Ain’t it great  
it’s double-oh-8 
From up the Yukon to the southern states 
From across the pond and further east 
to the neon home of the Hollywood beast 
 
A force is channeled you know it’s true 
Feel the love, feel the blues. 
 
Stand in line 
Blow your mind 
He’ll send a chill right up your spine 
More than fret work, a movable feast 
Sung from the heart, to say the least 
 
A force is channeled you know it’s true 
Feel the love, feel the blues. 
 
Wrote this song 
didn’t take too long 
Didn’t come from bottle, pipe or bong 
From British blues to East Bay grease 
The borders we cross will never cease 
 
A force is channeled you know it’s true 
Feel the love, feel the blues. 
 
BJJ the FDOL 
 
Happy New Year, one and all!

I’m going to brag on my wife.  Better yet, here she is, sporting her Rollins College shirt.After all this time.  I haven’t made her mad enough to leave for more than an hour or two.  Thanks for the love, you fine thing.  Happy New Year, one and all. 

So we went to Orlando and walked the long mile to see Joe Bonamassa in the Hard Rock Cafe…Tia & I and 2 of our friends.  It was worth it.  WHAT A SHOW!  Crosby was very cool and did his warm up job, funny and talented.  Keeper.

Then out came the boys and there was lightning and thunder indoors.  Wait a sec…

When I came out of my self imposed musical retirement less than 2 years ago (after 16 years to raise my kids) I was aware that there would be changes in/on the scene.  I came out anyway.  I’ve seen countless sloppy guitar players and wannabes in the last 21 months.

Smoking Joe is the real deal.  No slop there.  A real guitar player.  A young Master.

Joe…a bar band you are not.  Very impressive what you’ve done.  Only someone who has studied the masters can do what you do, that is, successfully take it “outside of the box” to the next limit. 

Thanks for letting me get that picture between you and Carmine.  Maybe now, my fingers will work on my bass.

My wife and friends sat with their mouths open for a number or two and then erupted in screaming applause.  It was a treat for me to see Ms. Tia enjoy herself so completely.  You definitely pulled out all the stops on this last show of this tour.  Now my friends KNOW where I’m coming from.  THANK YOU Joe and company for the sledgehammer between the eyes.

The Hard Rock Cafe crowd was (sometimes too) rowdy and was quite vocal even when Joe tried to shush them just a little.  Joe, you just took it all in stride and exhibited, once again, that you are the consummate professional. 

Listen people, when JB came off mic to sing “If I ever get to Heaven, and I’m praying that I do…”  I hollered “You will Joe.  You will!” and the crowd roared its approval.  Even the drunks in the back of the room.

I figured out later that night while we were celebrating Rick’s birthday why I felt hope when I heard them play in West Palm Beach.  It is because of that professionalism stacked on top of his prodigious talent.  I have watched greatness disentegrate under the strain of this business and all the excesses that go with the lifestyle, in my 35+ years in & out of the music biz.  The veterans know of what I speak.  I HAVE HOPE…

Joe came out wearing a sport coat; dressed like a blues man.  Bogey, Carmine & Rick were attired like the pro sideman they are and the overall show was visual as well as musical.  The emotional sounds and vocals that poured off that stage were raw but polished.  Figure that out.  They filled up the room.

Tight changes and a perfect mix give the edge that a band needs to cross the line into greatness.  Joe, you and your guys have that edge.  Take the blues to the next stage.

During the acoustic set in the middle, I heard someone say “I didn’t know a human being could move their fingers that fast.”  In Espanol my old guitar teacher called those exercises with those Arabesque type scales “Aranas” which means spiders.  Outside the box…genius executed perfectly.  Only thousands of hours of hard work and practice could give you that.

I HAVE HOPE…I recently auditioned a guitarist and it went on for two hours.  When somebody “Look at the time,” my drummer said, “That’s a miracle…as abusive as this guy is to most guitar players.” pointing at me.  Nice huh?  My wife and daughter were dancing in the kitchen.

Joe, maybe one day we’ll sit and talk.  Ms. Tia called my number one son at college and bragged about you.  She just doesn’t do that sort of thing.  He’s a guitarist, too.  So you got high marks, young sir.  Enjoy your Holiday.  Then on to Europe.

Happy Birthday Rick!  Many more, mate!  I checked out that funk on your web site.  NICE!

Bogey, so nice to see a southern boy make good.  You have my number…call it.  If we get to LA and you are in town, Tia & I will hang out for sure.  Thanks for the invite.

Carmine you fed me again.  Gracias mi ‘mano.  Yo te amo.  Next time I’ll eat before I come…maybe.  Tia looks good, huh?  I’m overjoyed that we got a chance to see you, even though you told stories about me to that backstage crowd.(GRIN) Loved that.  The terrible trio survived!  I celebrate that, even while we speak of & mourn the ones we’ve lost along the way. 

A word about Hard Rock Cafe:  Don’t be too hard on the employees there.  They have corporate minded bosses and they have an industrial theme park mindset.  I feel for those who missed their chance after the show, but there’s time now to prepare for the next Orlando event.  One thing nobody will deny:  the sound there’s SPOT ON!  Good equipment.

Joe, I would vote to give B.B. King’s new club a closer look.  I have not been there, but most of Daytona Beach has some buzz going on about it.  Or maybe in Daytona Beach?

The blues are in good hands with Joe Bonamassa, y’all!  Rest well. 
Merry Christmas and may God bless.

