matter where he and others play there will be many memories that people will share down the road and hopefully keep this style of music going for a long time to come.

From way down on the bayou,
Paul Bertrand

  • Jaci
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  • Registered: 2007-04-09
  • Posts: 697

Re: Venues we miss

Bill - we always wanted to see a show at Chord on Blues and are very sorry to hear
they discontinued having bands.  We used to go to a very nice blues club in Madison,
WI called Luther's Blues which also closed.  Very sad.
We'll see you next Saturday at Alverno!
Jaci

Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind.  Mick Jagger
  • From: Appleton
  • Registered: 2006-04-24
  • Posts: 276

Re: Venues we miss

Bill, I miss Joe at Shank Hall for the great sound I was able to capture and the atmosphere, but will NOT miss the long waits outside in the freezing cold to obtain one of the limited number of chairs.

On my upcoming 3 show run, for the first time, I have RESERVED seats.

Glad everyone still enjoys the Shank shows I recorded.

Belexes's Website

  • From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Re: Venues we miss

Belexes wrote:

Bill, I miss Joe at Shank Hall for the great sound I was able to capture and the atmosphere, but will NOT miss the long waits outside in the freezing cold to obtain one of the limited number of chairs.

On my upcoming 3 show run, for the first time, I have RESERVED seats.

Glad everyone still enjoys the Shank shows I recorded.

Steve,
I should have given credit where credit was due. I still periodically pull out the recordings you made at Shank Hall and take an awesome trip down memory lane.
There were some great numbers that I've only heard Joe perform, including
Spanish Castle Magic/If 6 were 9
Are You Experienced
Pain & Sorrow

Lots of other great tunes too! Thanks for the meories.
Bill S

P.S. Some of those waits in line were downright BRUTAL...but somehow we all had fun.

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"