Robben Ford Discussion

Cheebatone

Robben was on fire tonight! Very Happy

What a blinding set! Indianola was played a bit faster and sounded all the better for it, Peace was fantastic ...and the way he tore into Nobody's Fault But Mine (after we'd all sang 'Happy Birthday' to him!) was absolutely astounding! Even Riley.B.King (not one of my favourite tunes) was great! It was good to hear Supernatural too. Best tones of the night definitely came out of the Tele, btw. All in all, it was the best I've ever seen him - and the show was best summed up by a friend of mine; "How many shades of awesome was that?!" Very Happy

Note to Daved: Good to see you on the road again mate - but, towards the end of the set, you bawled-out totally the wrong fella about taking pictures of Robben while he was playing! Never mind - it made us all laugh! Very Happy

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I first started to play guitar 35 years ago... Trouble is, I had 20 years off in the middle.

apepp · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 2:30 am Post subject:

...i left the jazz cafe very happy too, really fantastic set, felt overwhelmed in fact...

...had great view from up in the restaurant, looking over to see the crowd bopping away to 'tired of talkin', nobody's fault but mine', 'cannonball shuffle' to name a few...

...he really was enjoying the night and the happy birthday rendition from the crowd really left robben with the biggest grin...

...although reluctant, having just come off stage, i would like to thank you robben for your cover autograph on 'Truth', giving it was your birthday and probably in real need to have a rest, much appreciated...

...brilliant show!! Laughing

henkholland · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 4:38 am Post subject:

Thanks for the pics and reviews. Unfortunally I couldn't be there. In the meantime there are some videos to watch on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdgnehRA_as

roadwarriorfortheblues · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:12 am Post subject:

Nice videos Exclamation

Looks like it was a great concert. Thanks.
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Travelling by train of thought

Millibobs · Senior Member Joined: 25 Apr 2007 Posts: 291

jeez can that boy play guitar. Now where's my hacksaw?.............

ellsworth · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 2:24 pm Post subject:

Any one else wonder why there had to be a support act? especially one as poor as Mark buck? He was terrible.
I think Robben could have played a bit longer instead!
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the older I get the better I was

Daved · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 6:22 am Post subject:

Ellsworth,
This was not a Robben discision, but rather, something set up by the venue.
Robben himself was surprised there was a support act and actually tried to talk the venue into dropping the support for the second night.
Obviously he was not successful.
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B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)

Daved · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 6:48 am Post subject:

Cheeba,

I was getting very upset that people persisted in ignoring the fact that Robben wanted the cameras, recorders, and cellphones shut off.
Or their lack of respect for Robben and the other patrons with their extremely bright flashes and lights... such as the couple at stage left corner of the stage with their huge lensed camera and blinding strobe flash firing shot after shot and totally ignoring me as I (directly in the front of their line of sight) kept shining my flashlight at them and signalling them to stop. Everyone else in the front row kept watching back and forth as this whole process went on (this couple seemed to be the ONLY people in the front who were oblivious to me). I finally had to leave my work area at stage right, work my way all the way around the room thru the crowd to confront them and then work my way all the way back. I'm sure all those others who came merely to enjoy the show did not enjoy my constant disturbing pushing back and forth past them.

What if Robben needed to change a guitar, broke a string, or there occurred an amp or drum problem or any other kind of stage incident while I was out policing an audience that should know better or, if they don't respect Robben, at least should be respecting their fellow attendees?
It seemed I spent more time disturbing innocent patrons as I had to push my way thru the crowd to get folks to shut off their cameras and recording devices, than I did at the stage taking care of Robben and the band.

Mere minutes before I "bawled-out totally the wrong fella" (tho the guy I bawled out DID have a bright light going on his cel phone as he recorded Robben) Robben announced loudly from the stage to one guy in particular (who had basically been watching almost the entire show thru the viewfinder of his camera as he snapped picture after picture) to put away his camera. The audience laughed and then promptly seemed to take Robben's remark as an invitation to break out their own cameras and start lighting the room and stage with flashes!!!! Incredible!!! It was almost like the english don't speak english and therefore couldn't understand what Robben had said.

