Robben Ford Discussion

Muiricane · Member Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 19 Location: Michigan

Robben will be recording 2 live shows at The Independent in San Francisco, CA on April 8 & 9. Has anyone heard who will be in his band?

AlChuck · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:12 pm Post subject:

Fantastic!

He'd originally booked two nights in January at the Great American Music Hall for this purpose, then the gigs were canceled without any explanation.

I haven't been to the Independent yet... looks like I might have to.

What a fantastic few weeks for guitar shows late March through late April are turning out to be for the Bay Area. John McLaughlin with the Five Peace Band in Berkeley on 3/21... Robben in SF on 4/8-9, Derek Trucks in SF on 4/15, and Jeff Beck on 4/23 in Oakland...

Daved · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:07 pm Post subject:

.... and 2 nites of the Allman Brothers and Doobie Brothers at the Fox Theater in Oakland in May, I believe... ABB's 40th anniversary tour.
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AlChuck · Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:59 am Post subject:

Someone on the Gear Page also reminded me that in April, Junior Brown is at the Independent, and John Scofield is at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater. Month of the Guitars indeed...

Michael · Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:07 pm Post subject:

Lucky me ... got tickets.

AlChuck · Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:19 pm Post subject:

Me too... originally I wasn't going to go, having just seen him in late February... but last night I changed my mind and bought myself a ticket. From what I heard it's Robben, Toss Panos on drums, Travis Carlton on bass, and an unnamed Hammond B-3 player.

JohnnyZ · Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 3:19 pm Post subject:

I've heard and read about Junior Brown being a monster guiter player but I just can't get into the country style. I did, however, buy one of his cds used only for the Surf Medley track which is freakin' awesome. I encourage all guitar enthusiasts to listen to it...
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PierreL · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 2:39 am Post subject:

It's quite cool if there's a keyboard player involved, I actually prefer Robben when he has some keyboard support.
Hopefully they will also record it for a DVD release.

AlChuck · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:56 pm Post subject:

Michael · Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 5:12 pm Post subject:

Robben and the band great ... at the Independent. The place had a cool kind of vibe, not over crowded, etc. Robben showed my son some love, by speaking directly to him ... as Jordan sat dead center intently watching his every move. Robben wondered if he was enjoying the show. I hope there is a live cd and that his speaking to my son stays. That would be a great memory. Jordan met Robben at a clinic and Robben spoke to him about applying himself. He's taking apart the Baker chord book.

I'm not sure if everyone in the crowd got the music of the big organ trio ... but those guys were really good. The drummer and organ player were exceptional ... my son had never heard the organ played quite like that.

Red Suede · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 12:24 pm Post subject:

[quote="Michael"]Robben and the band great ... at the Independent. The place had a cool kind of vibe, not over crowded, etc. Robben showed my son some love, by speaking directly to him ... as Jordan sat dead center intently watching his every move. Robben wondered if he was enjoying the show. I hope there is a live cd and that his speaking to my son stays. That would be a great memory. Jordan met Robben at a clinic and Robben spoke to him about applying himself. He's taking apart the Baker chord book.

that was a cool moment.

martin · Newbie Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Posts: 2

Hey, guys, this is my first time posting - I usually just read the great comments here.

I caught both nights at the Independent, and am surprised that there were not more reviews! (Maybe it was just me that thought these were awsome shows?)

I've caught Robben many times in different venues - Yoshi's, LA, NY - and since the blue line days, but the second night here was one of the more magical improvisational musical events I have ever attended. As a point of personal reference, a night with Herb Ellis and Charlie Byrd many years ago at a tiny place ranks up there as well for me...

Anyway, the format was roughly the same each night, with only a couple of different tunes between nights.

Neil Evans of SoulLive came out both second sets, and totally killed in terms of interplay with Robben. Actually he just killed it, period.

Sound was arguably even better than Yoshi's, great balanced volume across all players.

Toss Panos, Travis Carlton, and Neil Evans.

I personally think that they should release the entire second night's second set as is, end-to-end. It would be a great tribute to show Robben and the guys on a real tear, with no clams anywhere to be found, and just climaxing perfectly throughout the set.

Set 1

Spoonful (wonderful vocals)
Way you treated me
Indianola (first night a couple clams, second night best I have ever heard)
Too Much
Supernatural
Cannonball

Set 2

Nothin to nobody
Pls set a date (new BB King cover)
Earthquake
How deep in the blues...
Never be another you
Peace on my mind

Encore

Oasis (stunning)

I am forgetting one or two tunes for some reason, and the order is a little off, but that's what I thought of the show, in any case.

Any other comments from folks that attended, and or Daved?

Michael · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 8:52 pm Post subject:

Yes, they did have the sound dialed in at the Independent. We deliberately sat front and center - as we wanted Robben's sound right out of the amp. From that position, it's not as great in terms of overall mix ... but we got what we came there to hear. We could actually hear the overhead, the stage monitors, and the direct amp. And yes, it was one of the best. I'm hoping for the live recording just to re-hear from a different perspective. The bass/drum coordination and tightness was simply unbelievable. And this just set it up for the perfect evening.

JohnnyZ · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:31 am Post subject:

AlChuck · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:57 am Post subject: