Topic: 50th Anniversary of Gibson ES335 @ Rock & Roll Hall OF Fame
Yesterday we attended a charter members-only event titled Gibson Guitar Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the ES-335 Guitar, with Larry Carlton and Guests, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
We were first escorted up to the 4th floor theatre where the show was going to take place. The small stage was set-up with the band’s and guests’ gear and displayed on each end of the stage were about 10 Gibson’s ES335 guitars. The show started about 7:15 with a DVD presentation of actual production of the Gibson ES335 guitar, which was cool to see, and then they introduced Larry Carlton http://www.larrycarlton.com/. He came out with his band which included a drummer who only was on his second gig with Larry and Larry’s son Travis on bass. He played three songs and invited a man name Joel Hoffner (I’m not definitely sure this was his name) up on stage to play sax. Larry played a variety of blues, jazz and some rock. The Sax player and Larry’s band stayed on stage to play along with his guests. Each guest played two songs.
1st guest was Dennis Coffey- http://www.denniscoffeysite.com/ WOW!! He was incredible on the guitar. He just let it all out for the crowd and they were going crazy over him. When he presses down on his WAH WAH Pedal, he made that guitar cry hard! He was playing so fast and hard he broke one of his strings on his guitar. He and Larry joked after the song that he was only playing with 5 strings. Dennis said to Larry the last time he played 5 strings is when he was backing up Barbra Streisand, and he said that there are 6 in case you break one! I was very very impressed with his playing, his presence, and his legendary resume.
2nd guest Shariff Hobley– http://www.shariefinburgundy.com/ The Rock Hall Curator, who introduced all the guests, asked “How could he play his guitar backwards”? He was a lefty and Nico would have been impressed with him! He did play one song off his new Buddy’s Luv album and at this time I can’t remember the name of the song. He was having a great time on stage with Larry and was very humbled be asked to come to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to take part in this guitar event.
3rd guest Gary Puckett-http://www.garypuckettmusic.com/ At the time Gary was truly putting his name on the map, I wasn’t even born yet, but the medley of songs he played were very familiar and Larry described him as a friend of 40 years. At this time, a keyboardist came on stage (don’t have a name) that was from Nashville who was also the musical director and well-re-knowned session musician. This was Larry’s best friend from college and it was described how they’d been friends since spending time back then in small rehearsal rooms on guitar & piano “trying to get their sh*t together.” Larry was so happy to have him on stage with him and to have re-connected after so many years when Larry moved to Nashville, too. Gary Puckett came on stage and told the audience he was very nervous. Larry told him not to worry, that he’ll get used to it – lol. Gary said he felt out of his league there but he his great voice what everyone heard. He played a medley of his hits songs, such as "Young Girl", "This Girl Is A Woman Now" and other I can’t remember. I was cool to be able to see Gary Pucket on stage with his old friend Larry Carlton.
4th guest John Pizzarelli- http://www.johnpizzarelli.com/ John Pizzarelli was one of my favorite guests that was on stage. For one, he was paisano who was born in Paterson, New Jersey, and has been playing guitar since age six, following in the tradition of his father, guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli. He came on stage and showed the crowd that he wasn’t playing a 6 string guitar, but a 7 string guitar. http://www.johnpizzarelli.com/go.php?pa … amp;gid=23 This has a much wider neck on the guitar, and he entertained the audience with a story about his introduction to the instrument via his father and an old friend before jazzing it up with his version of “I’ve Got Rhythm.”
After that, they asked everybody off stage to present Larry with an award. A young man from Premier Guitar magazine spoke about Larry his “relentless pursuit of tone.” He was presented with the 1st Annual Titan of Tone award. Larry was honored and very humbled upon being presented with this award. Now the band got back on stage and the last of the guests was ready to take the stage.
5th guest Joe Bonamassa!! I only have three words to say: Stole The Show! No disrespect to Larry and all the other great performers, but Joe did his thing and was on fire. Joe proceeded to the stage from the seats of the audience just like all the other performers. His guitar tech handed him his signature Les Paul Guitar, which was a loner among all those ES 335s. His first words were thanking Larry for the invitation and telling everyone that he had never talked to Larry ever in his life until recently. So he then told the story about a phone call he got about two weeks ago when he was at his parents’ house for his annual “hometown barbeque event.” He receive the call and after the call he told his parents who was on the phone and what the conversation was about. He said that his parents were so amazed that a famous person called their son—despite the big tour bus parked right out in front of a little ranch house, which cracked everyone up. Then he told everyone that the guitar he is playing now is not a Gibson ES335, but a Joe Bonamassa Signature Prototype guitar and that if they had one they’d have brought it, too! Before he started, he told the crowd that they had never played together before and this was there first time together. Joe started with Walk In My Shadows. It was awesome to hear Walk In My Shadows again and especially Joe playing it with Larry Carlton. They were both having a great time on stage and the crowds’ jaws were all hitting the floor. After the song, the whole place stood up for a Standing “O”. The first Standing “O” all night after a song. Then Joe was given a beautiful Red Gibson ES335 Guitar, upon which he immediately asked if Gibson was in the house and if he could take this one home. Larry replied with, “I say, yes.” I’m not sure if Larry was the one to give the OK, but the crowd loved his sense of humor. So, Joe got it on and gave then band some instruction before playing “Blues Deluxe”. WOW! WOW! WOW! I couldn’t believe my ears! His playing and especially his voice were awesome in the song. People were going crazy and yelling out “Sing It Joe!” One point in the song a lady in the audience yelled clearly Sing it and Joe responded, “I will, my darling.” The crowd loved Joe’s response! Again, Larry was also on fire during the song and Joe I think during this song and they were going back and forth at each other like a duel. Upon starting it, Joe said, “Watch, I’m in trouble now!” This was very cool to see Joe and Larry communicate with each other. At the end of the song, another Standing “O” for Joe and Larry. The fans wanted one more song with Joe, but the all-star jam was reading to begin.
Lastly, all guests were to be on stage for one last jam session. Joe was squeezed in between John Pizzarelli and Shariff Hobley. It seemed like Joe and John were talking on stage at one point and they both were having a great time, big smiles in both directions. Larry started the Jam and then pointed to each guest to do a solo. They all got a chance to jam out and it was honor to get the opportunity to see a concert like to this at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I won’t ever forget this night of great music and musicians on the stage. We had a hell of a time at the show!
Take care,
Dean
Hi Melissa! 
