My first time hearing Joe live, I was able to attend both outstanding shows, 1/31 at the Coach House and 2/1 at the Galaxy Theater. I've been a musician for 42 years and I've been searching for a sound like Joe's for a long time; if there's someone else on the planet that combines performance skill on the guitar with writing, singing and stage presence equal to Joe's, I want to know about him. I have the sense that Joe is an artist that cannot help becoming one of the biggest names in music this century.
A real highlight for me was Bogie's drumming, really enhanced by the excellent placement and selection of mics.
I would like to hear more keyboard throughout. At the Coach House I sat right in front of Joe, about 10 feet from the stage beside the delightful DD. I couldn't hear keyboard most of the show and figured it was because I was too close to the stage to hear the mains. At the Galaxy, I walked around the whole floor area, standing directly in front of the mains, and could only hear Rick well when I stood next to him and listened to his monitor. Rick is a very tasteful and talented player, and I think nudging him up a bit in the mix (and maybe nudging the bass down) would produce an even tighter, more powerful sound.
One omission from other posters' set lists is that Joe played a cover of the first 1:45 of Genesis' Squonk (one other poster for a previous gig identified this as Los Endos) toward the end of the set. Sounded GREAT and is so consistent with the band's big sound.
How long can it be before Joe is playing stadiums?
Final thought for those of you who are as whacky as I am: how cool would it be if Joe and keyboardist Jon Cleary jammed on the same stage? Oh my...
Joe, safe travels on your incredible tour. Save some energy for Monterey!