Much respect for Joe B

[Stephens]

He’s nothing but a class act and a great entertainer! Seen him several times and most recently at ACL. Got my family and I meet and greet tickets and he was super appreciative and shook both my kids hands and thanked them for coming to the show. His performances have gotten better and better every time I see him on tour. I hope he can keep touring for another couple decades, but I know he’s mentioned he wants to retire around his 60th birthday.

 

[Grand Funk fan]

Obviously, he's a great player, but he doesn't move me. I don't know what it is, maybe too much rock not enough blues. I like rock and blues but what ever he's got going doesn't work for me

 

[Stephens]

Obviously, he's a great player, but he doesn't move me. I don't know what it is, maybe too much rock not enough blues. I like rock and blues but what ever he's got going doesn't work for me

Completely fair and understandable. Would be damn boring if we all liked the exact same stuff. If you are more of a blues traditionalist, which I also have a deep appreciation for, you might like his newest album Blues Deluxe Volume 2. ???

 

[bursty]

Obviously, he's a great player, but he doesn't move me. I don't know what it is, maybe too much rock not enough blues. I like rock and blues but what ever he's got going doesn't work for me

one thing I noticed about JBs playing over the years is that he seems to have morphed into a bit of an EJ clone, of sorts. I found that to be odd and strange.

Speaking of EJ (Eric Johnson) his recordings can come across as a bit sterile but seeing EJ perform in a live setting, particularly in the Austin, TX area can offer a completely different take on his playing abilities. Some of my favorite EJ live performances have been when he has played in his own backyard so, to speak; Austin and the surrounding area. He just seems to be on some other level of comfort when he plays there because it sure seems to translate into his playing.

 

[Dave P]

I'm in St Paul so, I'm not far from the show you saw and enjoyed.
Glad to see your excellent review of a show you obviously thoroughly enjoyed.


When I saw/heard/witnessed, etc. my first 'concert' it was Blackmore's Rainbow in 1976 touring in support of Rising.
Experiencing this particular show spoiled me on multiple levels.
The one thing that really spoiled me was being able to see three bands for a $6 ticket price; no extra fees, no tax, no nothing, just a $6 ticket.
I instantly became a huge fan of cheap ticket prices.

Three years later I went to the second Texxas Jam at The Cotton Bowl. the ticket price was $15.50 and again no extra charges; just a flat $15.50 ticket.
There were seven bands at that show: Heart, Blue Oyster Cult, TKO, Boston, Nazareth, Sammy Hagar and Van Halen.
These seven bands played over a twelve plus hour time frame and for dirt cheap. Spoiled beyond rotten, once again.

I could go on and on about the number of times I have seen many excellent shows and for not a lot of scratch.

I think the most I ever paid for a concert ticket was $74 for Prince in 2004 but that included a Musicology CD and Prince played for three hours.

I've been in the Twin Cities area for nearly 22 years and I have to say that every time Joe B has come around this neck of the woods the ticket prices have been through the roof. Even the cheapest tickets are unbearable to my history of seeing shows for what I would consider to be reasonable to somewhat reasonable ticket prices. I understand that the market dictates whatever the cost of any item may be; I get all that. When a halfway decent seat/ticket to a show costs $400 plus fees and taxes then I also understand how some performers can afford an expensive vintage gear hobby such as Joe B enjoys, particularly so, when Joe is so busy nearly constantly touring. That is no slag on Joe or any other artist that can consistently tour and consistently sale tickets at a price point that I consider way too high/rich for my interests.

Yep, I'm cheap.

No kidding. Around a year ago Joe played downtown Minneapolis at the Orpheum, tickets were insane. John Petrucci played a block away at the Paramount Theater for $35, plus we got upgraded to better seats for free.

 

[bursty]

No kidding. Around a year ago Joe played downtown Minneapolis at the Orpheum, tickets were insane. John Petrucci played a block away at the Paramount Theater for $35, plus we got upgraded to better seats for free.

yeah, the cheapest tickets for the downtown Minneapolis theater JB show were about $150 and there were tickets nearing the $500 mark.