When Robben turned his back to the audience while soloing (always a good sign that someone is pissing him off with their incessant filming, flashing, or photo taking) I saw a large group of people almost dead center in the room actually lit up from some light source in their midst.
Once I'd pushed my way thru the crowd, I found a guy with a cell phone, with the brightest LED I have ever seen, distracting and blinding all those around him as he merrily filmed away, totally oblivious to the fact that he was ruining the show for those around him and that all he was filming was Robben's backside and that that was all he was going to get of Robben as long as he blinded Robben with that bright light.
What an ass!!!
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B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)

JohnnyZ · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:30 am Post subject:

I've never seen Daved this pissed! Very Happy

Reminds me of when I bartended in this fancy restaurant/lounge many moons ago. I was working alone on a Wednesday night, usually an easy night. Well, we got slammed and I had all I could do to keep from falling further behind in making drinks and serving food. In the middle of my frenzy, the printer spit out an order for several frozen Margarita's. Great. So, I finally get them done and placed on the pick-up area when the waitress who punched in the order yelled that she didn't want them frozen. Now, I'm at my wit's end at this point and the following moments have since become a huge blurr, but all I can recall is another waitress yelling into the kitchen to other waitresses to come quick so they could witness me being extremely mad (in all senses of the word). You see, I had a rep for always being very calm and never showing any negative emotion. Actually, seeing all these people running over to catch a glimpse of the mad bartender completely reversed my disposition and I started laughing my ass off. Then, it was back to the frenzy...

Daved · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:46 am Post subject:

frank0936 · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:27 am Post subject: policing

It's too bad a few people always screw things up for the majority. That wasn't much of a welcome back was it? I just can't understand people who use cell phones to record. Why? I can see maybe taking A picture with it if cameras aren't allowed and you can do it discreetly, but I agree that they are a major distraction for the other people around you. I was at an opera in Verona, Italy a couple of years ago, and I saw people getting hauled out of the amphitheatre for trying to film the performance. I'd rather rely on my memory than to risk that. Besides, like you said Daved, you can't enjoy the show if you're busy trying to take the perfect photo. I hope it gets better for you. I know you'd rather tech than police!
Frank

ellsworth · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:07 pm Post subject:

I didnt take my camera to the Jazz cafe on Saturday, I was amazed how many idiots were taking photos with flash!!
A complete waste of time.
1 you get crap pictures
2 you piss off the artist and everyone else around you

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the older I get the better I was

JohnnyZ · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:04 pm Post subject:

>> I'd rather rely on my memory than to risk that. Besides, like you said Daved, you can't enjoy the show if you're busy trying to take the perfect photo.

Which reminds me of another of my many stories (perhaps I should write a book too!)... Very Happy

When my daughter Julie was 11 years old and in 5th grade, I was told that she had a tremendous talent for the sport of basketball (I already knew that!). So, come the first game of the season I borrowed one of those 1980s humungus(sp?) video-cams to tape her first game. I was so enamored in getting the perfect video that I had no idea what happened during the game. To top it off, after I was told that her team won and how good she played, I didn't take the time to watch the video. I then realized that the *moment* was what was important. The rest of grade school, high school, and college (which she scholarshipped(sp?) in and saved me a ton of money), I never taped again. I took a few photos here and there and relied on others to give me tapes which I still haven't watched because I saw it and remember it (as much as I can!)!

So, the point of my story is obvious- watching through a view-finder diminishes the experience, and I'm wicked proud of my basketball-playing daughter who is now a DPT ( Dr. in Physical Therapy)!

jconstant · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:01 pm Post subject:

Millibobs · Senior Member Joined: 25 Apr 2007 Posts: 291

There is no explaining the ignorance and stupidity of some people - Robben needs to get a few thrown out the door for the benefit of everyone else present. Alternatively, he should carry a loaded water pistol on stage and fire it at the offenders having first warned them that he will do so! What he actually fills the water pistol with is up to him.......