• Geoff
  • Geoff
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  • From: Moreton, Wirral, England
  • Registered: 2006-09-26
  • Posts: 1,603

Topic: Manchester report -

Took Michael on a tour of Liverpool, well took him on the ferry 'cross the Mersey and into Mathew Street to see the Cavern where the Beatles played (I'm old enough to remember the shows live!!!!) then over to Manchester to get a bite to eat in the Dim Sum restaurant next to the University where the gig was being played. Had a great fusion Thai / Chinese meal and then over to the hall where the we started queuing at about 6.30 ready for doors open at 7.30. First in the queue again!!! Started getting worried because all the card carrying students seemed to be jumping the queue, but we needn't have worried, Sue Michael and me made our speedy way to front and centre to find Crosby Loggins rebuilding his guitar (well restringing it actually) He had been interviewed by MTV that day which really put him behind. After seeing how sick he and Joe were the previous night, Sue had purchased a Winnie the Pooh "get well soon" balloon to take to the gig, which seemed to surprise Crosby. Anyway, he was feeling much better and let rip with the set he played the previous night, only to be accompanied on stage by the MTV crew who filmed most of his excellent set!
Dave and Aaron did the business in setting up the stage for Joe and the boys and the place was just bouncing with expectation. Last time Joe played the university he was in a hall that held only about 400 tops, this time he was in a room that held 1000 and he had sold it out.
Joe and the band went for it from the start, with Joe cranking up the pace with new and longer improvisations on nearly every song. After being told off at the start for daring to have a camera with me by the officious "jobsworth" I was reluctant to get my camera out until I noticed that loads of others were using flash. I don't use flash, so I thought sod it and got to work trying to capture the atmosphere of the set. I think Joe would have been disappointed had no-one taken pictures. Joe spotted Sue's balloon straighgt away and said a quiet "thank you" as he walked to the front of the stage, and made a point of showing the balloon to the whole room later in the show, thanking Sue for thinking of it!
As the show progressed, Joe really started to crank it up, he was really in the groove and enjoying every minute - hope the shots I got really show how excellent the atmosphere was. Sue has seen him 6 times and this was, in her opinion the best of the gigs she has seen - and I echo that! If that was Joe below par, jeez, roll on Newcastle - the last gig of the tour! See you there!

Geoff

Geoff O

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2 Reply by starks5867 (edited by starks5867 2008-02-23 20:38:47)

  • From: Cleveland
  • Registered: 2007-05-08
  • Posts: 272

Re: Manchester report -

That was a wonderful review.  Sue sounds like a great person.  Please tell her a big thank you from all of us over here for thinking of the get well balloon for Joe.  That was so sweet.
Thanks for sharing.

  • From: Deep in the forest
  • Registered: 2007-02-11
  • Posts: 5,296

Re: Manchester report -

Thanks Geoff..Sounds like you are having a great adventure! I bet Michael has been smiling the whole time. Very cool that it's sold out at a college..That means it was a younger crowd! We're all lucky you got pix. Between your and Michael's skills, it's time for a movie! Thanks and keep your buzz going!!!     Cathy

  • From: West Yorkshire, England
  • Registered: 2007-08-02
  • Posts: 1,587

Re: Manchester report -

Great review Geoff, I'm really jealous of the number of shows you are attending. But reading your reviews and looking at your piccies almost makes me feel I was there too.
It was really sweet of Sue to get the Winnie The Pooh balloon. I'm sure it made Joe feel better. I hope he wasn't having as much trouble as at Crewe.

Tripsy

5 Reply by Geoff (edited by Geoff 2008-02-24 06:40:49)

  • Geoff
  • Geoff
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  • From: Moreton, Wirral, England
  • Registered: 2006-09-26
  • Posts: 1,603

Re: Manchester report -

My sincere apologies to everyone, but especially to Chantelle McGreggor, I completely forgot to mention the highlight last number (it was very late when we got home) when Chantelle joined Joe on Stage for a wonderful finale. Chantelle is a great blues guitarist and performed fantastically with Joe, swapping licks and solos for the entire song - absolutely wonderful!! Great performance from Chantelle, my apologies once again for missing it off my main report - got some great pics of her on stage with Joe, which I'll post later this morning (UK time). Chantelle, you have my e-mail. Drop me a line with your addess and I'll send you a disc with all the pictures in high res for you to load onto your own website!

Geoff

Geoff O

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  • From: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Registered: 2006-04-24
  • Posts: 302

Re: Manchester report -

Hey Geoff.  Fantastic review of the show!!!!  Looking forward to seeing your photos.  Sounds like it was another rockin' jamming blast of a show from Joe and the boys.  What's the Cavern really like inside, small?  Thanks a lot for sharing.

