• From: San Leandro, CA
  • Registered: 2007-08-24
  • Posts: 136

Topic: Monterey Bay Blues Festival, 6-28-08

Wow!  This was our second time seeing Joe live, and he did not disappoint.

This was the same stage as the 1967 Monterey Pop festival.  Yes, this was the stage where Jimi Hendrix literally set his guitar on fire.  Joe reminded everyone of this during his set.  He commented that this was the same stage, and that he'd seen the videos of it.  He even went to stand on the exact spot where it happened.  He was able to do this because he said that they have it marked on the stage--Jimi Hendrix.  Joe joked that this put a lot of pressure on a guitarist, "No Pressure."

We met JDawg at the fair grounds, and he and Scott (my husband) handed out cards to passersby to get them into Joe's show.  Before the show started, in the venue, they handed out more cards.

Joe came on at about 2:15 for a 1 hour set.  The place was not very full at the beginning.  The crowd was polite during the first song or two, but eventually they got into it big time.  People of all shapes and colors dancing and grooving along to the show.

Set List:

Bridge to Better Days
So Many Roads
India
Mountain Time
Another Kind of Love
Sloe Gin
Your Funeral My Trial
High Water Everywhere
Woke Up Dreaming
Just Got Paid (with a little riff of Dazed and Confused added onto the end)

Joe made the comment about Hendrix right before he went into his acoustic set with High Water Everywhere and Woke Up Dreaming.  By then the crowd was his.  It was wonderful seeing a crowd convert--many didn't know him in the beginning, but they did by the end.  Joe was introduced as one of the best guitarists in America.  When Joe made the comment about being on the same stage as Hendrix and feeling the pressure, we overheard someone near us say, "You have NOTHING to worry about!"

One of the guys Scott had given a card to before the show found us afterward and said he was going to go out and by his first Bonamassa CD, and asked which one he should get!

Furthermore, about 4 or 5 hours later, we were still at the Festival, and browsing in the booth selling CDs and DVDs.  We stopped by there early, before Joe's set and happily noticed all the "Sloe Gin" CDs for sale.  4 or 5 hours after Joe's set---none to be seen.  They were sold out of all CDs by Joe, except for 2 lone copies of So It's Like That in a foot long bin labeled "Joe Bonamassa."  I should add that there were plenty of CDs left of other artists in the same show as Joe.

A fabulous show!  Gives a warm feeling all the way down to the toes.

Lisa.

2 Reply by ohiodawg13 (edited by ohiodawg13 2008-06-29 11:43:22)

  • From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 5,828

Re: Monterey Bay Blues Festival, 6-28-08

You two are valued street teamers and just down right fun to run into. I'm glad you had a blast. I know I sure did. You're absolutely right about Joe leaving no prisoners by the end of the set, I got mobbed by a number of wide eyed people after the set asking where can I get a CD and where'd you get that shirt and where's he playing next. It was an awesome frenzy to say the least. As I found out on the way out Joe's crew didn't even break out the merchandise where they rotated merch. sales during each artists performance. TTYL.

                                                                                                   Think Green,

                                                                                                   J Dawg

What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint
  • Registered: 2006-12-28
  • Posts: 3,742

Re: Monterey Bay Blues Festival, 6-28-08

Nice post Lisa, glad to hear from you...hope you and Scott can make the other shows here in Cali.....Yeah Jimi has nothing on Joe Bonamassa (eek, did I really say that?)...well you know what i meen smile

Dave/Shred/Goofy?

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

Re: Monterey Bay Blues Festival, 6-28-08

Thanks for the review and all the hard work Lisa. Really nice to hear the CD's sold out. It seems this tour is boosting sales since "Sloe Gin" was back at #3 this week. When the Live CD comes out...well..he could have 3 CD's in the top 20, and at least 2 in the top 10!!!

Again...Did he say "I'm Joe Bonamassa from L.A. or Macon Georgia"???    Thanks again, Cathy

  • From: Amsterdam
  • Registered: 2007-10-06
  • Posts: 5,249

Re: Monterey Bay Blues Festival, 6-28-08

cathysiler wrote:

Thanks for the review and all the hard work Lisa. Really nice to hear the CD's sold out. It seems this tour is boosting sales since "Sloe Gin" was back at #3 this week. When the Live CD comes out...well..he could have 3 CD's in the top 20, and at least 2 in the top 10!!!

Again...Did he say "I'm Joe Bonamassa from L.A. or Macon Georgia"???    Thanks again, Cathy

Jeez Cathy, do pay attention!

