Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 762 Location: Southern California
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:30 am Post subject:
Not sure, but I'm going tonight again so I'll let you know.
BTW, as I look back at last week, I have a feeling the keyboard player was Jeff Babko. I've seen him a few times with RF but I wasn't sure it was him last week. Anyway, I have been blown away by Jeff's playing in the past so I hope he's there again tonight.
If anybody else is going to be there let me know.
Jim _________________ "Somebody's got to make some music around here." - Robben Ford
Joined: 08 Aug 2003 Posts: 943 Location: Terra Firma, Ether Sea
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:10 pm Post subject:
I believe that two of the regular "Smoke" core members will continue to be Jeff Babco and Jimmy Earl.
I will be setting Robben up and making sure all is ready to go for him, but I will not be able to stick around for the show as Robben needs me to run some stuff out to Dumble's place so I'll be over there playing 'mad scientist' with Alexander this evening. _________________ B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)
Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 886 Location: SF Bay Area
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 4:09 pm Post subject:
How I wish I could see some of these shows. Daved, I heard that some may be recorded and available for downloading. Do you know any more about this?
It seems that Robben's stuff has been spending a lot of time at Dumble's lately. Is this at Robben's request? Or has Alexander come up with some new tweaks he wants Robben to have. Maybe all the activity in folks trying to cop his sound has given him some ideas to stay ahead of the curve. _________________ There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com
I talked to Sam before the show last monday and he told me that in about 6-8 weeks Robben may record some of the shows and make them available for download on sunsetstrip.com.
And btw, this week's show opened up with Mike Landau and his wife (very lovely, I might add), "Hazy Jane" playing what (I assume) were some of her songs. Both of them played acoustics and they were accompanied by a guy I don't know on pedal steel.
After that, the same group as last week came on a played: Robben, Mike, Jimmy Earl, Jeff Babko, and, um, the drummer. Sorry, don't know him, but he's excellent. At the beginning of the second set Ricky Lawson sat in on one tune. Fantastic!
It got late and I had to work the next day so I left shortly after that. But I heard that a keyboardist who plays with Prince sat it. I happened to be walking by when someone introduced him to Robben between sets. He's pretty short, dark hair, had sunglasses on (in a dark club at 11:00 at night - figure that one out), and had kind of a John Lennon kind of look to him. Anyway, I heard the guy was smokin' so I'm sorry I missed it.
If you can make it to Sam's you really need to go. The place was hopin' compared to the previous week. Clearly the news has spread fast as there must have be 4 or 5 times as many people there. Sam's got a great stage, sound, lighting, (I hear the food is good), great atmosphere and best of all, Robben, along with some of the top players in LA. If you plan to make it down you may want to call first because I heard a rumor that Robben may miss next Monday for some reason. Don't know if its true so check it out before you come down. Sam told me (and you can tell when he says it) he's thrilled to have these guys playing at his club and the plan is that they will be there for the first three months, every Monday night. I guess I know what I'm going every Monday for awhile now... _________________ "Somebody's got to make some music around here." - Robben Ford
Last edited by jconstant on Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:01 am; edited 1 time in total
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 908 Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 7:53 am Post subject:
Hi jconstant,
Thanks for posts about Safari Sams. Nobody has said anything about the music yet ?
What kind of music do they play? Is it total improv playing? How do they decide what to play? Do they take turns getting each song started? Does the entire band play every song? Does everyone take a solo?
Does the audience enjoy the music that is being played, or are people there just to "watch" Robben & Mike play? _________________ Travelling by train of thought
Joined: 08 Aug 2003 Posts: 943 Location: Terra Firma, Ether Sea
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:23 am Post subject:
The drummer (at soundcheck, anyway) was Gary Novak.
When last I spoke with Robben, over the phone a couple of days ago, we discussed my getting his rig down to SamSam's on Monday, so my impression, at this point anyway, is that Robben will be there on Monday, May 1st.
I can't say for sure, but maybe, he won't be there the following Monday (the 8th), as we will have just returned late the night before from the Florida shows and something in his travel schedule may present a problem for him.
I, myself, will not be able to help him out on that Monday either, as I've just received an offer to work with the GO-GOs (primarily taking care of Jane and her guitars, I believe) for 2 weeks starting on the 8th and getting back home on the 21st, just in time to grab a van, drive down to L.A. and load up the RF band gear, and then truck it up to the bay area for the Kuumbwa/Yoshi shows.
I think I'm going to do it, just for the fun of it (The Go-Gos! How camp is that?!?! ). Though that pretty much eats up what little 'free' time I had left between now and the end of the ABB tour season in September. _________________ B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)
Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 762 Location: Southern California
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:05 am Post subject:
Daved wrote:
The drummer (at soundcheck, anyway) was Gary Novak.
