Robben Ford Discussion

AlChuck · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:51 pm Post subject: Robben's in town...

... or will be in a couple of days... he'll be playing at Yoshi's in Oakland Friday through Sunday, in a quartet situation with Greg Mathieson on keys, Andy Hess on bass, and Toss Panos on drums, if I read correctly...

I've got tickets for Sunday night, can't wait!

dodgeboy · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:53 pm Post subject:

We have tix for Sat. late show. We are looking forward to some great food and music with some great friends.... Very Happy

PaulG · Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:19 am Post subject:

Enjoy yourselves!
Sounds like Yoshi's must take good care of RF, as he seems to do annual shows there. I don't know of another venue that has him every year.
Don't forget the review!

Pablo · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 2:27 pm Post subject:

My friend and I saw the second set on Friday night - fantastic show. Robben looked well rested, energetic, and in good humor. He was very interactive with the band using hand signals and plenty of eye contact to direct the flow of the improvisations.

That's what I love best about Yoshi's is to sit close enough where you get to see all the eye contact and hear the conversation of the band members. We sat against the stage directly in front of Robben's mic. My friend even engaged in a bit of dialog with Robben twice between songs. Robben was tuning his Epiphone while introducing Ray Charles' "Don't let the sun catch you crying" and just as the band was going to start Robben said "wait, I want to change guitars." Robben's guitar rack was right in front of our table and my friend said "but you just tuned it" and Robben replied with a smirk and something to the effect of being silly to tune and then change guitars, grabbed his tele without tuning, and when right into the song. It was a funny moment for us.

Robben had his Dumble and 2x12 cabinet. He played his Tele the majority of the time and played the Epiphone for a few songs. He also had his Nu Paul and a Firebird. There was no sign of the SG. He was using a new pedal board and I didn't see the Dublenator. He had a stereo chorus, Fulltone OCD, two TC Electronics Hall of Fames for reverb, and the Line 6 delay. And of course he had his wah and volume pedal. He used his volume pedal extensively and just mesmerized the audience with his touch and technique.

Robben is a true master musician and performer. He knows how to control a crowd and it's fun to witness. When certain parts of the room get to talkative he brings it real low and quite and it focuses the attention back to the stage. Then when he has the room back he gradually brings it back to full volume.

They played a mix of songs going back to Handful of Blues (Good Thing and Strong will to Survive). They opened with Traveling Riverside Blues, played an unnamed instrumental, and several more recent songs including Nobody's Fault but Mine, Too Much, Earthquake, and Thoughtless.

For the encore some yelled out "Help the Poor" and Robben replied with a smile "Sorry man, we don't do that anymore." But then he said, "But we'll do it tonight." He then looked at the band and said "do you guys know it?" There was some shaking of heads and Robben said with a laugh "Sorry, we don't know it, but I'll play it tomorrow night! I'll practice and learn it tomorrow." It was pretty funny to see Robben slyly mess with him in a good humored way.

The band was (is) killer. Toss Panos was especially fun to watch. Greg Mathieson adds a fun and playful spirit to the band. He even called out durning one of Robben's solos "Go man!" Andy Hess was solid. They all seem to have a genuine respect and appreciation for each others talents shown throughout the night by their subtle reactions to certain fills, solos, and grooves.

PierreL · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 12:38 am Post subject:

Great review Pablo. I sure wish I could have attended this show...if it wasn't for the few thousand miles between here and California Smile

Now Robben with a Firebird... and a Fulltone OCD !!!
The world is shaking... Wink

roadwarriorfortheblues · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 5:50 am Post subject:

Fantastic review -- Thanks Pablo! Very Happy

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Travelling by train of thought

AlChuck · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 3:21 pm Post subject:

Sunday night's 8pm show was great! Sadly, the place was less than half-full; possibly the NFC championship game earlier kept more people from coming out. Robben played the Tele on every tune but one instrumental which I didn't recognize, for which he strapped on the Firebird. He was in fine form, if perhaps a tiny bit taciturn, as if he was mildly tired, or perhaps just a bit disappointed at the turnout. (How big was the crowd on Friday, Pablo?)

Last time I saw him do his own thing (almost three years ago, one of the gigs recorded for Soul On Ten), he used the wah a lot; last night he didn't touch it. He used the volume pedal beautifully in one solo, just a masterpiece of taste, at the end of which Greg Mathiesen spoke stood up for a moment, gestured and shouted, "ROBBEN FORD!!!" It was a nice moment.

A great show... I wish they had played a bit longer (they were done by about 9:30) but that's a minor quibble...

PaulG · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 8:41 am Post subject:

Thank you for the reviews, guys. Always nice to hear what RF is up to at his gigs.

PaulG · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 8:42 am Post subject:

Thank you for the reviews, guys. Always nice to hear what RF is up to at his gigs.

jconstant · Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 10:11 am Post subject:

Thanks for the great reviews, guys. It sounds like they were fantastic shows. You mentioned a few songs I've never seen Robben play live but would love to.
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"Somebody's got to make some music around here." - Robben Ford

ltkojak · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 7:10 am Post subject:

I simply LOVE Greg Mathieson's playing.

I know him being the original keyboard player with Larry Carlton that played in all of his earliest records.

It could've been very interesting to see him playing with Robben. I hope he comes with him next time he tours Europe.
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Pepe aka Lt. Kojak
Milano, Italy