My good friend for 33+ years, the legendary Carmine Rojas (bassist extraordinaire) is on the road again. 

He is part of the Joe Bonamassa entourage, one of the most emotional and hard-hitting, hard-rocking blues bands I’ve seen or heard in many years.  That’s high praise coming from me, a grouchy old R&B blues survivor.

I journeyed to W. Palm Beach on Friday afternoon 11/30/07 to see my old friend and to see what all the fuss was about.  I didn’t know.  I only heard.  Yeah, yeah, sure, whatever you say.

  NOW I KNOW.  Later that evening during their “scorched-earth” performance I was transfixed, all the way to the hair on my arms and the back of my neck that refused to lay quietly in its place.  It’s been a long time since a young guitarist has given me goose bumps AND HOPE…not sure I understand that, yet. 

Joe, I told you as much, backstage after Friday night’s performance.  You were gracious & professional, thanking me for what I’m sure you hear all the time.  Being who I am, it is unusual for me to sound like a slobbering groupie.  I hope I was not annoying.  I made it brief then went and ate up some of your sandwiches. 

Eating yeah, some things never change.  Shut up, Carmine.  Tengo a comer.

Yes Brothers and Sisters, he is a guitar virtuoso, but he also sings his ass off.  Yet he is not what I would call a shredder.  Every note he plays means something and he has surrounded himself with an incredible group of pro musicians and a pro crew and he works his audience to a rabid frenzy.

I see Carmine’s touch all over this theatrical experience.  I’m sure el Rojas would agree with me that his job is made easier and more enjoyable by one amazingly good drummer whose name is Bogie Bowles, my brother in a very special spiritual way, whom I met Friday night.  Bogie…We’ll talk again!

A phenomenal keyboard man from Sidney, Australia named Rick…oh damn, I brain-farted your last name, Rick…I’m sorry… rounds out this foursome with both the Greg Allman & Jimmy Smith type organ layers of sound AND the boogie tickle of the piano.  I hear both classical music & dirty blues influencing this man’s keys work. 

Two days later I am still blown away by the talent and the intense, raw emotion of  “Smokin’ Joe Bonamassa” and his killer band.  One band!  One sound.   Joe, I looked to see if you have six fingers on each hand.  You deserve your success and more.

I was very impressed by the road crew, including the driver, who don’t get their propers often enough.  I really hope you guys got some of that Sweet and Sassy Salsa I left for the PR. 

Respect to you, road dogs, one and all…from someone who knows.

Nice opening act…Crosby Loggins, you sir, are in excellent company.  It was a pleasure to meet you and talk with you.  All the best young man!  I mean that.  Kick ass.  See you soon.

Kenny, be proud.  MY kids are musicians, too.

Tuesday, I will ease on down to the Hard Rock Cafe in Whorlando and see you all again.  This time I’ll bring the fox that keeps me coming home.  Ms. Tia, herself.  

Peace and Merry Christmas…Much Love

Jeff

We did our show and were cut short again.  We did not go that long.  I see now, very clearly what the problem is.  If you’re gonna ask me to host, then stay outa my way.  Don’t interrupt me in the middle of a sentence. 

Especially when I know that dealing with the f-ing thing gives you hives & substance abuse issues. 

The music was excellent however.  Good blues & we gave away the scholarship check.  REAL happy about that.

I had a Preacher tell me once that he was moving away from a church he had started.  When I asked why, he told me that he wasn’t good at dealing with the business end after 2 years.  Time for him to go start another one.

 I just laughed and told him it sounded Baptist to me.

I’ve lost it completely.  5 kayaks…1 for everybody.  Jeff, Tia, Ryan, Sean & Sarah.  I really like them.  I commune with the heat, I mean Nature.  Yeah That’s it. 

Do you guys like that?  Im thinking about fishing from the floating thing.  Anybody done that?  Clue me in.

I’m not lost.  I’m overwhelmed.  But not for long…my Brother Bob is in Florida and we’re gonna jam!

Super Huge Special Thanks & a sloppy wet kiss to my friend Jeff Fedora for allowing us Host status on August 15th, 2007 at his True Blues Ham on Wednesday nights, a burden that he carries too often alone.  I guess I’ll bribe Eddie. 

Jeff F is the President of the Daytona Blues Society , a maddening situation to say the least.  But the truth is we need all the support you can give us.  Don’t be cheap!

Not with your time or your money!  There are babies being born every day that need guidance and blues.  We gotta go back.  Almighty God gave us all races, creeds and colors to enjoy the infinite variety of life.  Not to fight and make cliques. 

I wonder sometimes (not often, cause I’m a Dad) where I fit in…but not for long.  I have music in my soul; another language if you will.  English, Spanglish, Frenchicano, Ghetto, Jazz, Blues & Soul.  It’s all good.  (GRIN)

So join us PLEASE!  8/15/07 at the Bank & Blues Club on Main Street in Daytona Beach @ 8:30 PM.

My Number One son Ryan (who was born grown) and is a scholar, athlete, artist & musician walked in white last night, graduating New Smyrna Beach High School Summa Cum Laude with a 3.96 GPA and received High Honors for his gifted photography work.He will attend Rollins College (Ivy League of the south) in the fall, having been awarded over $30,000 in scholarships and almost $20,000 in grants & loans.

Jeff JonesThat principle, which cannot fail to keep us in everlasting ignorance, is contempt prior to investigation.