• Registered: 2011-01-01
  • Posts: 14

Topic: Indianapolis show Dec 3 comments

Saw my 16th Joe Show Saturday night.

Joe was technically brilliant as always, but...

He seems to be taking the same path as Clapton in the mid-to-late 80's with the stage production when Clapton got led astray in the Phil Collins era.

I saw Clapton and SRV together the night before Stevie's chopper went down. I was struck by how much more enjoyable SRV was without the smoke, lights, back-up singers and horns that Clapton had. Simple was better.

Joe is always changing it up, and I appreciate that. But I can remember him playing the Broad Ripple Blues Fest here in Indy one year, and when he left he was in a white Chevy van with a 10 ft trailer behind it, and Joe was driving!

Now it is 2 semis and 2 busses (maybe 3!). It is great to see him make it out of driving the van and have the success that he has enjoyed. No one has worked harder for it. that's for sure. But I am hoping one day he will scale it back to a 3-piece (maybe keep the keyboards!) and go back to 1 semi and maybe knock twenty bucks off the ticket price. I don't mind paying $100 + but newbies that I have tried to come along balk at it. I saw Steve Winwood at the same venue and paid $35 rather than $100 in virtually the same seat.

One thing, there was a song in the middle of the show (still trying to figure out what it was), and the chorus sounded very similar to Dylan's 'The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar"

That would be a good one for Joe to cover. Some nice slide work on it!

“If I remember how this worked, you’d put a side on, and then you’d go and have something to eat, and then you’d put another side on.” … Mick Jagger
  • From: Deep in the forest
  • Registered: 2007-02-11
  • Posts: 5,296

Re: Indianapolis show Dec 3 comments

BillC wrote:

Saw my 16th Joe Show Saturday night.

Joe was technically brilliant as always, but...

He seems to be taking the same path as Clapton in the mid-to-late 80's with the stage production when Clapton got led astray in the Phil Collins era.

I saw Clapton and SRV together the night before Stevie's chopper went down. I was struck by how much more enjoyable SRV was without the smoke, lights, back-up singers and horns that Clapton had. Simple was better.

Joe is always changing it up, and I appreciate that. But I can remember him playing the Broad Ripple Blues Fest here in Indy one year, and when he left he was in a white Chevy van with a 10 ft trailer behind it, and Joe was driving!

Now it is 2 semis and 2 busses (maybe 3!). It is great to see him make it out of driving the van and have the success that he has enjoyed. No one has worked harder for it. that's for sure. But I am hoping one day he will scale it back to a 3-piece (maybe keep the keyboards!) and go back to 1 semi and maybe knock twenty bucks off the ticket price. I don't mind paying $100 + but newbies that I have tried to come along balk at it. I saw Steve Winwood at the same venue and paid $35 rather than $100 in virtually the same seat.

One thing, there was a song in the middle of the show (still trying to figure out what it was), and the chorus sounded very similar to Dylan's 'The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar"

That would be a good one for Joe to cover. Some nice slide work on it!

While I understand your comments come from a good place, you need to understand that Joe is doing just fine with his current band and is LOVING it. Isn't that what matters when you work as hard as he does? Considering his Grammy nominations, and his constant residence in the top tier of all charts, I'd say others feel he's doing well too. The shows are on par with any symphony performance and that's what you pay for. He's also generous to allow taping and sharing, so if the price is too high, you can still share in the experience. But I don't want to wish him less success and root for the days of the white van and the power trio. I loved those times when access was easy, but this is what he was working to achieve, and what his early fans helped make happen. He's young and maybe the downsize will be part of his later years, but let's celebrate his current success wink

3 Reply by RoadcaseBoy (edited by RoadcaseBoy 2016-12-07 20:10:54)

  • From: Seymour Duncan's Hometown, NJ
  • Registered: 2012-03-05
  • Posts: 2,309

Re: Indianapolis show Dec 3 comments

cathysiler wrote:

... but let's celebrate his current success wink

smile

A stones throw away ... a day before ...

City of Fort Wayne, IN declares Joe Bonamassa Day - Dec 2nd
https://youtu.be/SUEeZEHKrZ8 (Adams Radio Group (WXKE 96.3) Fort Wayne -12/5/16)

"I was in Space for less than 2 weeks … and suddenly Jeaniene’s back … half the Band is off the gd wagon … we have comedians opening for us … and the nice kid that ran our website is now a kleptof’nmaniac.  Boy ... did you guys miss me!!"  Phil Valentine - Road Manager - Staton House Band

JBLP#251 (unaged) ... thank you Ron.