1 Topic by jc (edited by jc 2009-03-02 23:57:39)

  • jc
  • jc
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  • From: western mass
  • Registered: 2009-03-02
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Topic: CalvinTheater Northampton Slight dissapointment

I first  saw Joe on tv a year or two ago in a VH1 show( Super Group) where Ted Nugent jams with Joe in a little bar. Knowing Joe is a great guitar player, it was with great expectations that I catch his show on Feb 26th at the Calvin Theater in Northampton Ma. Myself a former bassist, I have some knowledge of mixes and such and my seat was halfway back to the right of the stage(facing the band) It has been my experience with theaters, that they are not the best to mix ,,,generally I found them muddy.and this was the case...unfortuneatley. while each player appeared to be spot on, the vocals were very well hidden behind the instruments and virtually unclear as to what he was saying/singing. It wasnt untill Joe vocalized by himself without any guitars or bass/keys that his voice was clear and natural.
  I loved the show. He is great ( He even signed my guitar after the show)but the guys doing the mix....:(

mojotone jtm45, 1966 vibrolux reverb and 1966deluxe reverb, blues deluxe tweed ri, traynor YCV50b, Traynor YBA-1a head, Marshall Code 50 in a 1-12 Bluesbreaker cab,2010 Gibson LP Std, Vintage V100GTand V100Hb, 2010 Edwards ESP E-lp , 09 mim Strat, 2 teles 05 Epi Classic and a Harley Benton SC Custom plus a few more
  • From: Greenia
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
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Re: CalvinTheater Northampton Slight dissapointment

...with a few Bonamassa shows under my belt, I have experienced similiar issues with Joe's vocals. One example: One year ago in Fla Joe's vocal's were barely legible. Luckily, I new all the words to his songs. - This Calvin Theatre shw in question was much better than that. I don't know if the fact I was in row 4 center was the reason.

Matt ( from MASS )'s Website

3 Reply by jc

  • jc
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Re: CalvinTheater Northampton Slight dissapointment

Matt ( from MASS ) wrote:

...with a few Bonamassa shows under my belt, I have experienced similiar issues with Joe's vocals. One example: One year ago in Fla Joe's vocal's were barely legible. Luckily, I new all the words to his songs. - This Calvin Theatre shw in question was much better than that. I don't know if the fact I was in row 4 center was the reason.


well position does count but for the amount that the vocals were hidden means poor mixing...the better sound men that i have worked with would walk the room and adjust during shows....i was not familiar with the pa speakers but if there were no high end horns then that would add to the mud and lost vocal frequencies but still a good eq and volume adjustments should've done the trick...on the other hand..i have seen band members have their equipment cranked so high that the pa could not compete..but those were bands of less calibur than Joe and the boys

mojotone jtm45, 1966 vibrolux reverb and 1966deluxe reverb, blues deluxe tweed ri, traynor YCV50b, Traynor YBA-1a head, Marshall Code 50 in a 1-12 Bluesbreaker cab,2010 Gibson LP Std, Vintage V100GTand V100Hb, 2010 Edwards ESP E-lp , 09 mim Strat, 2 teles 05 Epi Classic and a Harley Benton SC Custom plus a few more
  • From: The Gates of Delerium
  • Registered: 2008-05-07
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Re: CalvinTheater Northampton Slight dissapointment

My group was seated in the row just in front of the sound man in Buffalo. Rockwell Hall PAC had very good acoustics I thought.

I agree with your assessment - Joe's vocals were drowned out by his guitar. But seeing as I was hearing basically the same mix as the sound man, maybe that's how Joe wanted it.

I wasn't disappointed in the least tho.

Major Tom to ground control...

5 Reply by jc

  • jc
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Re: CalvinTheater Northampton Slight dissapointment

RICjunkie wrote:

My group was seated in the row just in front of the sound man in Buffalo. Rockwell Hall PAC had very good acoustics I thought.

I agree with your assessment - Joe's vocals were drowned out by his guitar. But seeing as I was hearing basically the same mix as the sound man, maybe that's how Joe wanted it.

I wasn't disappointed in the least tho.

well I had a great time it was my first joe show...as a musician myself and every musician I have ever known....we dont want vocals  behind instruments.. i doubt very much joe wants his vocals drowned out by instruments either..my guess is that he didnt know

mojotone jtm45, 1966 vibrolux reverb and 1966deluxe reverb, blues deluxe tweed ri, traynor YCV50b, Traynor YBA-1a head, Marshall Code 50 in a 1-12 Bluesbreaker cab,2010 Gibson LP Std, Vintage V100GTand V100Hb, 2010 Edwards ESP E-lp , 09 mim Strat, 2 teles 05 Epi Classic and a Harley Benton SC Custom plus a few more