It's ATHENS, Ga. big_smile

RIP Iron Man

Rock On and keep the Faith
  • From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 5,828

Re: Monterey Bay Blues Festival, 6-28-08

Sis, I posted that in the Monterey thread. As I said he didn't say where anybody hailed from when he introduced the band and himself yesterday. After the show I had a few minutes to chat with Joe before I blasted off for Berkeley. I mentioned that some curious minds wanted to know if you would start saying you're from Macon, to which he replied, "IT'S ATHENS!!!" He told me he's all moved in down there and that was that.

                                                                                              Think Georgia Peaches,

                                                                                              J Dawg

What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint

7 Reply by ohiodawg13 (edited by ohiodawg13 2008-06-29 12:21:36)

  • From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 5,828

Re: Monterey Bay Blues Festival, 6-28-08

Lisa,

     Great post, you summed it all up. It was great that the history of Jimi's performance and pyrotechnic antics were acknowledged by Joe in the middle of the set. The true highlight of the entire day for me was watching the two 15 year olds sitting next to me. Their names were Jesse and Will, both from Santa Cruz, needless to say they're both Joe's newest fans. They were at the festival by way of the Monterey County Blues In The Schools program. Earlier in the day they got to sit in on one of the alternate stages and play with Dale Ockerman & The Musicschool All-Stars. During Joe's set I kept seeing them look at each other with these WOW DUDE looks on their faces. Joe gave 'em the final knock out when he launched into Just Got Paid/Dazed & Confused. When he morphed into the Zep part these two absolutely lit up. It's moments like this that make you truly appreciate the fact that Joe isn't just playing music, he's carrying and passing on the blues legacy. After the show ended I encouraged them to visit the website and join the forum to share their experience. Keying on the fact that the old school tunes really piqued their interest I recommended picking up SILT and paying close attention to Pain & Sorrow.

                               Gas to Monterey.......Ridiculous$$$$$$$$$$$$

                               Ticket to festival.......$60 (honestly, compted, once the right woman showed up to locate it)

                               Watching Jesse & Will.......PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                                                Think Green,

                                                                                                                J Dawg

What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint

8 Reply by LisaG (edited by LisaG 2008-06-29 14:23:59)

  • From: San Leandro, CA
  • Registered: 2007-08-24
  • Posts: 136

Re: Monterey Bay Blues Festival, 6-28-08

Shredit wrote:

Nice post Lisa, glad to hear from you...hope you and Scott can make the other shows here in Cali.....Yeah Jimi has nothing on Joe Bonamassa (eek, did I really say that?)...well you know what i meen smile

Dave/Shred/Goofy?

Hi Shred,
Yeah, we'll definitely be in San Jose.  Maybe Sonora.  We're hoping to get lots of friends to join us in San Jose.  Hope to see you there.

Next day, and still buzzing.  Great great show.  Great seeing the crowd get into it all.  The whole band was freaking amazing!

I'm so glad the kids were getting into Joe.  We saw some teen aged kids sitting near us who seemed blown away.  But the Blues in the Schools crowd is great!  We saw some of them play early in the day.  For one kid, the guitar was half his size, but he was burning it up!

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

Re: Monterey Bay Blues Festival, 6-28-08

Thanks for the reviews Lisa and Jdawg. Sounds like you all had a great time. It's really good to hear about the young people who are becoming fans of Joe too.
I am soooo looking forward to Liverpool .

Tripsy smile

  • From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 5,828

Re: Monterey Bay Blues Festival, 6-28-08

The little guy, with the cool curly 'fro, was sitting with the other two in front of me, but left before the end of the set. Before he did I mentioned that the gold LP was Joe's signature model that would be available in limited quantities for about $3300.00, to which he responded, cool, mine cost three thousand five hundred. His axe is almost bigger than him, but he knows how to use it.

                                                                                         Well my 'Bama Epi LP Jr. cost $99.99,

                                                                                         J Dawg

What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint

11 Reply by Steve Snider (edited by Steve Snider 2008-06-29 22:14:01)

  • Registered: 2008-06-29
  • Posts: 7

Re: Monterey Bay Blues Festival, 6-28-08

First time seeing Joe and I would say it was one of the best performances I have seen in over 30 years. Consider me a convert. He is freeking amazing. Brings it all. The entire package. Is like the sum of all the greats combined. Incredible!!!!!!!   I was there today and that was all anybody talked about. Joe blew the roof off and set the bar higher than it's ever been set there. GREAT show. Great playing, great tone, great singing, great everything including the band. I was blown away unlike anything I have seen since Shawn Lane in 1992 or so. This was incredible. Everyone I know felt the same, incredible!!!!

