5PM on a Friday night, December 2004, my friend Mark calls me. "What are you doing tonight"?
To which I replied "nothing, why"? Two questions which triggered a change in my life.
Mark proceeded to rave about this guy named Joe Bonamassa, including all the stuff we all know so well: Playing at 4, SRV at 8, opening for BB at 12, etc. He had all of Joe's cd's, but had never seen him live. He told me that he had been checking Joe's website and was looking at all these European show dates that were just all over the map and then, as his eyes scanned down, he caught sight of the first US show after Joe returned from Europe: Crystal Lake, IL. He said he actually sat there frozen, not believing his eyes. After a bit of time letting it really sink in, he picked up the phone to dial for tickets. Mark said he could barely dial the phone, he was so excited.
Mark tells me that a friend just canceled on the show and he had an extra ticket...did I want to go? Of course, I said yes.
I remember sitting in the Raue Center before the show, having never heard this guy's music before and really having no idea what to expect. The Raue Center is a beautiful old theater that was restored a couple years prior. They have a wide variety of entertainment there, including comedians, music, kids shows, etc. They sell season tickets and as we looked around there was a wide variety of people in the theater, including at least a dozen people that were at least in their 70's. Mark looked around and said "These people have no idea what they're in store for". Funny, because neither did I.
Joe came on stage with that gold sparkle strat and played You Upset Me for his opening number, and within about 30 seconds I was hooked deep. I could not believe what I was seeing in front of me. I saw one couple in their 70's get up after a few songs and leave. Everybody else in the theater stayed in their seats for the entire show.
I wish I could get a set list from that night, because I remember some songs (Blues Deluxe, Reconsider Baby, The River) but not all of them. I walk out of Joe's shows now with a big smile on my face. That night I remember walking out of the Raue Center STUNNED! I was in absolute disbelief that I could be so totally unaware of someone so, so talented.
I bought two cd's that night (Blues Deluxe and HTCT) and within two weeks had Joe's entire collection. I was gripped with this sudden urge to tell everyone I knew what I had just witnessed. I told friends and acquaintances that I had just seen the greatest guitar player on the planet. When they asked who and I told them, most people looked at me like I had lost my mind. I guess in a way, I did. I just never knew it would be so...permanent.
I found Joe's website the very next day and...OMG, Joe is playing in 3 weeks in Milwaukee at some place called Shank Hall. I bought tickets for that show and then for virtually every show within a 100 mile radius ever since, and have traveled further a few times. After seeing two shows this coming weekend, I'm pretty sure I'll have seen 24 shows.
That means the RAH will be my 25th show!! Didn't realize that until just now...somehow that seems appropriate.
"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"
)at the time which is how I heard of this small show Vince Gill was doing in Towson went to Recher theater website and I saw this cat Joe Bonamassa was going to play the day after my b-day. My friend mentioned above lives in Towson. because no fest and all, we make these plans since I had heard of this cat via Sunny's KWS band fan page.....
