Roxanne's Excellent Joe Bonamassa Adventure

October 18, 2003 - Ardmore, Oklahoma

Left Arlington at around 3 p.m. - me, my husband Cat, our friend Glenn Rogers.  Rose Marie Hurt was traveling separately and would join us in Ardmore.  Had a fun drive listening to "A New Day Yesterday" ...

Arrived in Ardmore around 4:30 p.m., and as I was turning off on the exit, got a phone call from Jim Moody, a fellow Bonamassa fan -- he was at the Will Call window and wanted to meet and say hi.  We dashed into the Holiday Inn, got our room, dumped off stuff, and hurried on over to Heritage Hall, where we met Jim (who's great!) and said howdy to the wonderful Aubry Harris, the proprietor of Two Frogs Grill, concert promoter extraordinaire, and all-around fabulous human being.  After a mixup with my tickets for the after-party at the Tivoli (which Aubry TOTALLY fixed, thank you, Aub!), we grabbed our loot and headed back for a quick meal at the totally fab Two Frogs Grill.  (Hint:  chocolate bread pudding with vanilla sauce.   To die for.)

The four of us hit the concert hall around 6:30 p.m. and hung out until around 8, when Joe took the stage.  The ladies sitting next to me were examining the flyers promoting Joe's after-party and complaining that they'd never heard of him, and why should they care about going to see him?  I didn't say anything.   I didn't have to.

Joe destroyed the place.  His ferocious, brilliant playing was far beyond what anybody expected out of an "opening act," and by the time he left the hall was screaming his praises.  The ladies next to me were jumping up and down and clapping.  People were getting out cell phones to tell their friends.   It was incredible.

As I relaxed in the intermission, my cell phone rang:   it was Susan, another Joe B. fan I'd corresponded with via email.  She asked where I was sitting, and picked me out of the crowd, and soon we were waving at each other.  We hung up and met at the reserved seating gate (I was in, she was in general admission) and chatted until the lights dimmed for Frampton.  It was great to meet her, too -- an instant friend!

Back to my seat for Frampton, and he was hot, too, but even though I love him, there's few acts that could compete with Joe for my affections.  I had itchy feet all through the encores, wanting to head over to the Tivoli for the after-party!

After the all-too-expected hassle with security over our tickets (there's a long story there!) we were seated at our table, which was AT THE STAGE -- I mean, *right* against the stage.   And somehow I ended up sitting in the catbird seat, right at Eric's feet.   Also at our table were Jill, her sister, and their two girls -- more online friends!  We'd barely put in an order for beer when Joe came out, and burned his way through "Woke Up Dreaming" -- amazing!   I can't honestly replicate the set list here, but it was one incredible performance after another.  "Burning Hell" is an absolute killer.  One interesting detail I'd never been able to see before, but even up close, you can't see Joe's fingering as he plays -- it's literally a blur. 

Aubry laid on one heck of a great spread for us (you ROCK, Aubry!) including chips, beer, chicken wings, the works!  All included in our table price ... we ordered off the menu anyway, just to give him at least a few extra bucks.   Joe's 90-minute set passed in a blur.  I got to watch Eric Czar close up on bass, and MAN, he's good  -- John Entwhistle good.  Kenny Kramme on drums is awesome as well, but my view was mostly blocked by the speaker, so no pictures.  Sorry, K!

As always, Joe set the place on fire for the entire set, left us exhausted and thrilled to have been part of the experience.  Afterward, he graciously signed CDs, even though he must have been exhausted, and had time to chat with us.  What a great guy!  I gave him a copy of Exile, Texas, and he made me sign the cover, which cracked me up ... it was such a rare pleasure to shake hands with him. 

Back to the hotel around 1:30 a.m., bed around 2:30.   Poor Rose had to head out at 5:30 a.m., but the rest of us slept in, ate breakfast, checked out at 11 a.m., and drove back through Fort Worth, blasting Blues Deluxe.

Here endeth my Excellent Joe Bonamassa Adventure, except that I'm still giggling over it.  And anyone in driving distance of Dallas, listen up!  Joe will be at Trees in Dallas on November 7!  Sadly, I have a previous engagement to be out of town, or I'd be there -- if you can, I urge you to be there on my behalf!

Diehard JB fanatic,

Roxanne

More Joe pictures:

And just for you, Jim Moody -- I caught a shot of you rocking out at the stage!