I attended this show with my 14 yr old son. I went to this festival to see Robben but spent the day and enjoyed all of the bands. We really liked Al Kooper's set plus a blues band from Canada called the Downchild Blues band founded by a guy named Donnie Walsh. Robbens band made the day special. I've been telling peaople here in the Northeast for years how good he is but very few are familiar with him. This is the first time I have had the pleasure of seeing Robben perform live. Nobody sitting near me was too familiar with Robben, but they sure are now. Here is the scoop on the show in Syracuse :
1. He played with a keyboard man who played the hammond organ and a Korg keyboard on top. He was a young, dark haired fellow with a ponytail and was terrific. He got a lot of solo time in almost every song and usually soloed first. We really enjoyed the hammond organ solos.
2. I remember the drummers name was Panos and he and the bass player did an extended duet and solos while Robben and the keyboard guy left the stage. This was funky and excellent and kept the audience groovin and interested.
3. They played a lot of songs from the Blue Moon CD with Indianola being very special.
4. My 2 favorite parts of the show were the playing of an instumental tribute to Freddie King called Cannonball Shuffle. This was upbeat and fast and Robben's solo was incredible.
The second ( I hope i recall this correctly ) was a slow song written by Willie Dixon. I think the title was " it Don't make sense " it was a song about the failure of world leaders to make peace when it seems like everything else is possible. One could tell Robben really felt this message as he sang this song. The guitar solo was a lot more than just a blues solo.I know it took me to another place. I think both of these songs will be released on an album due out in October, but I'm not sure, I think that's what he said.
Robben played a black guitar that I was not familiar with for most of the show. He played a yellow telecaster for 3 or 4 songs.
I'm 50 years old and have been listening to guitarists for the last 35 years. The live displays of extraordinary virtuosity that i have heard in that time include John McLaughlin, Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Al DiMeola, Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, BB King, Jerry Garcia, and Dwayne Allman. I have never heard a more compelling performance than i did in Syracuse this past Saturday evening.
Welcome Finger Lakes, I am so envious of you. I guess you can understand why I went to see Robben with Jing Chi all seven nights they played here. It was a new experience each night, and each night built on the previous evening. The last night was beyond articulation.
Every time I have heard Robben do "It Don't Make Sense (you can't make peace)" I think it touches me a little deeper. In March, at Slim's in SF, I heard people saying, "But we can try." I don't think I was the only one there with tears in my eyes.
By the way, you can get "It Don't Make Sense" and a whole bunch of other fantastic tunes (Hard to Please, Good to Love, Indianola, Something for the Pain, The Way You Treated me {You're gonna be sorry} Good to Love) on "Blue Moon." I would recommend you go right out and buy that, and any other of Robben's CDs you can find.
It is so nice to see the Robben community growing. I have been a fan for 30 years, and in my humble opinion, he has never garnered the respect and awe that he so obviously deserves. He is not only a tremendously gifted musician, he is also a kind, patient, humble man who is gracious and generous with his time and his expertise. (He puts up with MY hounding him, everytime I go to see him. Even my seventh grade students are crazy about his music, as they have been "enlightened" with his CDs, videos, DVDs, photos and even his guitar picks...THANKS DAVED!) Robben is a consummate artist; a musician's musician.
Go to www.elizabethgage.com, and click on "gagepage." Scroll down to see some more about this remarkable man. Thanks for your wonderful description....oooooh I wish I had gone! I really wish I had gone!!!! The flights were cheap...why didn't I do it??? I WISH I HAD GONE!!!!
Here are a few more tidbits from the Syracuse gig:
It was perhaps the nicest weather we have had all year. An 80 degree day that was clear and cool by the time Robben took the stage at 9:30 PM. Because this blues festival was put on by the city of Syracuse there was no admission fee to get in. Just set up your lawn chair in Clinton Square ( named after Dewitt not Bill ) which is right Downtown and part of an urban renewal area called Armory Square. Because admission was free there was quite a cross section of people there from drunks and bikers to married senior citizens. I think his music affected all in a positive way as no one got up to leave until after the encore ( Loving Cup I think was the name of the song ) I'm guessing there were about 5000 in attendance.
The only CD's I own are Tiger walk and Mystic Mile. I have trouble finding others at local stores. i have downloaded individual songs and made a composite CD that I listen to quite often. Can I order Blue Moon and others from Robben's website ?
The Syracuse venue is about an hour from my house. He played the next night in Rochester at Milestones which is a club I have been to before and is about an hour in the other direction. I would have gone to that in a heartbeat but had plans that could not be changed.
I hadn't been to a live peformance other than symphony and opera in 4 or 5 years and i must say that this entire day and evening were damn near perfect. I wish my wife could have gone with us. She would have enjoyed it. My son is still raving about it and has had the headphones on listening to Robben for the last 2 days!!!!! I'm really proud of the fact that he is listening to Weather Report, Miles Davis, and now Robben as opposed to some of the other stuff 14 yr olds listen to that carries with it a message that is not always positive. But now I digress and sound like an old fart Dad. Bye for now. FL
Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 1043 Location: Boulder, CO
Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 9:44 pm Post subject:
fingerlakes,
Thanks for the excellent update. Great stuff, I wish I was there!
You have to get Robben's latest CDs:
Blue Moon - Robben Ford - Blues flavor, great songwriting, singing and playing
Supernatural - Robben Ford - Blues flavor, great songwriting, singing and playing
I had business in the Ithaca, NY area the other day and went CD shopping at the end of the day. i was able to find all 3 cd's you recomended . We are enjoying them very much. Thanks.
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