• Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 37

Topic: Foxborough MA show at Showcase Live

Tremendous show last night at the Showcase Live at Patriot Place, part of the Gillette Stadium complex. The club was nice, being brand new. Great sound system and stage positioning with lots of screens showing the show. Place was first come first serve, so if you weren't there when the doors opened, you were out of luck for a seat, and standing room only was a little cramped.

Joe and the boys were absolutely right on. Great music, great performance. Joe was on fire, from the opening of Spike Driver Blues though the familiars and another new one, whose title I don't know. Sounded good though. Even r & Mrs. Kraft, the owners of the Patriots and the Patriot Place complex, came in for the final two songs and rocked out. I believe that this was the first sold out show at the Showcase Live.

I have seen Joe come through with the ensemble before the Kenny/Eric ensemble, the Kenny/Eric ensemble, the Bogie/Marc ensemble, and the current ensemble, which is definitely the best band in music today. This group is so tight, so into it, so together, they just put me in awe. Each time I see them they blow me away.

Joe definitely had a lot of fun last night, and really threw in some extra oomph. I know I appreciated it.

By the way, does anyone know when he came to the House of Blues in Cambridge MA with the pre-Eric/Kenny ensemble? It was around 2000-01 I think?

Outstanding Show, Joe!

  • From: Connecticut
  • Registered: 2007-11-19
  • Posts: 254

Re: Foxborough MA show at Showcase Live

First a heartfelt THANK YOU TO samjp4, We wouldn't have made this show without you!!! The club is really nice but I was one of the standing room crowd. They should remove that row of tables between the bar and wall. Once you had your spot,you're afraid to move.(Joe has a way of making you forget you have to go to restroom and you stood for 3 1/2 hours)I'm finally to the point of losing track of how many Joe shows that I have gone to,and right when you've seen his best the bar gets raised! There just seemed to be an extra spring to his step and even WOKE UP DREAMING had more speed to it. (if that's possible) If he comes back to that venue I'm getting there at 4pm for dinner and not moving!!!

"Is it the new blues mobile or what?"                                                                                                                                                                                                     "Fix the cigarette lighter."
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 37

Re: Foxborough MA show at Showcase Live

Amen on the seating! The Showcase Live opens 2 hurs before the show start. I recommend gettig there 2 1/2 hours before to get a seat. We stood against the bar the whole time right by those 4 reserved tables. They were packed in that is for sure.

  • From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2007-10-23
  • Posts: 1,929

Re: Foxborough MA show at Showcase Live

Just when you think Joe and the guys couldn't get any better - you go to another show and....

This was an absolutely unbelievable show!  Joe just seems to be so happy with himself and his music and his band.  He looks so relaxed (I know, strange thing to say about someone who is obviously giving his all and playing a guitar way over the speed limit).  I think he must be pleased with the way he is going.  The audience certainly was.  I think Spike Driver Blues has become my new favorite Joe song - can't get that tune out of my head, although Blues Deluxe in any version is a close second.  I brought along a Bonavirgin and he had the time of his life.

The venue, Showcase Live, was very nice.  Nice size, great lighting, excellent acoustics.  One slight problem, though, as thestepchild mentioned - the sitting/standing arrangements.  The show was sold as a standing room set-up but at the last minute it was changed to seated tables.  I was told by someone who is involved with the venue that the seating was put back at the bands request (which is all well and good)  but maybe they could have left out the tables and just gone with the chairs to make a bit more room?  Maybe they didn't have enough chairs? The place was packed - I think it might have been the first sell-out at this venue. We managed to get a decent place to stand. (I must admit it was kind of nice to be able to see Bogie for a change.)  We were right next to the VIP tables - yes Bob Kraft and Bill Bellichek did show up during the last two songs.  Joe's manager, Roy, was in the audience and it was interesting to watch him watch Joe.  Here is a man who has probably seen Joe play hundreds if not thousands of times and he looked as excited and happy as a Bonavirgin!  Spoke with him briefly after the show.  What a nice guy - just like his boss!

It was nice to meet thestepchild (Tom) and his friend Pam (see you at BDS/Mule in Northampton), and also Mr Lee (Chris) and his friend - Chris came all the way from Missouri!  It's always nice to put faces with the names!

Well, got my Joe fix for now.  April is so far away!

Pictures in the Cool Picture area.

Sandy

"There's a lot of people that are in so much of a hurry to be, I guess, to be famous or that they don't want to take the time to learn to play and do all that.They'd rather just knock it down off a computer and maybe get on a game show and get famous..That's fine if that's what you want to do.
"We're more old school than that. We like creating the sounds."  - Tom Petty
  • Registered: 2008-10-28
  • Posts: 6

Re: Foxborough MA show at Showcase Live

We were there and it was awesome! 

For as long as tickets were on sale they were first come first seated with the option of dinner.  I called because I wasn’t going to stand at the bar for three hours.  We got there at 5 when the doors were supposed to open.  There was a small line and security had been told not to let anyone in until 6.  By 6 the line was out the door.   