12 Reply by cathysiler (edited by cathysiler 2008-06-29 23:27:00)

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

Re: Monterey Bay Blues Festival, 6-28-08

OK! OK! OK! ATHENS! ATHENS!ATHENS! ATHENS! ATHENS! ATHENS!!!!!!!!!! i'M OLD AND EASILY CONFUSED. But, seriously, glad he's nested. Now, let's hope he gets to spend some time there (every once in a while).

Welcome to the forumSteve. That's the way it's supposed to work. It's like an Musical IQ test. If you're among the enlightened, it only takes one Joe exposure to hook you. We've been waiting for you, enjoy! And, you may want to give a quick intro under that thread.

Did anybody hear Matt Wigler?                      Cathy




Edited to add...It just came to me...I think for the rest of this tour Joe should say they are all from "Nowhere in Particular!!!"

  • Registered: 2008-06-29
  • Posts: 7

Re: Monterey Bay Blues Festival, 6-28-08

cathysiler wrote:

OK! OK! OK! ATHENS! ATHENS!ATHENS! ATHENS! ATHENS! ATHENS!!!!!!!!!! i'M OLD AND EASILY CONFUSED. But, seriously, glad he's nested. Now, let's hope he gets to spend some time there (every once in a while).

Welcome to the forumSteve. That's the way it's supposed to work. It like an Musical IQ test. If you're among the enlightened, it only takes one Joe exposure to hook you. We've been waiting for you, enjoy! And, you may want to give a quick intro under that thread.

Did anybody get to hear Matt Wigler??                      Cathy

Done! Thanks for the warm welcome!!  I think Joe is the guy that can bring the blues / rock to people that nobody else can. He is likre a combination of all the greats and more.

  • From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 5,828

Re: Monterey Bay Blues Festival, 6-28-08

Did not get to hear Matt. He played Sun. from 2:40 to 3:40 PM on the president's stage. There were two alternate stages in the fairgrounds outside the arena where the headliner acts played. A general admission ticket got you into the fairgrounds. Other notables on the grounds stages were: Lara Price, Mitch Woods, Lady Bianca, CJ Chenier, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Teeny Tucker, Robben Ford, John Lee Hooker Jr., and Charlie Musselwhite. This is a legendary whopper of a blues festival and I recommend everybody try to attend this one in the future at least once. The Monterey Peninsula is one of the top vacation spots in NorCal and going at festival time is an extra bonus.

     Note to Libby: The temps were cool and overcast in the AM, about 60 degrees. The sun popped out and the temp went to about 80 between 1:30 to 3:30, then the fog started to creep back in and things cooled off. Coincidently Joe's set was from 2:10 to 3:10 when the temperature hit it's peak, Hmmmmmmmmmm.

                                                                                                     Think Green,

                                                                                                     J Dawg

What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint
  • Registered: 2008-06-30
  • Posts: 14

Re: Monterey Bay Blues Festival, 6-28-08

I remember the first time I saw Joe right before Had To Cry Today came out.  It was over at the Garage, at the Hilton in Reno.  I was floored!  I have seen him 5 or 6 times since, and the shows get better every single time. 

My wife and I went to the show at the Monterey Bay Blues Fest and Joe did not disappoint.  Keb Mo was the headliner, and although I am a big fan of his, I think Joe should have deserved that honor, at the least.  In the 1hr set, there were at least 3or4 standing o's and the crowd was just going crazy for him (except the folks that we were sitting next to, but they didn't seem to enjoy much :-/). 

We only stayed for "show 2", but had a great time.  Volker Strifler was great, not too familiar with Teeny Tucker, so I'll reserve judgement, and Keb Mo did a great set.  Anyone that can, I would highly recommend hitting up that festival... and checking out Joe, of course ;-P

Last thing: I took a couple of vids during the set.  One is almost the full "So Many Roads", and the other is the solo from "Sloe Gin".  I am trying to get them on YouTube and will re-post with links.

Brandon

  • From: Denmark
  • Registered: 2008-04-03
  • Posts: 96

Re: Monterey Bay Blues Festival, 6-28-08

Did anyone take any pictures of Joe?

What did you expect to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wild beasts sweeping majestically over the fields?

Guitargeek's Website

  • Registered: 2008-06-30
  • Posts: 14

Re: Monterey Bay Blues Festival, 6-28-08

Sloe Gin solo:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3OBROSLlEMo

I think you can also look at http://youtube.com/brandoncatz

  • From: Denmark
  • Registered: 2008-04-03
  • Posts: 96

Re: Monterey Bay Blues Festival, 6-28-08

Thank you. Bad seats though :\

What did you expect to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wild beasts sweeping majestically over the fields?

Guitargeek's Website