Robben Ford Discussion

Three Chord Monte · Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 7:18 am Post subject: Robben to play New York!

Yipee! Hello all. I'm all kinds of happy about this. The Cutting Room downtown on Monday and Tuesday the 17th and 18th of September. Only three weeks from today!

It's a good thing I've been monitoring Robben's site since the Carlton tour. This should be good.

Thanks for booking the New York gigs, Mr. Ford. See you soon!

jbarts1000 · New Member Joined: 27 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

Yes, I've been checking myself and got my tix for the 17th. Kinda wish he'd come to Philly but NYC is OK - got to see two great Robben shows there at the Bottom Line (with Johnny A and Tony Furtado).

A good venue for Robben in Philly: World Cafe Live. They're even starting to get him some airplay on WXPN.

Three Chord Monte · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 7:25 pm Post subject:

Well, my wife and I had a great time at Robben's show last night. We arrived rather late, just before eight, but were lucky enough to snag two great seats, dead center table, midway between the stage and the board. They looked to be among the very few seats left in the place and were marked "reserved". Lucky me for buying the tickets online and looking so dissapointed by the lack of seating capacity.

The Cutting Room is a dive. Sorry, "Big" (TV's Chris Noth owns the place), but I wasn't groovin' on the space. Small, dark, cramped and dingy with oversized, bad Rock portraits lining the walls. The food was lame, which is to be expected, but it was difficult to even get a drink. Capacity must be somewhere around 200, I suppose. It was tight like The Blue Note without the organized staff. I like the neighborhood, but the bar and stage area are nothing special.

Gil Parris opened and he smoked. Great band, nice chops. My wife was fading from the lack of vocals by the time the last number rolled around, but I thought it was a near perfect set.

Robben took the stage with little fanfare just before 9PM. Trio. Gary Novak on drums and, I'm sorry but, I can't remember the bass player's name. He looked like a hired gun with all the charts in front of him.

Robben's great. He played mostly from Truth. Lateral Climb, Riley B. King, How Deep in The Blues, Peace on My Mind, Too Much. That's what I remember. Plus Indianola, Supernatural, Cannonball Shuffle, Lovin' Cup. I'm forgetting now. It wasn't a long set. He busted his high E on his unique Sakashta late in the set and used the opportunity to break. He came back and played only two more songs, no further encore. Bummer. He said, "We'll be back tomorrow night". That was it. It wasn't even 10:30PM.

I'm not so sure Robben was thrilled with the Cutting Room either. I may be crazy, but I think he just walked into the place with one guitar, his drummer and a new bass player.

At any rate, it was great to see him. He's my favorite. Muy simpatico amigo. It's nice just to feed off his presence. My wife enjoyed it too. She particulary liked "Riley B. King". Maybe there is hope for commerical success. One thing's for sure, the man belongs at BB King's. Much nicer venue, if a bit touristy. Bigger spot. Belew, Eric Johnson (with Roscoe) and Bonamassa all play there. Heck, Robben even did two tribute songs for BB. My wife agrees that Robben outclassed the Cutting Room. Perhaps these two New York dates were thrown in at the last minute. I'm not sure. There was some talk of he and Larry Carlton playing Jersey aroung this time but I guess that never panned out.

Robben's the man. My favorite. It was great to see him. Great record. Thanks for playing New York Mr. Ford!

LongIslandRod · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:46 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the update TCM.

This is the first time in over 12 years, I missed seeing Robben in NY.
I know how you feel. He played at a dive for the Tigerwalk tour in '97 on 21st street, I forget the name of the place, maybe it was Tramps. I think it was worse than the Cutting Room, there were no talbe people just mulled around the place. And the opening act was God awful, guys that could barely play their instruments. Robben was stellar though!

He did play BB kings his last time in NY for the Keep on running tour, and also with the Greg Allman and Friends tour. I miss the Bottom Line.

www.rodcatmusic.com
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roadwarriorfortheblues · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:07 am Post subject:

Home Grown Tele · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 7:28 am Post subject:

My wife and I attended Robben's show on the 17th as well, with another couple that are good friends of ours, and agree 100% with your review.

Robben and Gill were great, but I was less than impressed with the Cutting Room staff! Lousy menu, horrific service and your impression of the room itself was mine too. Sometimes celebrity's should think twice about getting into the club/restaurant business! Success as an actor doesn't necessarily mean you have a grasp of a service business.

I'd have paid 3 times the ticket price to see him at BB's. I've seen a number of artists there and as a venue it's top flight.

Regardless though, Robben was outstanding! I was hoping for an encore number or two but I guess it was not to be. I'm sorry I couldn't have seen him again last night as well.

Thanks Robben!!
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Three Chord Monte · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:06 pm Post subject:

JackD · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:41 pm Post subject:

I flew in from Detroit (I was able to dovetail a business trip) and went to the show on the 18th. I completely agree with the reviews. It was a really great show and Robben's sound was terrific (a couple of twins and Zendrive). The Cutting Room is really small. My basement is bigger. I think there was +/- 100 people in the place. The good news is I was at a table right in the middle 5 people back. The bad news is that I am only now able to get the feeling back in my legs due to the fact that I was totally wedged into my chair and my spot at the table.

I also got to spend some time talking to Robben after the show, which was nice. I learned a few things. First, he said that the DVD with he and Larry Carlton is still in the process of being edited and will be coming out. I also asked him if the DVD for the clinic in Seattle last year (sponsored by REH and Don Mock) was still happening and he said yes. So we can all look forward to these items in the future.

mjb562 · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:00 pm Post subject:

Now for four nights at Blues Alley here in Washington DC! I, too, was able to "need" to be here on business this week. I'll take your word that the Cutting Room was a disappointment , but hearing Robben in a room with only about 150 people is a rare treat these days (anyone remember Robben backed by the Yellowjackets at At My Place in LA in the 80s?). Will post my review tomorrow.

JackD · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 5:35 pm Post subject:

mjb562 · Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:39 pm Post subject:

Saw two shows in DC -- Thursday and Saturday. To the NY trio including Gary Novak and Andy Hess, Robben added tenor saxophonist Ron Holloway. In 25 years of hearing him fairly regularly, I don't think I've seen/heard Robben play this well or look this happy. He played most of truth and a few other tunes, including Supernatural, Lovin' Cup, and Indianola. At the Saturday night show, I was "forced" to take a seat in the very front...I'd say about 2 feet from RF. It was deafening, but great to see him up close. If tonight's show was the last sound I ever hear, I'll have a happy life! He hung around in the bar between sets and signed CDs. He told me, "this (Truth) is the best album I've ever recorded."

Phil T · Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:56 am Post subject:

Saw the Yellowjackets a few times in the early 80s at "At My Place", the Roxy etc.
Jack, was that Pasquales near Malibu ('83)? I was there, I think Robben played a Yamaha 335 (burst) and 50W Yam amp.