Robben Ford Discussion

bbqbob · Member Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 18 Location: Hanson, MA

Hey folks,
Add me to the "new guy" list. I've lurked for a while pickin up the vibes and it's mighty fine here. I've been into Robben since the late 70's when I was a Cally kid, but really fell for him in 1988 when he emerged with "Daughter" and toured Calif. a bunch. I love the blues, but I had not heard them thrown at me like this. To this day, I still shake my head in disbelief. Shocked

I'm looking forward to learning a bunch and I have my share of questions which I plan to put out to the group shortly. Most of all, it's the music that counts and Robben gives us so much in style and of himself, well, you just can't help but enjoy it.

Yeah, I'm a guitar player too. Like the last new person, I hack about with gear and help local musicians with standard repair and tone questions. I'm lucky enough to play in a couple of local bands between classic covers and a band of hard blues with interesting turnarounds - we can thank RF for that one! Thanks for reading and looking forward to getting to know some of you.

Bob Craig aka BBQ-Bob

Marc Greeson · Member Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 15 Location: Uxbridge MA

Welcome bbqbob,
Nice to see another RF fan In MA.I don't talk to too many people or guitarists who have heard of him(their loss).Have you had the chance to see him?I saw him last October at the HOB in Cambridge.Impressive is an understatement.
You should be very happy here,lots of very knowledgable musicians on this site.I have been playing for only 3 years but am very addicted.
Just wanted to welcome you aboard. Marc

elizabeth · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2004 8:05 pm Post subject: Accessorize

Marc, I LOVE your hat!

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bbqbob · Member Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 18 Location: Hanson, MA

Yeah, the hat is wayyyy cool and thanks for the welcome. There are a few Ford lurkers back here in NE. I run into them from time to time. I was at that HOB show too. It's a shame that place closed, but I could understand considering its size. Like most California artist I like, it is hard to get them back here on a consistent basis, so we need to go whenever we can, eh? I am real hopeful for a date here for this new tour, but time will tell. If so, we'll try to meet up there. Stay tuned!

bbqbob

kirk95 · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2004 9:55 am Post subject:

Welcome Bob!

I am an x-New Englander myself! Yes I know all about the Red Sox and the curse. Of course that all ends next year...right??

Also, now since the Broncos are out (boy was that ugly). ...Go Pats!

Lived in Wellesley '66 to '68
Rhode Island '71 to '76
Boston '79 to '82 (Berklee College of Music)
Mansfield '90 to '95 (Worked in Boston)
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roadwarriorfortheblues · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2004 10:30 am Post subject: My old stomping grounds too !

Hi Bob, i was at that HOB/Harvard Square show too, and I am also a native Bostonian. I didn't know HOB closed down Sad

. Are there any other New Englanders hiding out there?

Laughing

phrigian · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2004 8:36 pm Post subject:

Hi Bob,

Being from Mass. was wondering if you were familiar with Boston based Johnny A. I just picked up his Cd Some Time Tuesday Morning and was really impressed with his playing. He just phrases beautifully and his chord work is very cool. He reminds me of Robben, though he seems to hold back a bit . Cd apparently came out several years ago .

bbqbob · Member Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 18 Location: Hanson, MA

Oh yeah, I am real familiar with him. He's another unique stylist like Robben who is refining the past while pushing it forward. I have seen him live a number of times and if you think his CD has "restraint", then see him live. Much more out there and pushing on his solos, great live phrasing, and he's the only guy I've heard who uses modeling amps that makes it work for me. If I have a slight gripe of him live recently is that he's falling into a bit of a Hendrix trap. He covers some Jimi, but I think some folks want more push out of him and when he does it falls into this area. It sounds great, but for me, it takes away from some of Johnny's uniqueness as a player. Oh, to the rest of you, if you haven't heard Johnny A.'s CD, Sometime Tuesday Morning, I can't recommend it enough here. It's a bold statement, but I think this is the first great guitar CD of this century.

Marc Greeson · Member Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 15 Location: Uxbridge MA

I think Johnny is great as well.Hope he comes out with something new soon.It's been about 3 years or so since his last release.F.Y.I> check out the new Gibson Johnny A. signature model hollow-body in last months Guitar Player magazine.What a beautiful guitar.I think it reflects Johnny's personality and playing style.
Cool to see all the relocated New Englanders on this site.I was feeling like I was the only NE guy around.GO PATS

bbqbob · Member Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 18 Location: Hanson, MA

New CD in Feb. or March. It's done, we're just waiting. Keep checking Pollstar for dates. He just played last weekend in Providence at a tiny club. I had a gig so couldn't go, but things for him will be ramping up soon. Now, if we can get that Ford / Johnny A. gig at the Paradise, we're all set!

bbqbob

roadwarriorfortheblues · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2004 6:58 am Post subject: Johnny A.

All this talk about Boston is making me blue Crying or Very sad

I'm sure i heard something from Johnny A's new release, Get Inside, last week week on the radio. It must have been an advance copy, the title of the song wasn't listed on the playlist. I saw Johnny A. open for Robben at The Bottom Line (NYC) two summers ago. He was great ! Here's a link to a recent article i read about him:

http://player.gibson.com/nov03/johnnya.html

phrigian · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2004 9:03 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the update on A. He seems to have all the ingredients of a great player....looking forward to his next release and Ny area performance.