Robben Ford Discussion

patocaster · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 11:21 am Post subject: Your first time?

The first time I saw Robben Ford perform was in 1972, Cupertino, California at the DeAnza College Cellar, now the College Bookstore. I was a student of life, guitar and academics in that order (academics was a distant third - sorry, Elizabeth!) at DeAnza Community College. The Cellar booked "Robben Ford & Friends" which included Stan Poplin on bass. It was some months after the Charles Ford Band and shortly after Robben left Charlie Musselwhite's band.

The word around my musical circle was that RF was a fine guitartist. I was 18 and I thought I was a pretty hot guitarist (oh, to be eighteen!) so every new player I saw was subject to my biased scrutiny. At first, I wanted to believe I was every bit as good as Robben. I think that lasted about one minute into his first song. He was ripping on an L-5 with huge tone.

Since then I have seen RF perform ~20 times, and he is always great. I have seen him perform with his brothers, bassist Paul Jackson Jr., the Yellowjackets, the Blue Line (my favorite!) and various and sundry band lineups. I still play the guitar with a more realistic assessment of my abilities. So, next month Robben returns to DeAnza College at the Flint Center with Los Lonely Boys and headliner Blues Traveler. My wife and I will be there with my humility firmly in check.
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MIKE PARKES

Bluelobster · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 11:51 am Post subject: Glad to see U

hey member of the old board . So you' re on the rank to be fan Number one.Bloberlebster.

gitarz*r*us · Member Joined: 29 Sep 2003 Posts: 33 Location: Bay Area

First time: Circa 1974, with George Harrison on the Dark Horse tour. I had read about Robben in Guitar Player magazine, and was intrigued that he eschewed Rock and Roll in print, preferring jazz and blues. I was just then discovering jazz, so I thought it would be cool to see how this self-espoused blues and jazz purist fit into George Harrison's band. He came out with Tom Scott and did "Tom Cat," and just blew me away. As most of you know, Robben is incredibly expressive with his body language and facial expressions when he plays. I believe that is a product of being 100% in tune with his music and his instrument. That is what stuck in my mind, in addition to the perfect choice of notes and tone from heaven. (He was playing a Guild Starfire through, I believe, Fender Twin Reverb amps, proving that tone is a product of the fingers more than equipment.) Later, I followed his career, listening to Joni Mitchell's Miles of Aisles and buying the L.A. Express L.P.'s. Then, in 1979, when Robben's first authorized solo L.P. came out, "Inside Story," I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It remains some of my favorite Ford work ever. Especially "For The One I Love" and "There's No One Else," some of his most beautiful lyrical playing ever. I've followed Robben's career ever since, buying almost everything he has played on that I can lay my hands on. He's the best, there's no one else like him, for sure.

edpesco · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 12:19 am Post subject:

My first time was in 92 shortly before the Blue Line release on an open air event in the Austrian Alps. What shall I say? It was a revelation. Two years before I had started playing Sax because I was so bored on guitar, then I saw Mr. Ford and ever since that time guitar playing is great fun again and joy increases daily. Thanks Mr. Ford!!!!!!!!!!!

Aeolian · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 12:58 pm Post subject:

At the old Yoshi's in Berkley. This was in support of Handful of Blues and the stand that produced the acoustic Authorized Bootleg album. I had just bought that album and discovered Robben. He was playing the goldtop and a red stereo 335 (which he had to fuss with pluging in halfway each time) through a cord and a Deluxe. I knew that the record had more overdrive on it but didn't know anything about Dumble's or RF Fender's at the time. Didn't matter, there was no doubt this was the same cat as the album. I didn't notice a thing missing. Just got to witness first hand how the guitar should be played.
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StratCat · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 6:54 pm Post subject:

I first saw Robben in about '91/'92 when he toured Australia With David Sanbourn. A great performance all round, but obviously not much of a blues thing happening that night - more of a Jazz/Fusion context.

Robben's sheer virtuosity was very much evident, though in a low key kinda way (not being the featured artist). I'm the sort of guy that gets a real kick out of that though, and it gave me huge respect for him, seeing the way he interprets the music and supports the music and the other musicians... as well as occasionally getting to let loose!

I also later found out he had a monster case of RSI during the tour and was playing in pain.

Interestingly, I think there were probably more people there that night to see Robben than were there to see Dave. He got a huge cheer when introduced and seemed quite stunned by the response.

He also toured the following year with the Blue Line which I think was probably his first solo tour and seemingly a great success. I'm not sure his last tour here was as successful though (not very well advertised) which is disappointing as Australia ain't the most cost-effective place to tour and it's hard to get players of his calibre over here.

Hopefully he'll be back soon though... I'll be there!

Chris
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because I rock, and that's important.

Leftbender · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:13 pm Post subject:

jaybee · Member Joined: 12 Nov 2003 Posts: 8 Location: Belgium

and I sure hope it won't have been the last!!!

I knew Robben is a GREAT guitar player, but to actually hear and see him live was BIG FUN!

AND cause for me to consider (once again) selling my guitars and take up knitting Laughing

some pictures of the concert in Verviers: http://jaybee86.tripod.com
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VAPORIZER FORUM

Daved · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2003 2:14 am Post subject:

Stratcat, we are giving serious thought to doing the Byron Bay festival next year (2 nights maybe) with a few Australian dates around it and maybe some New Zealand gigs.

North Sea is also under consideration, Euro folk.
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StratCat · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2003 2:59 pm Post subject:

Daved,

many thanks! I just posted on another thread that touring here is always a bit tricky cost-wise, but it's great news that we're still on the RF radar.

Don't know if I'd make it up to Byron Bay though, but no doubt Sydney and Melbourne ( Very Happy

) will be on the gig list. Workshop would be nice too!

Chris
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because I rock, and that's important.

AbelaJohnB · Newbie Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 1

Saw Robben was playing at the Flint Center in a few weeks.

My question is not really about Robben, but about the Los Lonely Boys.

I'm wondering how much stage time the Los Lonely Boys will be getting.

Anybody got details on this?

Thanks.

Daved · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2003 8:06 am Post subject:

I haven't seen any production info yet, so it's hard to say. I don't know if there is more than one opening act or what the show schedule entails.

Generally, I find that if there is only one support act (and, it is not a co-bill show), they usually get about 45 minutes to 1 hour with a 15 minute to 1/2 hour change over before Robben goes on.
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B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)