Big Poppa and Petrucci At Wild West 3/8

[CudBucket]

What no pics yet?

 

[lenny]

so how was it, we need pics.

 

[kbaim]

Didn't take any pics but it was everything you'd expect.
Including some amp difficulties, which had john recounting what Luke went through at the open house. Met up with DoubleR about 6:15 for some El Pollo Loco about 1/2 a mile from store. Chowed down then hustled over.

John played to a backing track of (hope these are right) GLASGOW KISS, CURVES, DAMAGE CONTROL. Also Sterling brought out the #1 20th Silo and did some hip fingerpicking stuff that he and john both soloed over . That surprised me. was expecting him on bass.

During the tech probs, John and Sterling talked about the development of the John's guitar and their relationship, no contracts, etc. We looked for JP and Sterling before we left to say hi/goodbye but they must've been in the back cooling down. Didn't see any other familiar faces.

Hey Pete, the mc made an announcement that he had like 5 petrucci's available in the store.

I also saw 2 lukes, a Y2D, Axis, benji.

WildWest is one helluva cool store that's unlike any I've been to. Just a great place to see clinics in a club like setting and many fine instruments in the store.

Thanks to JP an BP for an entertaining evening. BTW about 130 peeps were there.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

Keith, thanks for the review!


A few things:

I've never had crazy chicken.
Technical problems suck.
Fingerpicking is cool.
I don't have an MC.
I do have about 9 - 10 JPs en route.
I can't hardly wait until March 29th

 

[kbaim]

Favorite Moment of the Clinic

Towards the end of the clinic, when John was answering a question, he dropped his pick, and said something like, "I dropped my only pick".

BP comes back with, "NOW let's play!"

 

[lenny]

Didn't take any pics but it was everything you'd expect.
Including some amp difficulties, which had john recounting what Luke went through at the open house. Met up with DoubleR about 6:15 for some El Pollo Loco about 1/2 a mile from store. Chowed down then hustled over.

John played to a backing track of (hope these are right) GLASGOW KISS, CURVES, DAMAGE CONTROL. Also Sterling brought out the #1 20th Silo and did some hip fingerpicking stuff that he and john both soloed over . That surprised me. was expecting him on bass.

During the tech probs, John and Sterling talked about the development of the John's guitar and their relationship, no contracts, etc. We looked for JP and Sterling before we left to say hi/goodbye but they must've been in the back cooling down. Didn't see any other familiar faces.

Hey Pete, the mc made an announcement that he had like 5 petrucci's available in the store.

I also saw 2 lukes, a Y2D, Axis, benji.

WildWest is one helluva cool store that's unlike any I've been to. Just a great place to see clinics in a club like setting and many fine instruments in the store.

Thanks to JP an BP for an entertaining evening. BTW about 130 peeps were there.

awesome thanx for the update i heard that BP was quite a Geetar player as well as a fine Bassist, i cant wait to get to NAMM (anaheim) again in Jan.

 

[kbaim]

John's best Line

And when I say John had amp difficulties, it was close to 40 minutes before they had things good to go. Then John, finally ready to play says something like, "I'm gonna play to some backing tracks on CD, but that'll probably take like another hour to set up"

Everyone was cracking up.

 

[doubleR]

Sterling is a helluva guitar player. At one point he had the Silo in his lap, and was plucking it like a lap steel guitar.

The biggest thing I got from the clinic is that I used to feel I self-conscious about looking at my fretboard so much while playing. After seeing Petrucci, well dammit, if JP can stare at his fretboard, then I'm gonna do it, too.

 

[Paul Warren]

John's best Line

And when I say John had amp difficulties, it was close to 40 minutes before they had things good to go. Then John, finally ready to play says something like, "I'm gonna play to some backing tracks on CD, but that'll probably take like another hour to set up"

Everyone was cracking up.