So I looked at Gary's picture on drummerworld and yes, Gary has been the drummer both nights. I just didn't know him by sight but I do now. The guy is fantastic! _________________ "Somebody's got to make some music around here." - Robben Ford
Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 886 Location: SF Bay Area
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 1:06 pm Post subject:
Too Cool, hittin the road with the GoGo's. We got the beat! I always liked the lead guitarist. Her left hand position looked classically trained, and I figured she was capable of much more than that music required.
Didn't realize that there was a Kuumbwa show. Going to see Larry next Monday, but a Tuesday is even better, don't have to cut out of my volleyball class. Ah, Santa Cruz. While you're up here, poke your nose into the E3 Playhouse on Front St. New venue run by a jazz saxophonist. I think Tuesday nights, all the jazz cats in town have a jam session there. When I played there, there were Real Books laying all over the place.
Then you have to tear everything down and run it up to Oakland? And you're carrying everything yourself? Is Greg using Robben's Korg and Whurly? Or bringing his own rig? I don't know if Kuumbwa has a Hammond (nice piano though). I'd loan you my M3 but it's burried in the garage and hasn't been run in awhile. What kind of truck do you use to carry all that stuff? Driving all the way up 101 in the summer. Hope the AC is good. ;) _________________ There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com
Joined: 19 Sep 2003 Posts: 646 Location: City of Trees, USA
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 2:44 pm Post subject:
Daved: Wow. I had no idea there even still WAS a "Go-Gos." Just checked out their web site. Can I come along? I promise that I'll be no trouble. I can sleep on top of the van and I'm really good at schleppling speaker cabs ('tho at my age, good casters really help). _________________ - BlueRunner
Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 762 Location: Southern California
Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 8:29 am Post subject:
roadwarriorfortheblues wrote:
Hi jconstant,
Thanks for posts about Safari Sams. Nobody has said anything about the music yet ?
What kind of music do they play? Is it total improv playing? How do they decide what to play? Do they take turns getting each song started? Does the entire band play every song? Does everyone take a solo?
Does the audience enjoy the music that is being played, or are people there just to "watch" Robben & Mike play?
The music is mostly bluesy jams. For example, I heard Robben right before a tune say, "Let's do that thing in Ab. You know, it goes kinda like <and then plays a bar of something>" and then off they go. The first night they played one song that we all know, Oasis from Tiger Walk. I think they may have played a couple of Mike's tunes too, but I don't know his stuff well enough to tell you. Also, I remember Robben calling out a tune (don't know if it had a name or not) and Jeff yelled out, "charts!" as they all searched for their chart of the song he called.
Last week, however, they started the show, as I mentioned, with Mike and his wife doing all acoustic stuff that I assume were her tunes. The only way I can describe the music is by comparing it to songs I would expect to hear from Tracy Chapman or someone like that. (I also don't know her stuff well at all, so take that comparison with a grain of salt).
The crowd is really into the music. Lots of people are there to see Robben but everyone is digging the music in a big way. The crowd is very reactive and enthhusiastic. The first night I was there was only a few days after they'd been open so I don't know if the word was out enough. But last week, the second time Robben was there, the place was close to packed. There was a lot more energy and it felt like you were somewhere where great things were happening.
I hope that helps. Again, if you can make it there, its worth the trip! _________________ "Somebody's got to make some music around here." - Robben Ford
Joined: 08 Aug 2003 Posts: 943 Location: Terra Firma, Ether Sea
Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 11:31 am Post subject: Re: Safari Sam's
jconstant wrote:
...If you plan to make it down you may want to call first because I heard a rumor that Robben may miss next Monday for some reason. Don't know if its true so check it out before you come down...
Spoke with Robben last night and confirmed that he WILL be needing his Dumble rig at SafSam's tomorrow night (Monday the 1st). _________________ B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)
Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 762 Location: Southern California
Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 1:12 pm Post subject: Re: Safari Sam's
Daved wrote:
jconstant wrote:
...If you plan to make it down you may want to call first because I heard a rumor that Robben may miss next Monday for some reason. Don't know if its true so check it out before you come down...
Spoke with Robben last night and confirmed that he WILL be needing his Dumble rig at SafSam's tomorrow night (Monday the 1st).
Thanks for clearing that up Daved.
Just curious, what does Robben do about moving his gear around when you're not available? _________________ "Somebody's got to make some music around here." - Robben Ford
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). Though that pretty much eats up what little 'free' time I had left between now and the end of the ABB tour season in September.
Daved: Wow. I had no idea there even still WAS a "Go-Gos." Just checked out their web site. Can I come along? I promise that I'll be no trouble. I can sleep on top of the van and I'm really good at schleppling speaker cabs ('tho at my age, good casters really help).