Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 173 Location: Santa Barbara
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:49 am Post subject: Robben with Steve Miller
I see from Robbens site that he'll be 'supporting' Steve Miller at the Greek in LA, Oct 6. I read that to mean he will not be opening for Stevie, but playing with him. Just my guess here.
I checked the Greeks site and they tout this show as a tribute to the 30th anniversay edition of Fly Like an Eagle. No mention of Robben (except as a special guest), on the Greek site or on Miller's site.
Now, I'm well aware of the great stuff that came out of the Steve Miller Blues Band in the 60s, and would LOVE to see Steve and Robben get down with the blues. But, I'm not sure about Robben comping to 'Keep on Rockin Me Baby' or 'Jet Airliner'. And I'm guessing that most of the paying public will want to hear those songs played that made Miller a bigtime artist. Hopefully, he'll turn it over to Robben for a few songs, as Mayall and others have done.
Does anyone know any more about this show? Any chance of a 'warm up' show at a smaller club in LA? As I said, I'd love to hear these guys do the blues.
Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 249 Location: the Netherlands
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 8:44 am Post subject: Ohne Filter 1988
The only thing I know is that Robben did a guest appearence at a gig with Steve Miller in Germany 1988. This was broadcasted on TV the same time as Robben his own performance at Ohne Filter. They played songs of Steve Miller's jazz ballad CD. Can't remember the name.
Henk
Joined: 21 Feb 2004 Posts: 243 Location: Rochester, MI
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:10 am Post subject:
Robben did this with Steve Miller in the summer of 2004 in the Detroit area. What Robben did was open for the show. He then came out later during Steve's show and sat in for +/- 4 songs.
Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 49 Location: Oklahoma City Ok
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 5:54 pm Post subject:
Steve has been known to throw in a blues set in most of the shows I have seen him do. Last summer Eric Johson and Kenny Wayne Shepherd opened for him. He invited them both out for a blues set. Steve threw all the solo's their way. He invited Eric back out for the last half of the show and gave him space to solo even during the hits. Great show.
Joined: 08 Aug 2003 Posts: 943 Location: Terra Firma, Ether Sea
Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:34 am Post subject:
PaulG wrote:
I see from Robbens site that he'll be 'supporting' Steve Miller at the Greek in LA, Oct 6. I read that to mean he will not be opening for Stevie, but playing with him. Just my guess here.
Paul, "supporting" an artist or act is a showbiz term for being the opening act at a performance, rather than actually being in the band that plays with that artist.... understandably confusing.
As Jack mentions, Robben supported Steve for 1 show in Detroit in 2004.
Steve is a mega-huge fan of Robben.
As I was going to the dressing rooms to fetch the band minutes before Robben's set, Steve arrived at the venue and made a bee-line to greet Robben before he played.
During the first song of Robben's set, Steve quietly slipped out onstage behind me into his tech's world, picked up one of his acoustic guitars, sat on a road case out of the audience's sight, and merrily 'jammed' along with Robben in his own little world... every once in awhile letting out with a whoop, holler, and resounding "Yeah!". He stayed there for Robben's entire set.
Midway thru Steve's show, he had Robben come out and play a blues set with him for over half an hour.
Joined: 29 Jan 2004 Posts: 1504 Location: Methuen, MA
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:18 pm Post subject:
During the first song of Robben's set, Steve quietly slipped out onstage behind me into his tech's world, picked up one of his acoustic guitars, sat on a road case out of the audience's sight, and merrily 'jammed' along with Robben in his own little world... every once in awhile letting out with a whoop, holler, and resounding "Yeah!". He stayed there for Robben's entire set.
Now that sounds, as they say here in New England, wicked awesome!
Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 173 Location: Santa Barbara
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject:
Thanks for the correction, Daved. Also, nice piece of info regarding the out of sight play along by SM. Quite the sign of respect, I'd say.
Like I said, I'd love to see them do a blues warm up show at a small club. Guess there's just not enough time.
I had all but forgotten the old SM albums, but then heard 'Going to Mexico' on KPIG a few months ago. My fave was SM 5. Odd to think Boz Scaggs was in the mix early on.
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 908 Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 1:05 pm Post subject: Heroes of rock n' roll
PaulG wrote:
I had all but forgotten the old SM albums, but then heard 'Going to Mexico' on KPIG a few months ago. My fave was SM 5. Odd to think Boz Scaggs was in the mix early on.
In 1969, Boz Scaggs released a self-titled album that is very Bluesy -- contemporary Blues! I'd love to hear him play some of those old songs again ("I'm Easy", "I'll Be Long Gone", "Another Day Another Letter.") His vocals sound very different than the later pop albums... in a good way.
It's great that artists like Steve Miller, Boz Scaggs, Jorma K., Dr. John, Santana and ROBBEN are still writing new music and touring extensively! I've got ticket to see Boz Scaggs + Dr. John + Dickey Betts in April and I'm psyched to see them all again. They're all heroes. _________________ Travelling by train of thought
Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 80 Location: California
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:12 pm Post subject:
Hello I was just wondering if anybody has seen or is going to see Robben with the Steve Miller Band at the Fillmore in San Francisco this week. I believe the dates are March 24 through the 26.
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 908 Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:39 am Post subject:
jconstant wrote:
I'm curious, how did the crowd react to Robben's performance as the opening act?
Jim
First, a BIG Thank You to Phill B for posting info about the Fillmore show on The Daved Zone thread! You're so very lucky to have seen that amazing show!
