Topic: Redondo Beach - Brixton South Bay - 9/19/08

Morning All,

Last night we had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Bonamassa and friends play, for the first time EVER, in Redondo Beach.  The venue, called the Brixton South Bay, is a nice little club (maybe it holds about 450 ppl.??) located on the Redondo Beach pier.

Here's the 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 Dreamin'
Just Got Paid/Dazed and Confused

Encore
One of These Days
Askin' Around for You

The boys were on fire last night......and I was so close...... IS there such a thing as being TOO close??  LOL.  I know that I had to lean BACK, several times, in order to get the shot I wanted.  I also had to throw an earplug in, which never happens to me at a Joe show - but, I figured, better safe than sorry as I have a few more shows in my immediate future and PLENTY more on the horizon...... I want to be able to hear them all without any unwelcome ringing!!!  Does anyone else out there wear earplugs?  Sometimes??  Just curious.

The stage was pretty small and it's always interesting to me to see how Joe and the guys adjust for that.  A lot less wiggle room...... or jumping room...... or room to separate and come back together as bandmates ....... Also, there were semi circle steps in front of the stage ...... I was right up against those steps - and Joe came out on the first one, several times - so, we were, literally, almost lens to strings - pretty intense.  The crowd just went mad.  smile   

It was a great show and such a pleasure, once again, to meet and chat with a LOT of really nice people who were there for their FIRST Joe experience.  I'm telling you, that's become one of MY favorite parts of seeing Joe - that business of watching the AWE develop thru someone else's eyes.  It is SO much fun to talk to someone before a show - and watch them look at me with just a pinch of doubt as I go on and on with my own enthusiasm - as they nod politely and say things like, "Well yes...... I HOPE he IS that good......" or "Hmmm..... REALLY????  I HOPE we're not disappointed.  He has an AWFUL lot to live up to...."  Hehehehehehehe.  Such innocents........ they don't ever KNOW, simply CAN'T ever KNOW, until they EXPERIENCE it for themselves....... and then........ well, then we have a whole new set of ambassadors, don't we???  Seriously, when I chat with the same people, AFTER a show, and just say, "Well?........... what did you think?????" ...... the result is ALWAYS THE SAME........ unbridled enthusiam........ wide eyed amazement......... a certain amount of stammering and stuttering and speechlessness, as they search for the RIGHT words to describe the DEPTH AND BREADTH of Joe's talent - and, of course, there ARE not big enough words, so the search is in vain - heehehehehe - but I GET IT.  I don't need to hear the words....... I can see it all in their faces - their wonderfully amazed, awestruck, excited, and CHANGED FOREVER faces.  What fun!!!!! 

We always walk away not only feeling like we've met new fans of Joe's, but that we've made new friends as well.  It is a rare occasion when I've not exchanged contact information with SOMEONE and we share photos or I tell them about the Forum, or lead them to the website, or the Tour Page, or SOMETHING.  So, beyond my friendships that I've developed here (and everyone knows just how much THOSE mean to me), I've got this whole other network of 'show friends'.  What a kick it is as I begin to see the same faces from one show to the next....... "Hi!!!!  We met in Doheny!!!!" or, "Weren't you at the last Coach House show??", etc., etc.  Just another gift of Joe........ and they just keep coming.

We're off to Vegas on Saturday and Flagstaff on Sunday. 

Grateful for my good fortune,

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.

Re: Redondo Beach - Brixton South Bay - 9/19/08

No earplugs for me.  The louder the better!!!!

Doug

Re: Redondo Beach - Brixton South Bay - 9/19/08

Thanks Libs!
I'm extremely jealous you're taking in so many shows.
And although I love seeing Joe play theaters, I truly miss seeing him in small clubs...you're lucky, because those will be rare occurrences, if they happen at all.
I've been in that position on more that a few occasions...standing against the stage literally within reach of strumming Joe's guitar myself. With a big, goofy grin on my face!

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"

4 (edited by ohiodawg13 2008-09-20 01:27:55)

Re: Redondo Beach - Brixton South Bay - 9/19/08

Earplugs..............what?.........What?............WHAT??????? Ask Shreddy about hearing loss, but make sure you talk in the ear he can still hear with. My favorite prank is to move my lips w/o saying anything.............gets him every time. He's TRUE BLUE. Nice review, I really didn't need to know what everybody ate for dinner etc., etc., etc. Thanks for the preview review too. C-Ya soon. BTW we gotta get some "Get To Know Joe" biz cards in your hands.

                                                                                                   HUHWHOT?????

                                                                                                   J Dawg

All Better!!! LMAO!!!!

