Spokane 8/28 and Seattle 8/30

Having partly planned my summer vacation so that I could see Joe while nearly 3,000 miles from home, I was not disappointed at all.  I had the chance to see Joe 2x in 3 days, while surrounded by a lot of Bonavirgins.  Here's a little bit on each show.

SPOKANE 8/28 @ The Knitting Factory
SET LIST:
Spike Driver Blues
Bridge to Better Days
So Many Roads
Mountain Time
Another Kind of Love
Sloe Gin
Highwater Everywhere
Your Funeral My Trial
Blues Deluxe
Woke Up Dreaming
Just Got Paid
ENCORE:
One of These Days
Asking Around For You

Great show for Joe's (and my) first visit to Spokane.  Both Joe and the crowd seemed to warm up a bit as the show went on.  By the end of the show, I couldn't get a drink b/c every time I looked for our waitress, she was rocking out by the bar paying attention only to Joe and not her patrons.  Joe looks fantastic.  He's taken off nearly 50lbs since last June.  He said that it has improved his singing.  He's doing a bit of actual jumping on stage which seems new to me.  Of course, Joe was gracious with his time and greeted and signed for everyone waiting, including a young guitar prodigy with the last name Govedare, for whom Gigliotti is making a custom guitar gratis!  Never know who you might meet at a Joe show.  My two Bonavirgin buddies were amazed at what they witnessed and I can now count on them to spread the Bonagospel.

SEATTLE @ THE BUMBERSHOOT FESTIVAL
Same set list minus the encores as time was tightly controlled.  The artist before Joe only had a few people watching, all of whom stayed seated during the performance, with about 5 people up front nearest the stage.  I was hoping Joe would have a better crowd.  I was not disappointed.  The entire audience area was filled with people who did not sit the entire time.  The upfront area, where I was, was packed 5 deep.  Joe gave an incredible show, particularly given how little time they had to get set up, etc.  Joe even performed without his "magic carpet" underneath his feet.  Rick didn't have Buddha on the edge of the keyboard either.  Poor Dave was running around like a maniac trying to keep the proper guiatar at the ready for Joe.  Joe repeatedly jumped up on some speakers at the front corner of the stage to give the people in back a better view.  I take it that most of the crowd was new to Joe, but left as fans.  I was wearing a Joe shirt and no less than 4 people came up to me elsewhere on the festival grounds after Joe's show to tell me how blown away they were. 

Now, I have to wait until October when I'll see Joe 4x in 4 states in 5 days. 

-Rob