RF @ the Napa Valley Opera House last night.

[brewdude]

I have been a fan of Robben Ford for decades but never seen him live. The show was totally cool.

The Napa Valley Opera House is awesome. It is a beautifully restored vaudeville theater. It originally opened in 1880 and was closed between 1914 and 2003. It seats 450 and operates as a nonprofit, so tickets tend to be very reasonably priced. I paid $60.00 for two seats in the 5th row, including service fees. It appeared to be a full house, and I suspect there were probably at least 100 local guitar players in the audience.

RF seemed to have a simple set up tonight. He played the tan ODS with the green indicator light through the matching 2x12 cab. It appeared that he was playing without the Dumbleator--no FX rack, no Fender Twin. He had a Wah and a single BBE pedal of some sort--no Zen Drive. He switched between a Fender Tele and a Gibson Firebird. His sound was pretty bright, at times almost painfully loud from the fifth row. He played two sets. I love the way he plays. It was very cool to watch him play from such close seat (~15-20 feet).

The supporting band (drums, bass and B-3/electric piano) was very tight although could have been a little louder simply to balance with the guitar volume a little better. Three or four times, RF would step back behind his amp and lean against the wall at the side of the stage and listen to the keyboard's and/or bass player's solo. Then he would do some subtle rhythm comping as the song works to a crescendo finally finding his way back to his next verse.

[Structo]

Wow, hard to imagine Robben playing a Firebird!

When I saw him I didn't see a Dumbleator either.
He had a pedal board but other than the Wah I couldn't see what he had.

He was very tired when I saw him as it was at the tail end of a tour.
He did the same thing when I saw him when the bass and drum solos were going on he actually took his guitar off and stood off to the side leaning on the wall.

It was just a trio when I saw him, wish the B3 would have been there.

He wasn't too loud at our gig, which surprised me because I had been warned not to sit in the "beam".

He did have some sort of connection problem as towards the end his amp was making loud crackling noises.
A friend that was there said it was a problem with his pedal board.

I'm kind of surprised he has moved a way from his Dumbleator and TC 2290.

[odourboy]

I'm so jealous! There are so many great/cool venues in the Bay area with all the great acts and tickets are generally reasonably (unlike Toronto, which is a total ripoff for any live music, theatre or sports event )

[Structo]

Yeah, I was surprised when the tickets were only $35 each.
The venue was an old movie theater, pretty trashed and not that nice inside.

But keeping the overhead low is probably why the tickets are so cheap.

Not sure what Robben gets per gig but probably not near what other acts get.

Keeping it to a trio is probably one reason to get more $$ per man.

That was the first show we had been to in over 10 years.

Too bad his heart didn't seem to be into it.

[vibratoking]

When RF does manage to gig around here, which isn't often, the tickets go for around $70.

[renshen1957]

I have been a fan of Robben Ford for decades but never seen him live. The show was totally cool.

The Napa Valley Opera House is awesome. It is a beautifully restored vaudeville theater. It originally opened in 1880 and was closed between 1914 and 2003. It seats 450 and operates as a nonprofit, so tickets tend to be very reasonably priced. I paid $60.00 for two seats in the 5th row, including service fees. It appeared to be a full house, and I suspect there were probably at least 100 local guitar players in the audience.

Hi,

When I was a young lad living in Napa in the 1960's every kid I know was just dying to sneak into the building, even one of my older sisters. Caruso sang at the opera house, way before anyone's time. Never happened of course, and we moved for health reasons (mine, we moved to the Central Coast) the summer of `69. I was never old enough to attempt the rite of passage, trying to trespass on the ruins on the old old Napa Soda Works, and risk both barrels of the caretaker's Halite shotgun. (Rock Salt for those who don't know what Halelite is)

A little off topic, and I would still love to see the inside when next in California. Would be better if RF was playing at the time.

Best Regards,

Steve

[ampedup]

I saw Lee Ritenour at the Opera house this year. It was a really good show. He has an outstanding backup band and of coarse his playing was unbelievable live. It's a nice venue. I've seen Robin many times since the early ninties blueline days. He is one of my favorite players, just so creative. I'm not real crazy about his tele sound, it is very bright, I liked the old RF edition fender he used to play. There's never been a time when I couldn't hear him over the band, he like's his sound to be loud and out front.

[Structo]

Yeah I would love to own one of those Esprit guitars.

Or a Baker, or a Carruthers CSA.

[glasman]

Yeah I would love to own one of those Esprit guitars.

Or a Baker, or a Carruthers CSA.

Watch ebay. I picked up an 87 or 89 (as I remember) RF esprit last year for about $2500.00, a few bucks, but a great guitar and great vibe... I have seen them go for less. I prefer the Japanese ones over the CS examples.

I also have an 84 standard and it also a great guitar. A little thinner neck (front to back) but very playable. I bought it for about 1300.00.

[Structo]

Wow they are that much now?

I remember a time when I was offered a MIJ Esprit for around $600, I should have jumped on it.

[glasman]

Wow they are that much now?

I remember a time when I was offered a MIJ Esprit for around $600, I should have jumped on it.

Yup, they used to be blister packed at the register, now they are getting close to unobtainium. But then look at the price on a Paul or PRS...

True story, in 1986 I bought an MIJ Rosewood tele (harrison type) for $599.00. A guy at the LA amp show last year offered me $3000.00 for the guitar. Naw, I like the guitar too much.....