                                         Barbara............:)

  • max
  • max
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  • From: New York
  • Registered: 2008-01-31
  • Posts: 50

Re: Manchester report -

Geoff wrote:

My sincere apologies to everyone, but especially to Chantelle McGreggor, I completely forgot to mention the highlight last number (it was very late when we got home) when Chantelle joined Joe on Stage for a wonderful finale. Chantelle is a great blues guitarist and performed fantastically with Joe, swapping licks and solos for the entire song - absolutely wonderful!! Great performance from Chantelle, my apologies once again for missing it off my main report - got some great pics of her on stage with Joe, which I'll post later this morning (UK time). Chantelle, you have my e-mail. Drop me a line with your addess and I'll send you a disc with all the pictures in high res for you to load onto your own website!

Geoff

Hope somebody got some video of this!

Technique doesn't come into it. I deal with emotions.
-Jimmy Page
  • Libby
  • Libby
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  • From: Sunny Southern California
  • Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 1,551

Re: Manchester report -

Geoff wrote:

My sincere apologies to everyone, but especially to Chantelle McGreggor, I completely forgot to mention the highlight last number (it was very late when we got home) when Chantelle joined Joe on Stage for a wonderful finale. Chantelle is a great blues guitarist and performed fantastically with Joe, swapping licks and solos for the entire song - absolutely wonderful!! Great performance from Chantelle, my apologies once again for missing it off my main report - got some great pics of her on stage with Joe, which I'll post later this morning (UK time). Chantelle, you have my e-mail. Drop me a line with your addess and I'll send you a disc with all the pictures in high res for you to load onto your own website!

Geoff

Geoff, thank you for answering my question.....I wondered who the lady in white in your photos was.  I can't find her anywhere on the Internet.  Do you have her website adresss?

I know that Joe could play one of those kid's guitars with the plastic strings and make it sound good-
Bill S.
  • Registered: 2006-09-26
  • Posts: 23

Re: Manchester report -

Hi Geoff, Max, Jane, Libby and all of Joe's fans.

Many thanks Geoff for the offer of the photos, much appreciated, it's not every day I get the chance to jam with a band of such quality, in fact thinking about it, it's not any day!!!!!

The song we jammed was "You Upset Me Baby", originally by B B King and my website is www.chantelmcgregor.com.

Words can't really say how much fun it is getting on stage with Joe, or how nice he, his band and crew are, so it will have to be sufficient to say "thanks" to some of the nicest people around.

Chantel

  • Libby
  • Libby
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  • From: Sunny Southern California
  • Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 1,551

Re: Manchester report -

Oh Chantel,

How nice that you have joined us and took the time to personally answer my question.  Welcome to our forum!  I will check out your website the minute I post this message!

Glad to hear how much fun you had jammin' with the boys last night.  Indeed, I cannot imagine the possibility of you standing on any stage, anywhere with anyone with more talent than Joe and his band of merry men!  I fully agree with you....they just couldn't be any nicer if they tried.  All that talent, generosity, humility and gratitude in one package.  Unbelievable!

Have fun here with us.  I wish you a great future and the hope that it will include another opportunity to share the stage with Joe again.

smile  Libby  smile

I know that Joe could play one of those kid's guitars with the plastic strings and make it sound good-
Bill S.
  • Libby
  • Libby
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  • From: Sunny Southern California
  • Registered: 2008-02-14
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Re: Manchester report -

Chantel,

I've visited your website.  I am bowing to you right now!  Can you see me?  No?  You'll just have to take my word!  Wow!  Another superbly talented young person to carry the blues into the future.  I also see now that this was not the first time you shared the stage with Joe.  How fun.

I had some trouble viewing several of your youtube videos, including the one of you jammin' with Joe.  I'll try again, or, perhaps try going to youtube directly.

Best wishes for the fabulous future that will be yours.  Hope to catch you in the States someday.

smile  Libby  smile

I know that Joe could play one of those kid's guitars with the plastic strings and make it sound good-
Bill S.
  • From: The Netherlands
  • Registered: 2006-09-26
  • Posts: 667

Re: Manchester report -

Great review.
And great that Chantel got the chance again to play with Joe.
Wish I could have been there.Love Joe and Love Chantel (too bad she only plays the UK)
Looks like you had fun Chantel!Like your dress.

Marianne's Website

  • Registered: 2008-02-23
  • Posts: 4

Re: Manchester report -

I've already posted this elsewhere... but Joe was fantastic in Manchester... a fantastic show..
I came with 3 other friends and we all were raving after the show not just how good Joe was (He was amazing!), but how good the band were too...
We all really enjoyed Chantel's play off too. I gotta say I haven't been this buzzed about a gig for years... Well done Joe (and the band)(and Chantel).

Mark