Not sure why, but right when you need gear to work, it doesn't. When John did a clinic at my place, we got two brand new Road Kings on loan from Guitar Center. One was an in-store and they got another shipped in especially for John. We get everything set up during soundcheck and John gets everything dialed in (all 1,231 knobs and switches on the Road King) and the main channel he wanted to use just dies. So we decided to use the other Road King for his tones and the dying Road King to power his stereo delays. That worked, except that one RK was a head and one was a combo and for some reason, all the knobs were reversed in their layout. So JP had to look at his settings which he just perfected and dial them in on the other RK right to left this time. Sounds like it's not a big deal, but that amp has TONS of knobs and switches, LOL. I'm just glad it wasn't a Mesa clinic, because it wasn't a ringing endorsement for reliability. Having backup amps is a veeeerrrry good idea.

Glad to hear the clinic went well though. I'm sure it was fun with BP jammin' along. I would have liked to have seen that.

paul

 

[kbaim]

Also, I don't think John and Sterling had a chance to do a sound check, and JP even apologized asking if it was okay if he did one in front of us now?

Personally, I think the coolest thing about clinics is that you're not just there to HEAR guitar playing, but also to ask questions and listen to tips, advice, and funny stories. The crowd was very respectful imo.

Not sure how long JP stayed for signing things after, but there was a LONG line of people for that. I wish I would've brought a book that JP recommended a couple years back in GUITAR WORLD magazine, called THE INNER GAME OF MUSIC.

Woulda been cool to have that signed by him. Great book about getting lost in your music and quieting the constant critical voice in your head.

 

[Big Poppa]

Guys, I would never push my way into playing or taking the audiences JP time in a clinic. John wanted me to play. He also wanted me to play guitar. We are always noodling and jamming when we get together and for some reason he likes my approach to the guitar. I really am always way over my head epsecially following one of his blazing backing tracks. But he really gets put on the spot when he sits in with Biff Baby's. Turn about is fair play. It is a challenge but JP is really a supportive guy. I had fun but was really glad he didn't want to play a third tune with me!

K we stayed in full view till the bitter end. Jp signed each and every autograph and was very patient. I signed a guys wallett! I was talking to the owner on one of the couches at the back of the line.

K and RR thanks for coming, hope the traffic wasn't too bad and that it was worthwhile..

 

[CudBucket]

Not sure why, but right when you need gear to work, it doesn't. When John did a clinic at my place, we got two brand new Road Kings on loan from Guitar Center. One was an in-store and they got another shipped in especially for John. We get everything set up during soundcheck and John gets everything dialed in (all 1,231 knobs and switches on the Road King) and the main channel he wanted to use just dies. So we decided to use the other Road King for his tones and the dying Road King to power his stereo delays. That worked, except that one RK was a head and one was a combo and for some reason, all the knobs were reversed in their layout. So JP had to look at his settings which he just perfected and dial them in on the other RK right to left this time. Sounds like it's not a big deal, but that amp has TONS of knobs and switches, LOL. I'm just glad it wasn't a Mesa clinic, because it wasn't a ringing endorsement for reliability. Having backup amps is a veeeerrrry good idea.

Glad to hear the clinic went well though. I'm sure it was fun with BP jammin' along. I would have liked to have seen that.

paul

I was at that clinic. Luckily there weren't any issues when the guest showed up. At least I didn't notice any.

Dave

 

[doubleR]

Guys, I would never push my way into playing or taking the audiences JP time in a clinic. John wanted me to play. He also wanted me to play guitar. We are always noodling and jamming when we get together and for some reason he likes my approach to the guitar. I really am always way over my head epsecially following one of his blazing backing tracks. But he really gets put on the spot when he sits in with Biff Baby's. Turn about is fair play. It is a challenge but JP is really a supportive guy. I had fun but was really glad he didn't want to play a third tune with me!

K we stayed in full view till the bitter end. Jp signed each and every autograph and was very patient. I signed a guys wallett! I was talking to the owner on one of the couches at the back of the line.

K and RR thanks for coming, hope the traffic wasn't too bad and that it was worthwhile..

It took two hours to go 56 miles to get there...damn SoCal traffic.

BP, reading your post above brings up an interesting point about guitar playing that I've been thinking about lately. No matter where you are skill-wise, there's always going to be someone you look up to, and some who looks up to you.