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

Re: Redondo Beach - Brixton South Bay - 9/19/08

Thanks for the review. Sounds like another fantastic show! Glad your having a fun trip Libby!!!

Travel safe please!

me

Re: Redondo Beach - Brixton South Bay - 9/19/08

Sounds like the kickoff to World Tour was a blazer!! Glad you're able to have this great adventure. You are really going to like Ryan McGarvey!! Lucky girl!!! And, I always wear ear plugs..it hurts not to and I can't stand the ringing for the next day. I may need glasses and I have no palate...but my hearing is great!!  Party on Lib!      Cathy

Re: Redondo Beach - Brixton South Bay - 9/19/08

This show was fantastic. There were alot of tall people there, lol. I am having probs with my camera. For some reason the shutter speed is apparently set to qualude speed and I got alot of pics of the back of peoples heads, grrrrrr. I would love to see Joe play at the Canyon Club. It's a great place with a nice big stage and you can eat dinner before the show. Great food.
I missed the show at the Fonda, had to work that night so I sent my man with one of his friends a new Joe convertee. We brought a friend this night, who is also a musician, another convertee.
Conquering the world 1 fan at a time.
I fear the day when he plays at arena's and the tickets cost major $$$, good for Joe, bad for us.
I would love to meet him someday.
Cheers from Sunny So Cal

Re: Redondo Beach - Brixton South Bay - 9/19/08

Thank for the review Libby. I was also there with my son and his girlfriend. It's not really their kind of music, but they went because I asked them to. I knew if they could only see Joe in person they would become fans as well. 

The night didn't go as well as I hoped.  First, the venue set up was terrible. We waited in line for a long time and were about tenth from the front, after about ten people crowded (they were walking up to the line and knew people at the front so, no problem, lets just talk and be first in line!!), we were then twenty back from the front.

It really made no difference, as the venue set up only had enough seats for about half of the people and the seats were off to the side and back with a big dance area in the middle and front. By the time Joe got up we were blocked by lots and lots of tall people. I will never go there again.

The first act was a girl and her guitarist. She was, i'll try to be nice, almost tolerable, but not really. I wanted to run out of there as fast as I could, but then I wouldn't get to see Joe so I endured.

Joe came on ready to go and did! Now, here is the bad part, Joe's vocal was so over amped that all we got was distorted non words!!. I hope that wasn't Joe's regular guy running the board. We were sitting only 15 feet in front of him and I couldn't believe that he didn't adjust it.  I know all the words and I still couldn't tell what he was saying!!!

We left in the middle of the second song of the encore, tired of trying to figure it out.

My son did get to see Joe in action when he went to the restroom as the view was much better there.

My wife and I were stilled thrilled to see Joe again but we will never go to a venue like that again.

Re: Redondo Beach - Brixton South Bay - 9/19/08

No offense but if it's a small club you should expect standing room only.

"My son did get to see Joe in action when he went to the restroom as the view was much better there."

I had a comment for this statement but in better judgment I'll omit it.

Re: Redondo Beach - Brixton South Bay - 9/19/08

Spider wrote:

No offense but if it's a small club you should expect standing room only.

"My son did get to see Joe in action when he went to the restroom as the view was much better there."

I had a comment for this statement but in better judgment I'll omit it.

Ok, I'll clarify, but I really shouldn't need to. On his way to the restroom, which was on the right side of the stage, you had to walk toward the stage on the right and before you made the turn to continue to the restroom, you are elevated a bit and could see over the people, so he was able to see Joe from the side and had an unobstructed view.

If the venue had set up the table and chairs in the front and sides, as I've seen done many times, then the standing room would be in the back, giving both sitting and standing people unobstructed views.

What I expect in any venue is the courtesy of people not to stand in front of my table, knowing that they are completely blocking our view, and not caring.

Rod

11

Re: Redondo Beach - Brixton South Bay - 9/19/08

Thanks Libby - always a highlight o read your show reviews big_smile !

Isn´t that great when the people that looked at you like you are a bit of an over-enthusiastic little shreeky-girl at the beginning turn around to you at the end of a show and just admit that it WAS as good as you had told them before?! wink

I´m waiting for the next review .... have fun tonight!

Eva

P.S.: I do wear earplugs sometimes ... I´m only 22 and I want to be able to still listen to Joe when I´m 66 wink.

Re: Redondo Beach - Brixton South Bay - 9/19/08

Splendid, as always Libby, thanks! Looking forward to hearing about Vegas and Flagstaff too - you can post from the car. big_smile

RIP Iron Man

Rock On and keep the Faith