I have a severe problem with artist that ask that type of scratch for a show; after all it is 'discretionary' spending and just because one believes their artistry is worth X amount doesn't always translate to the level of the 'average Joe' ..... pardon the pun.

I mean the last time I saw Jeff Beck was in 2016 at the State Theater in downtown Minneapolis; BEST goddamn Jeff Beck show I ever saw and of quite a few times I have seen him over the years. I paid about $60 a ticket for that show; really. What a ****ing BARGAIN!!!!!!!! Jimmy Hall was on vocals too!!

I don't have any axe to grind with any artist be it any art form but when it comes to the price point of a ticket I have always had some level of issue with JB. I understand that JB is running a business; it's his business and that's fine but that doesn't mean that his reality is the reality of his fans and/or those that would desire to be fans.
That, is reality ...........

 

[Dave P]

yeah, the cheapest tickets for the downtown Minneapolis theater JB show were about $150 and there were tickets nearing the $500 mark.

I have a severe problem with artist that ask that type of scratch for a show; after all it is 'discretionary' spending and just because one believes their artistry is worth X amount doesn't always translate to the level of the 'average Joe' ..... pardon the pun.

I don't have any axe to grind with any artist be it any form of art form but when it comes to the price point of a ticket I have always had some level of issue with JB. I understand that JB is running a business; it's his business and that's fine but that doesn't mean that his reality is the reality of his fans and/or those that would desire to be fans.
That, is reality ...........

He doesn't seem to have problems selling tickets. I'm not interested at those prices. I almost went to see him at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, IA 15 years ago for $25.

 

[bursty]

He doesn't seem to have problems selling tickets. I'm not interested at those prices. I almost went to see him at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, IA 15 years ago for $25.

I resided in DFW for 15 years before I moved to the Twin Cities. During the time I was in DFW I attended 14 Eric Johnson shows in a space of 29 months. It was quite phenomenal. I paid in a range of $5 to $30 a show and traveled from DFW to Austin and back to DFW over night for some of those shows. It was beyond worth it. Ticket prices plus gas plus time; it was all worth it, every time and JB would never be able to compete with that experience, on any level. Sorry ......

When I moved to the Twin Cities in 2002 Eric played at the Surf Ballroom about one year later. I thought GREAT. This is another, shorter version of driving from DFW to Austin and back to DFW. Ross William Perry opened for Eric. Ross and Eric both killed it that night. Ticket was dirt cheap too.

 

[Dave P]

I saw EJ at the Varsity in Dinkytown (2011?), I know the tickets were under $30. He was playing his ass off.

 

[Winkyplayer]

My wife and I have seen him many times. (LA, NYC, Vancouver, Fort Wayne and SF). A true professional. Bumped into him the day after the show in a SF guitar store. He seems like a nice, genuine guy. I truly don't have a bad word about him.

 

[Rockrz]

How is it possible to have seen such an incredible player, to have seen such a great band and perfect show but just not click with it?

Maybe none of his songs are really sounding good to you.

There are some big time artists that I know are great musicians and all, but none of their songs do much for me. It's probably just a musical taste thing.

I know I'd like to have his Epiphone Les Pauls that has 3 pickups in it... he's probably a pretty smart business guy

 

[bursty]

I saw EJ at the Varsity in Dinkytown (2011?), I know the tickets were under $30. He was playing his ass off.

As a venue I think The Varsity Theater is awesome; have seen many bands there.
First time I saw Blackberry Smoke live was at the Varsity; Charlie Starr and his band kick some major redneck ***! LOL
Best HarMar Superstar show I have ever seen was at The Varsity. It was completely insane!

I saw Eric play in the mid 2000s at The Cedar.
It was a seated show and tickets were right at that $30 ballpark. Eric was throwing down like a mad man.

Small venues like The Varsity, The Cedar, Fine Line, Dakota and The Surf Club are my cup-O-tea.

 

[Dave the Richard]

Good guitar player and unidentifiable at the same time, with an absolutely insane guitar and amp collection that is next to none, and judging by ticket prices that collection was purchased on credit.

 

[Wound_Up]

Personally, I love Joe. To me he's seems like a regular ass dude that has some incredible gear. When people say he plays with no feel, I usually pull this one up. Not sure how often he plays this way but here it is.

