Poppas GC Petrucci Session Pic's

[Big Poppa]

Guitar Center manhattan Invited John Petrucci and I to participate in thier "sessions" program. This was really fun for both John and I. Because of our schedules we dont get as much face time as either of us would like so we gladly accepted the invite.

First off Thanks to Guitar Center for basically closing a very busy store and putting on a specatcular clinic.

Thanks to both JP and GC for working around my schedule. Especially John as he just returned from a year tour on Thursday.

Final thanks to our families for hanging with us.

here are some random shots:

Whats NY without the Statue of Liberty

I know that some want to just hear him play but we both really wanted to try to share experiences, peeves, tips and teaching and practice techniques...Guitar Center didnt bug us for going ove the schedule by about 2 hours!

 

[phatduckk]

damn pops youve really slimmed down! lookin good dude!

 

[francric]

Cool pics.......thanks for sharing

 

[MN246]

It looked like a great time. Thanks for posting the pics.

 

[ShaneV]

You look substantially thinner than the Japan pics even.

 

[brasco68]

Thanks for sharing BP...would have loved to have been there to hear the overall discussions.

BP...you really are looking svelt and fitter than ever! Congrats!

 

[TNT]

What - New York!!! I thought you were in Japan??!! How does Mrs. Ball keep track of you??

Oh well, yeah, you do look like you're in pretty good shape these days BP - what's the secret - world travel? lol,lol,

In addition, every time I see John, he looks like he's bulking up getting ready for some UFC fights. I thought "muscle" took away from fast playin'?? Well, there goes that theory.

 

[Kristopher]

Good thing that girl in the front row was wearing underwear!

 

[Josh O]

Big Poppa, it was really pleasure to meet you. Thanks to you, JP and GC for making that happen, definetely worth the trip for me.

 

[leftyguitarblue]

I so wish I could have been there. Too many b-day parties Saturday. I heard it was a blast. Thanks for sharing BP!!!

 

[MikeVt]

Looks like quite a few knuckleheads made the session - I recognize several faces in the audience!

Sounds like it was a blast. Congrats to all who made it!
Mike

 

[Big Poppa]

actually really a very very small knucklehead turnout...You would think New York would have a bunch...Just like LA I guess...I was thinking of maybe having the next knucklehead bash in the aple but probably wont now. It was great seeing the ones that were there though

 

[the24thfret]

BP, I'll make it next time... just couldn't swim that far this time.

 

[GWDavis28]

That would be great if the next bash were on the east coast!!! If you had one in NY, I'd be there for sure and I know my wife would be up for it 100%, she had a blast at the desert domination!!!

Couldn't make the JP clinic because of commitments, sorry about that.

Glenn |B)

 

[MikeVt]

actually really a very very small knucklehead turnout...You would think New York would have a bunch...Just like LA I guess...I was thinking of maybe having the next knucklehead bash in the aple but probably wont now. It was great seeing the ones that were there though

Bummer. NY would have been fantastic, especially with airfare the way it is headed. In all honesty though, there really was only about 2 1/2 weeks of lead time on this - and unfortunately many of us had prior commitments. I wonder if the turnout would be better if it was a planned knucklehead bash, with a couple of months of lead time....

Mike

 

[petruccirocks02]

BP, it was great getting my picture taken with you, and meeting you and JP. Thanks for remembering me. It really made my night. Thanks again.

-Phil

 

[GWDavis28]

Mike I'm with you man.

I wonder if more UK/Europe folks would attend??

Glenn |B)

 

[fogman]

damn pops youve really slimmed down! lookin good dude!

That's the first thing I was going to say!
I happened to notice John too.

Looking good Mr. Chick Magnet Sir!

 

[Roubster]

Hey BP!!! Thanks soooo much for this clinic as well with JP. I'm actually really glad that you were there up on stage with him and I actually enjoyed the insights the most. I hear JPs playing all the time so the insights and background of how that comes to be is the best thing. And of course hearing JP play Paradigm Shift was SICK!! It looked like you enjoyed that one quite a bit yourself . It was also great Seeing Pete there and meeting Ernie and RichB and PetrucciRocks.
The one offs are freakin amazing as are the regular BFRs of course. I'm so glad that I started listening to Steve Morse, because it would be probably harder for me to discover EBMM.
Thanks again BP for the amazing guitars and your amazing attitude towards doing business and keeping great artist relationships as well as with your customers. And BP you are one hell of a musician yourself...maybe not with a pick though hehehe. The jamming you two did was fantastic. And thank you JP for the great playing and music over the years...huge inspiration. Cant wait to see LTE in couple weeks.

 

[paranoid70]

actually really a very very small knucklehead turnout...You would think New York would have a bunch...Just like LA I guess...I was thinking of maybe having the next knucklehead bash in the aple but probably wont now. It was great seeing the ones that were there though

Most likely the people in attendance were Dream Theater fans. I once went to a drum clinic with Mike Portnoy and less than 1/3 of the crowd (myself included) were NOT drummers. DT fans are pretty loyal.