It’s actually a great idea to have an all-inclusive venue like this.  There is never enough time in my schedule to go eat and then on to the show.  The VIP booths looked pretty spacious but the floor was a bit crammed together.  A different table set up might help that but then not everyone would be facing the stage.  Even the VIP’s had to work their way around their booths to have a good view.  We were in the front and there was a breeze under our table from the speakers under the stage.  It was done better than most, the wait staff were attentive, the venue was clean and the food was good. 

We saw him at Harper’s Ferry in Boston years ago, there was no seating save a few stools along the wall that had been moved from the bar.  There were five of us when he started playing and maybe 100 when he finished.   Last year at Lupo's we were in  ‘The Golden Circle" but I think my husband might still vote for Sculler’s being the best place he’s ever seen Joe in.  Chan’s is not a good Joe venue.

I posted some pictures and video on my blog if anyone wants to check them out:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea … C231686029

If you go back to last November’s blog you can see some shots from Lupo’s:  http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea … 4233427863

The name of the other new song might be Sinner’s and Saints.  Rumor has it they are looking to have a new album out this spring so more new music may be on the menu when they come back this way in April.  Tickets are already on sale for the Stadium Theater in Woonsocket.  This is a traditional theater set up with a vending area outside for intermission.  Obviously being a theater it lends itself to great sound.

Check out Blues Matters for my review of the show. 
http://www.bluesmatters.com/

  • Registered: 2006-04-23
  • Posts: 269

Re: Foxborough MA show at Showcase Live

Thanks Empath for the review of Joe at Showcase Live as well as the pics. Sounds like a 1st class venue that may have to tinker a little bit with their seating depending on the artist, crowd size, etc. Considering the majority of  those reporting made mention of seating/standing makes me think that may have had a few too many in the place considering the seating. I think we all agree when any venue is full to the max it is not plesant to stand. It is part of the package at times. Bottom line is it is wonderful to have another venue in New England to host quality musical acts.

As far as best places to see someone like Joe, I used to be all about how close I could get to him regardless of whether I had to stand for the entire show. After standing at shows for 35 yrs I am more content with Joe in a theatre envirnoment where I don't have to fight others. On that note I am looking forward to seeing Joe at the Stadium next year - I hear positive things about the theatre. I respectfully disagree with your view on Chan's. I have seen dozens of shows there over the years and feel it is amoung the most unique venues around. Eating egg rolls within 10 feet of Joe - priceless! My only beef is that if you don't bring your ear plugs you can suffer for a day or two.

See  you in April!

  • Registered: 2008-10-28
  • Posts: 6

Re: Foxborough MA show at Showcase Live

Chans is a haunt of ours too, but if you want to talk about crowded and cramped Chan's is the poster child.  Joe had zero room to move on their stage and barely enough room for equipment.   I don't think they have very good food either and when asked if he would be playing at Chan's again Joe himself gave a VERY emphatic "NO!" 

The online information for Showcase Live is 500 seated and 1000 standing.  The capacity on te fire marshall certificate is 1050.  How that works out between sitting and standing I don't rightfully know.  We counted tables and came up with about 250 people seated based on an average of 4 people per table including the VIP tables which could have held more.  If they were making up the difference in the standing room then it must have been seriously tight up there. 

The problem with standing room when you have seating is the people who are seated won't be happy if they can't see becuase standing room spilled into the aisles.  It would also make it difficult for servers to move amongst the tables.  Assuming the average bill for four, no drinks, was similar to ours the venue made almost as much selling food to those tables as they did selling them tickets.  Add into that the number of employees that thankfully have jobs becuase of being service staff in these trying economic times and there is a lot to be said for the bonuses of seating at this venue.     

In the future they may want to reconsider seating versus standing areas but my vote is for more seating and less standing.  No one, even when you're young, wants to stand for three hours packed in like a sardine.  We do it because to see someone like Joe is an amazing experience but it doesn't make it an enjoyable one.

  • From: Connecticut
  • Registered: 2007-11-19
  • Posts: 254

Re: Foxborough MA show at Showcase Live

Chans was a joke! We went in for the 2nd show,only problem was nobody left after the 1st one! We stood there waiting to go in trying to be respectful and patient. Finally I said,"lets go!" and we walked in an found a seat. Never asked for a ticket. I think Joe also said they over booked the room. Showcase just gave conflicting information on the set up.

"Is it the new blues mobile or what?"                                                                                                                                                                                                     "Fix the cigarette lighter."
  • Registered: 2008-11-01
  • Posts: 5

Re: Foxborough MA show at Showcase Live

joe's house of blues show was january 18th 2001.awesome show.talked with joe for a while after the show.real nice guy!

  • Registered: 2008-10-28
  • Posts: 6

Re: Foxborough MA show at Showcase Live

My full review of this show has been published.  You can check it out at the link below:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/articl … tml?cat=33

A different and substantially shorter review will also be published in Blues Matter Magazine.  You can find them at myspace.com/bluesmatterspublication

Enjoy!