The Steve Miller Band and Guests
Fillmore Auditorium
San Francisco, CA
March 26, 2008
The lure of Steve Miller playing the Fillmore snagged me hard and I scored a couple of tickets to the last show of his three night run last night. And am I ever glad I did. It will be remembered as one of the best nights I've spent in the presence of pure and exemplary musical talent. As the hand stamp fades from the back of my right hand, the memory may fade as well, so I'll offer what I recall.
The show opened with Robben Ford, whose prowess on guitar continues to enthrall me. For a guy that's known for his blues playing, and he didn't disappoint in this regard, I was most impressed with the faster paced numbers that were more in the rock and roll vein. Powered by a solid drummer and bassist, Robben worked his well-worn guitars to extremes that drove the crowd crazy. They played for a little over an hour, whetting our appetite for what was to be served next on the famous stage.
After the break, Steve Miller came out, solo in a single spotlight with a 12 string guitar, acknowledged his personal history with the Fillmore and sang a beautiful version of "Seasons" from Brave New World. He then told a very intimate story about the guitar - how he had bought it in 1965, how it was a part of him, and then how it was stolen on a plane flight and how he got it back 3 years later – after which he played stirring versions of "Kow Kow Kow Calculator" off the same album and "You Send Me" from Fly Like an Eagle.
Steve then strapped on his Fender guitar and introduced the band; Norton Buffalo on harmonica, Joseph Wooten on keys, Billy Peterson on bass, Kenny Lee Lewis on guitar and Gordon Knudson on drums. Just to make sure they knew who they were, they launched into "Take the Money and Run", Steve's breakthrough 1976 single followed by "Dance Dance Dance". The opening notes of "The Joker" were greeted with cheers and for which the Fillmore audience sang every line, as well as the "woo-woo" cat-call guitar effects.
The band left the stage and local Latin legend, Carlos Reyes set up his harp alongside Steve, performing a strikingly elegant solo of "Nature Boy" on which Steve joined in, singing with equal aplomb. The two then did a beautiful version of "Wild Mountain Honey". Next, the band came back out, Carlos picked up a red violin and they performed a magical version of "Abracadabra", with Carlos' violin complementing Steve's guitar perfectly. Then "The Stake" and "Swingtown" from 1977's Book of Dreams.
Steve next introduced jazz guitarist Brian Nova, who performed a moving solo version of "Shadow of Your Smile" and then the biting blues of Freddy King's "Tore Down" with Steve and Brian filling the guitar parts with all the passion they deserve. Steve then brought out Danny Carrin on guitar and soul and R&B vocal legend Sonny Charles. They did fantastic covers of Chuck Berry's (?) "Driftin and Driftin" and blues numbers, "No More Doggin", for which Steve took over on vocals, and "Drivin' Wheel", where Sonny showed where he gets his reputation. This blues segment was filled with the obligatory solos on which each performer excelled, from Wooten's grinding organ to Buffalo's passionate harp, to Stevie "Guitar" Miller's sometimes gentle, sometimes raw, always perfect playing. I was equally impressed with how Peterson's bass held down the vital blues bottom.
After those guests walked off, and just when you think it can't get better, Steve introduced Bonnie Raitt. Bonnie looked great, wearing a broad brimmed black hat and bright blue chiffon blouse over jeans and her signature bright blue Fender guitar. She was joined by Bay Area vocalist Tim Hockenberry. Tim sang a great cover of Taj Mahal's "Built for Comfort", his voice reminiscent of Joe Cocker on maybe Huey Lewis. They then did a number that Boz fans are familiar with, "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)", with Tim's vocals handling the nuances well. Then Bonnie played her searing slide guitar over Miller's vocals on his "Mercury Blues".
Michael Carabello, Santana's original conga player and now with The Gregg Rollie Band, set up with Adrian Areyas on Timbales on the right side of the stage. The band played a muy picante "All Your Lovin" followed by the fun singalong, "Shu-Ba-Da-Du-Ma-Ma". In from the left wing comes the striking profile of Joe Satriani, bald with wrap around sunglasses and bright red guitar. Joe and Steve play scorching versions of King's "Texas Cannonball" and Robert Johnson's famous "Crossroads", each guitarist, including Kenny Lee Lewis, produced amazing solos and marvelous interplay. Hot!
Lights down; darkness, followed by the intro synthesizer oscillations of "Fly Like and Eagle", with the spotlights spiraling in synchronized fashion, and the crowd roars in anticipation and appreciation. I'm not really a fan of Miller's bigger hits, but the jam in the middle of "Fly" was simply superb, with Reyes joining in on violin and the guitarists riffing big time. They finished with "Jungle Love" and "Jet Airliner" and it's at this point, even though I'm only 10 feet in front of Steve, that I feel the most alone. But the kids loved it, and the band left the stage to a sustained roar of approval.
Steve soon came back out, saying he "heard there was a Beach Boy at the Fillmore tonight", at which point he introduced Al Jardine. Looking aged but spritely, Al greeted the crowd. Everyone on stage for a rousing version of "Help Me Rhonda", the perfect finish to the perfect evening.
When I dropped my friend Michael off at our rendezvous point, he said that every time he steps out of the car from a show he says, "that's the best show yet". I agree, at least until the next one.
I am drooling like a baby _________________ Travelling by train of thought
Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 762 Location: Southern California
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 2:57 pm Post subject:
roadwarriorfortheblues wrote:
jconstant wrote:
I'm curious, how did the crowd react to Robben's performance as the opening act?
Jim
First, a BIG Thank You to Phill B for posting info about the Fillmore show on The Daved Zone thread! You're so very lucky to have seen that amazing show!
That sounds like a fantastic night of music all the way around. But I especially love to hear stories about Robben playing for people that may not have seen him before and learning what they've been missing. _________________ "Somebody's got to make some music around here." - Robben Ford
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