Robben Ford Discussion

[Daved]

First day off of the second (and final for '06) leg of the Allman Brothers Band tour.

Gregg & the band are in high spirits. Gregg has lost weight, is watching his health, excercising, eating healthily, and feeling very good.

The first night, in Erie, PA, was 'an evening with'.

Then we started a 5 date run as support for Tom Petty's tour (with the Derek Trucks Band opening). The first time ABB and TP have been billed together, from my understanding.

With 2 shows under our belts now, the shows are going great, sold out, with the audiences responding positively & enthusiastically to the ABB segment. Every night so far, Mike Cambell has been coming out to sit over in my world and watch almost our entire show before having to go prep for Tom's show.

Warren's tech, Brian, tells me most of the rest of the band has been hanging out over on his side of the stage.

Between the two huge productions of the ABB and the TP shows, I have been extremely busy breaking down our gear and getting the band gear semitruck packed every night, so I haven't had a chance to get over and say "Hi" to Benmont Tench yet, but I'm sure I will somewhere during the 3 remaining dates.

I briefly teched for Benmont in the mid 90's, during the first month long run of "Filmore House Band" shows... one of the most enjoyable tours I have ever done. Great band, great crew, great shows. It was Steve Ferante's first gigs with the band and Howie was still alive and playing bass.

Among many wonderful memories from those dates, I will always cherish meeting and spending some time with Carl Perkins when he opened a couple of nights for us, 6 months before his totally unexpected and surprising death. Wonderful man!

Last night it was realized that Tom and Gregg both wanted to get pictures together so the two bands did a quick photo session together backstage between sets.

As for me it's been enjoyable seeing and working again with the TP crew. 'Bugs', Mark, and 'Chinner', the guitar techs, are all still there, of course.
Kevin, Benmont's regular tech, was out with Phish during TP's Filmore run and, since Santana was off the road at the time, I was aked to cover for him during those shows as I had met and gotten to know him when I was teching for Chester "CT" Thompson and Phish supported our European tour in the mid 90's.

Rumor mill has it that ticket sales exploded when they paired up the 2 bands and because the fan resonse is going so well there could be more TP/ABB shows together in the future.
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B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

Thanks for the tour update Daved. Good luck on the homestretch!
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Travelling by train of thought

[Daved]

Finally got to speak with Benmont last night for a few minutes when he, Mike Cambell, and Steve Ferrone came out to sit in with ABB on "One Way Out".

He was pleasantly surprised to see me, was glad I have been working with Gregg and asked me to pass along his hello's to Robben.

Day off today in Cherry Hill, NJ. Last shoe with TP & the H tomorrow night, then it's back to headlining with either the Derek Trucks Band, Govt. Mule, or O'Teil's band supporting us each night for the rest of the tour.
_________________
B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)

[johan]

Thanks alot for your reports Daved. Not many replys but I know alot of us read with great interest. Thanks!