 

[Wound_Up]

As a venue I think The Varsity Theater is awesome; have seen many bands there.
First time I saw Blackberry Smoke live was at the Varsity; Charlie Starr and his band kick some major redneck ***! LOL
Best HarMar Superstar show I have ever seen was at The Varsity. It was completely insane!

I saw Eric play in the mid 2000s at The Cedar.
It was a seated show and tickets were right at that $30 ballpark. Eric was throwing down like a mad man.

Small venues like The Varsity, The Cedar, Fine Line, Dakota and The Surf Club are my cup-O-tea.

Gibson just did The Collection with Charlie Starr. If you haven't seen it, you should.

Someone asked Gibson in the comments when they were going to release a Charlie Starr signature Junior and they replied to it with a smiley. Maybe it'll come to fruition in a couple years.

 

[Amp360]

I think of JB as a lesser version of someone like Vinnie Vincent without the versatility or songwriting chops. It's kind of cool to watch what he does for thirty seconds, but I've never heard him play on a great song.

Granted, I've never seen him live or listened to his whole catalog, but I've heard songs that exist for the solo. There's nothing wrong with this or anything; it just doesn't interest me. Especially when the playing is good but not really anything new.

Also, and this may sound insane to some, I don't like much of the toanz he gets despite having all the fancy gear. If I listen to (for example) Main Offender or Talk is Cheap the guitars sound huge, the playing is great, and the songs are there. I don't see Keith Richards or Waddy Watchel declaring themselves to be 'The Most Amazing Bloozeman on the Planet', hawking guitars, or flipping out on people who comment on their appearance.

Like I said, he's a great player and my opinion doesn't matter, but having not been a fan of the music the internet tantrums really turned me off.

 

[BrownBlackSilver]

F*** me. This place really has changed since I've been away.

 

[Wound_Up]

For all of you that think Joe grew up in a bubble and had everything handed to him so he doesn't know what it's like to be normal, you're dead wrong.

So hateful you just make stuff up to be able to justify your hate. Smh. Man that's gotta suck.

Joe knows you people think that about him. And I'm sure he doesn't GAF. He knows how hard he's worked to get where he is.

 

[bursty]

For all of you that think Joe grew up in a bubble and had everything handed to him so he doesn't know what it's like to be normal, you're dead wrong.

So hateful you just make stuff up to be able to justify your hate. Smh. Man that's gotta suck.

Joe knows you people think that about him. And I'm sure he doesn't GAF. He knows how hard he's worked to get where he is.

“The narrative is I grew up in a rich family – wrong. The narrative is it was handed to me – wrong. It’s sweat equity over 35 years”: Joe Bonamassa sets the record straight on the humble beginnings of his world-famous guitar collection

In a conversation with Rick Beato, the gear connoisseur revisits the roots of his collecting journey – and responds to those quick to claim his buying habits take stock away from aspiring players

www.guitarworld.com

I read that entire article and I am a bit curious why anyone would have a need to seemingly justify one's history.
I can understand how anyone may desire to set any record straight but the article comes across as someone attempting to justify to others something that doesn't require any justification. When I see folks do something like this it makes me wonder how insecure they may be about what they are attempting to justify; and again, something that requires no justification. My opinion on this has nothing to do with JB other than the fact that the article is about JB. It could have been an article about anyone but it isn't. This all comes across as someone attempting to explain, hey, I'm not entitled, I worked my butt off for what I have. Again, I don't think anyone needs to go there because it's not a great look but then that's just me.

One other thing: When I read a quote like this it does offer an idea of some level of entitlement. “That’s the end of the argument that I’m keeping other people from having this stuff. That’s the end of the argument. It’s the beginning and the end. That amp was only going to one person. If I didn’t want it, he probably would have just kept it.”

So, after reading the entire article I went from thinking this person wants to be perceived as being just some regular dude but then goes in the opposite direction and comes across as not being a regular dude. Personally I don't see the article as being a positive.

 

[AA00475Bassman]

Instead of bashing JB why don't we discuss all these morons posting crappy home sound bites on the LPF new Facebook page .