1 Topic by buckwild (edited by buckwild 2006-08-12 13:13:01)

  • Registered: 2006-04-22
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Topic: Moe's Alley-Santa Cruz, CA Aug. 11th

I saw Joe and Co. last night in Santa Cruz, CA which is  my old home town.  I've seen many a show at Moe's alley but never seen it rocked as hard as Joe rocked it.  He opened with Color and the the Shape(I think) and from there the rest of the show is a blur or pure musicality and energy.  He played several songs from the new album as well as some old favorites including a New Day Yesterday and Miss You, Hate You.  I think the highlight of the show was his acoustic mini set when he played Woke Up Dreaming and then persisted to do some of the fastest acoustic playing I've ever seen-highlighted by beautiful chordal riffing.  Bogie and Mark tore it up as well.  You can tell that the band is really starting to Mesh.  They are much tighter than whe I saw them last November.

He played his Gigliotti tele for 4-5 songs, and the rest of the time was spent on three Les Pauls(02 Murphy R8, R9, and Black Beauty Custom)  He also pulled out the Lucille guitar near the end.  He played a Takamine Jumbo for the acoustic stuff which sounded ok but is to bright and at some points was harsh on the hears.  Amps played were a Two Rock, Park, Fuchs, and Marshall Jubilee.  I asked his sound engineer about the Budda amps and he said Joe did not like them anymore, that he had outgrown them.  He then proceeded to tell me that the two hat is an amazing amp and that Joe's new custom speaker cabinets are rocking.  He also said that he switches between the two rock, fuchs, and Park, but the JUbilee is always on.  Great show Joe!!!!  Hope you come back to Santa Cruz again.


Correction:He did open with taking the hit-darn beer buzz.

  • rpic
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Re: Moe's Alley-Santa Cruz, CA Aug. 11th

I also saw Joe at Moe's Alley last Friday and what an awesome show it was. I knew after hearing his albums (yes I still call them "albums") that Joe was a huge talent but after seeing him live it only cemented the fact.

My wife and I drove down from Sonoma Ca. (about a 3 hour drive) to see the band perform live for the first time. When we arrived in Santa Cruz, around 4pm, I wanted to find Moe's so we knew where we were going later that night and what perfect timing. Joe and Co. had already arrived and were doing a sound check. We waited outside and were able to meet Joe, Mark and Bogie, get some pictures and I had Joe autograph my Fender Strat. Joe was so friendly and seemed so down to earth.

The show was probably one of the best I have ever seen and I've been to alot. It was funny, after the first song (yes, an extented version of "Takin' The Hit") people in the crowd were saying "that's the first song? It was like an encore" and the show just grew from there. Joe's acoustic portion was a sight to behold. It wasnt like he sat on a stool and sang a folk song, he ripped it up like I have never seen. "Asking Around For You" was a highlight for me (that song should be a huge radio hit). I didn't think they would play it live but they did and pulled it off brilliantly. I'm seriously concidering flying up to Seattle Wa. in December to see the band at Demetrious Jazz Alley. I know from having been there before that  it is one great venue.

Thanks Joe, Mark, Bogie and the guitar tech (Dennis? for the picks) for an outstanding performance and for being such cool people. I will spread the word.

3 Reply by David A. (edited by David A. 2006-08-16 15:46:40)

  • From: Charlotte
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
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Re: Moe's Alley-Santa Cruz, CA Aug. 11th

Welcome aboard rpic.  Joe is the real deal and his "albums" keep getting better and better.  It is funny you say that about albums because this past weekend, I dusted some off and listened to some oldies like Deep Purple, Tropea, Led Zep...

Music is good for the Soul...
  • From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
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Re: Moe's Alley-Santa Cruz, CA Aug. 11th

Hello Rpic, Buckwild, & Jay. I'm J Dawg and I was @ Moe's too. Joe was kind enough to send that nights set list home with me. I don't know if any of you knew or got to meet him, but Joe's dad Len was in the crowd too. It's a helluva lot easier to remember what you heard when you wake up with the list!!! Here it is:
Taking the Hit
Walk in my Shadows
So Many Roads
Mountain Time
Bridge to Better Days
New Day Yesterday
Woke up Dreaming
(Acoustic Jam)
Django
Had to Cry Today

Encore

Asking Around for You
Just Got Paid

The place was definitely rockin'. Hope to see you in the house again in the future!!!   

                                                                                                                              J Dawg

What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint
  • From: Charlotte
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Re: Moe's Alley-Santa Cruz, CA Aug. 11th

Thanks for posting the Set List.  Sounds like another great show.

Music is good for the Soul...
  • rpic
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Re: Moe's Alley-Santa Cruz, CA Aug. 11th

Thanks for the set list J Dawg, red hooks and my memory don't go hand in hand, and thanks for settin' me straight with the guitar techs name.

David A.- I had my turn table break a few years back and definatily need to get it fixxed.
I thought I knew my bands, Deep Purple (yes), Led Zep (oh yeah) but "Tropea", I've never heard of 'em, explain (not why I havent heard of them but what they sound like).

Peace- rpic

  • From: Charlotte
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Re: Moe's Alley-Santa Cruz, CA Aug. 11th

rpic wrote:

David A.- I had my turn table break a few years back and definatily need to get it fixxed.
I thought I knew my bands, Deep Purple (yes), Led Zep (oh yeah) but "Tropea", I've never heard of 'em, explain (not why I havent heard of them but what they sound like).

Peace- rpic

John Tropea has been around for awhile, kind of a jazzy, contemporary type of guitarist.  Here is the link for his website and the album we were listening to. 
http://www.johntropea.com/disc/tropea.html
Some really good musicans on his first album, Steve Gadd, Dave Sanborn. There is an audio clip of a couple of songs, Muff is a pretty upbeat song.  Not bluesy or rock but good album.  Looks he has played with a lot of with some well known artists like Eric Clapton on his Journey Man album.  This is the first time I have listened to this album in years.  Not bad, but I wouldn't rush out to buy now.

Music is good for the Soul...
  • rpic
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Re: Moe's Alley-Santa Cruz, CA Aug. 11th

I gave both those audio clips a listen, liked it, good stuff.