Petrucci looks in awe to Morse and Vai. You look in awe to JP. Personally, I was in awe of you last night. I wish I could do the whole bluesy/jazzy finger-picking thing you had going on. Taking things further, I remember playing a solo at a gig that I consider pretty simple, and our singer said a guy stopped dead in his tracks, turned around and looked at me with...yes...a look of awe.

So it's all relative. Never stop playing, never stop trying.

 

[fbecir]

Petrucci looks in awe to Morse and Vai. You look in awe to JP. Personally, I was in awe of you last night. I wish I could do the whole bluesy/jazzy finger-picking thing you had going on. Taking things further, I remember playing a solo at a gig that I consider pretty simple, and our singer said a guy stopped dead in his tracks, turned around and looked at me with...yes...a look of awe.

My daughter (6 years old) and my son (3 years old) looks in awe when I play

For my daughter, Steve Morse is just the guy who has the same guitar as Daddy

Kids should never grow up ...

 

[kbaim]

Guys, I would never push my way into playing or taking the audiences JP time in a clinic. John wanted me to play. He also wanted me to play guitar. We are always noodling and jamming when we get together and for some reason he likes my approach to the guitar. I really am always way over my head epsecially following one of his blazing backing tracks. But he really gets put on the spot when he sits in with Biff Baby's. Turn about is fair play. It is a challenge but JP is really a supportive guy. I had fun but was really glad he didn't want to play a third tune with me!

K we stayed in full view till the bitter end. Jp signed each and every autograph and was very patient. I signed a guys wallett! I was talking to the owner on one of the couches at the back of the line.

K and RR thanks for coming, hope the traffic wasn't too bad and that it was worthwhile..

We left before the signing. Couple minutes after you guys left stage. I went over to the stage to see the pedal set up then we took off. Driving back was waaayyyyy better than driving there!

You should see Juber there SAT 3/25 1pm if you're free. Very worth it.

Thanks again for putting it on. Hey, that wasn't water you were drinking!!

 

[GWDavis28]

My daughter (6 years old) and my son (3 years old) looks in awe when I play

Kids should never grow up ...

Yah man my daughters are 7 and 4, 3 years apart is cool. I completely bite and think that I'm awesome, which I have decades to even consider to being close to really bad.

Glad the show went well and all enjoyed it.

Glenn |B)

 

[kbaim]

Sterling is a helluva guitar player. At one point he had the Silo in his lap, and was plucking it like a lap steel guitar.

When BP did this, I was thinking that's how I'd probably have to play it to hide my "excitement" if I ever got a chance to play on stage with JP.

When BP was about to do this JP was doing some nice chordwork and called out the key and Sterling said something like, "Ooh, I like that key." Then went at it lap steel style.

BP also asked if anyone was on the forum, but only a couple of us raised our hand. He also asked if anyone had played a petrucci and seemingly everyones hand went up. And he asked how many have one of our guitars? I waited thinking he was gonna ask "How many have more than 1?"

 

[Rjenks]

Great clinic

Just joined the forum, following last nght's clinic at Wild West. The guys who belong all said it was the thing to do.

Sterling, I was the other "older guy" there, with my two sons. We were all completely blown away by your playing. I'm convinced that most of us would freeze up if John Petrucci asked us to play. You did great.

Since we live there, we would like to possibly visit the factory in the Valley. Is this possible?

 

[Colin]

We were all completely blown away by your playing.

And to think he was thinking of quitting 3 months ago, we're all glad you didn't BP. Now can someone please post some pictures!

 

[ntogashi]

BP and JP were great and the guys at Wild West are great. BP with #1 was ultra cool through the Lone Star and even JP is in awe of BP when he does his chord progressions and had trouble improvising through it (ala Country Boy). Everyone has a niche. Ultra cool to see BP, haven't seen him play since All Star Jam at the Coach House with his Bongo. Was it tougher to play with JP or with Tony and Dave? Thanks again and when is the 20th Anniversary Silo coming out?