Robben Ford Discussion

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my previous post on the Show Alert thread. Your input & advice was perfect. I saw Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center last night.

Eric Johnson opened the show with a 1-hour set that was fabulous. Dressed in all whites and sporting a candy red guitar (strat?), Eric dazzled the crowd with his soaring melodies and playing finesse. His band -- bass player Chris Maresh and drummer Tommy Taylor -- was great too. They played a several songs from the new album, Bloom, as well as a Hendrix song, and some other stuff. I think they opened with Columbia, a beautiful requiem for the astronauts. Then Eric played and sang a Bob Dylan song, My Back Pages (which is also on Bloom). It's a great arrangement, very much his own musical interpretation of Dylan's lyrics. The next song was a Blues, followed by Hendrix' Love or Confusion. The crowd loved it! So much, that Eric introduced the next song as a Country Western song, also recorded by Hendrix .... I think I saw him wink after that comment, but maybe not, considering how far he took the Dylan song!

Then he played another great song from Bloom, Good to Me, and a beautiful song with vocals, Morning Sun. There was an instrumental, possibly written by Chris Maresh. On this song, or the one right after it, there was a violin-like quality to the music and Eric spanked the top of his the guitar with the palm of his hand's creating a cool effect. He played a SRV tribute, using a slide from the stage floor. It's cool how he flicks that slide off his finger (and misses the guy in the front row), just like on his DVD! When Eric introduced the next song, I think he said something about the Stone Poneys... but tuned two octaves down ??? The song might have been called Just a Little Bit of Rain, or Little Bit of You ? I'm not sure what it was called, or if it was an orginal, but it was a beautiful arrangement that showcased his unique method of playing harmonics. I think he finished with Cliffs of Dover.

I'm glad I brought my earplugs for the next set
The seats were shaking before Joe Satriani & his band got into their first song. For two hours, the wall of sound was almost overwhelming -- and I was about 12 rows back in the orchestra.

Joe's music conjures up a lot visual thoughts, even without his explanations. Although, I think he enjoys explaining what's really behind each song. I enjoyed Joe's set a lot. I've never seen anyone play guitar that fast & with that kind of intensity. He has a dynamic stage personality and a huge smile !!! I didn't have a camera, but this is what he looked like last night, with his dark shades on:

His band was great too. In addition to the bass & drummer, he had a another guitarist with him. They played a lot of music -- several songs from Joe's new album, Super Colossal, as well as many of the songs on his Anthology collection. Joe played 4 different guitars, including one featuring his mugshot. He also played harmonica on the second song of the set (The Extremist?). I loved Cool #9, a funky song with a great call & response between guitar and bass. He also played a very long (12-15 minute !) Jazzy Blues, just before playing the title track, Super Colossal... One Robot's Dream... and Ten Words. He played The Meaning of Love with his teeth, or tongue ??? Hmmmm.... Followed by an extended jam... and a beautiful slow ballad. The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing and Surfing with the Alien were in there somewhere too... He finished with the sing-along Crowd Chant (a guitar call & audience response song) and another song, maybe Summer Song. On Crowd Chant, I could hardly hear myself squeal, but it was a blast !

There was a lot of pre-show buzz about Friday night's Orlando (HOB) show and the guest appearance & encore jam featuring Steve Morse & EJ. I wasn't at the Orlando show, but i heard it was a great show as well.
_________________
Travelling by train of thought

[BlueRunner]

rw for the b's: Thanks so much for the great review! Felt almost like being there. (In fact, halfway through reading your post I went into my gig bag and pulled out some earplugs -- whew.) Glad you had a good time.
_________________
- BlueRunner

[Bluelobster]

Hi Road , what a cool concert. Weeeeeeewwwww . Sure these guys know how to cook a great stew. ( and they all love Jimi Hendrix ).

Ahhhhhhh sweet memories .... 1990 Santa Monica Civic auditorium( uhhhhhhhhh Jimi played there ohmygod), Flying in a blue dream tour ; steve Salas acting first . Wall of sound , i agree i've not planned that so i ended with a lot of paper in my ears, but i wouldn't have step back from my place in front of stage just two rows behind a lot of frantic people facing the Huge security guys. Fist fights going on endlessly between teens looking alike chicanos & wild blonde surfers .......... All this emphasized by the music.

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

I saw that Johnny A. will be opening for Satriani on the U.K. leg of the Super Colossal tour. U.K. fans are in for a treat !
_________________
Travelling by train of thought