The Open House - Event of the Millenia

[Victrola]

Hey Ball-ers,

I am still working on a full report. Meantime, I simply must say a few things.

First off, Big Poppa: what an incredible host you are. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for making sure we were all totally taken care of and that we all had a great time. If anyone didn't have a great time, it was their own damn fault. You even paid for lunch at the Firestone! The generosity that you showed to us all was beyond amazing.

A few addendums:

1) I hope you enjoy the coffee beans - I wasn't sure if you drank coffee or not.
2) I still owe you a shoulder rub.
3) We're still on for that interview - at your convenience.

One way I can show some love to you and the staff is this:

my next radio show I'm playing all EB artists and I will be yakking up EB and the weekend at length. If there's anything you do (or don't) want me to say, let me know.

Wednesday, 4-6 p.m. pacific time. www.kpsu.org

if you miss it, it will be in the archives at www.kpsu.org

By the way, I'm listening to EB radio, I very much like the addition of the Guitar Players channel.

to the EB staff: I tried to thank as many of you as I could for working on Saturday. I think you are all wonderful. Jon, it was great to meet you and listen to you play guitar. Beth, thanks for showing Janice and me the prototypes and answering questions. Azaih, you were great. Blair, you're a goddess. And Dudley, I'm amazed at what you can do.

Now, a few random items:

- Luke, you give great hugs. And bovine is right - you really do smell good.

- Did ANYONE get a picture of John Petrucci's face when Luke asked him how big his penis was?


- It was great to see BP and Dudley standing offstage watching the artists perform. They looked like kids at Christmas! and speaking of kids at Christmas -

- bovine's face when BP presented him with his very own custom Bongo. I thought he was going to cry. What a moment!

- I've never really understood the G.A.S. thing before this weekend. One guitar that I really took a liking to was the Nigel Tufnel guitar. It's just too damn cool.

- the Forum Awards were a lot of fun! and very well done.

- Vinnie Moore playing with Tommy in Delaware at the artists jam. And Tommy playing on Red House with LaRue and Petrucci.

- BP's lawyer can play guitar! And he's a nice fellow too.

That's it for now. full report soon.

 

[Big Poppa]

thanks victrola maybe if luke is is the desert at the same time you want to do the interview ...we can both do it........dont forget about the shoulder rub and the DEVILS!!
kudos to your husband for being a great sport

 

[Victrola]

thanks victrola maybe if luke is is the desert at the same time you want to do the interview ...we can both do it........dont forget about the shoulder rub and the DEVILS!!
kudos to your husband for being a great sport

Wow! you mean I can do both you AND luke together???!!!!!

Seriously, that would be great. Or both separately. Whatever works with both of your schedules. I will PM you with my contact info.

Joe (husband) was totally thrilled to talk to another Devils fan- we live in Portland, so there aren't too many Devils fans in Oregon. He also got to talk hockey with Vinnie Moore, who initiated it with a "Let's go Flyers" chant.

hugs,
V.

 

[Big Poppa]

thanks V you can INTERVIEW Luke and I together.......

 

[jeffrey]

- Did ANYONE get a picture of John Petrucci's face when Luke asked him how big his penis was?

I did, of course.

I even got Dave LaRue covering his face.

 

[Victrola]

thanks V you can INTERVIEW Luke and I together.......

I know, I was just trying to be funny. Oh well. Obviously I was never cut out for a career in comedy!

[Gilda Radnor voice] Never mind!

V.

 

[Victrola]

I did, of course.

I even got Dave LaRue covering his face.

Oh, wow! let me know when you post it. That moment was PRICELESS.

I was sitting on the far left, and Petrucci was looking at Luke, so my view was mostly the back of Petrucci's head, but it was very obvious he was surprised, to say the least.

 

[Warg Master]

This was quite the interesting event, it was fun and just plain AWSOME. Thanks very much to Big Poppa and EVERY one who made it possible!!

As for the Penis question..... Yeah, Petrucci was very red..... and so was luke, actually.

 

[jeffrey]

Posted it here.

For some reason I can't put images directly in threads in this forum, mods? Might be a bug!

 

[Big Poppa]

victrola i was kidding too~

 

[fsmith]

Oh, wow! let me know when you post it. That moment was PRICELESS.

I was sitting on the far left, and Petrucci was looking at Luke, so my view was mostly the back of Petrucci's head, but it was very obvious he was surprised, to say the least.

I just posted my pics, I have that shot as well...

fred

 

[Victrola]

Yes, I saw the pics! thanks you guys for posting that. I showed them to Joe and we just laughed all over again......Luke is crazy!

BP, I figured you were joking too, but just making sure.....

hugs,
v.

 

[Victrola]

Weekend Report Part I

Hey Ball-ers,

Wow. I hardly know where to begin.....but before I do, a GREAT BIG HUGE THANK YOU to Sterling, the Ball family and the entire staff. All of us were completely taken care of, and the event was world class.

And I was so happy to meet all of the forumites – especially you Morselanders – Chels (finally after all these years!), Fred, Bob (Concert for George!), Keith Baim….did I miss anyone?

As for the rest of you, great to meet Shamus, Mike VT, phatduck and his crew, Steve Dude Barr and his crew, Psycho Ward – love that tux!, the mighty cow god bovinehost, all of the various Daves, Don, and whomever else – names are a blur at this point.

DISCLAIMER: My only regret is that I wish I hadn't been so sleep deprived. I think I would have taken in more.

Friday, Sept. 16th

okay. so, 6 am flight out of PDX, well, I have the no-sleep- burn on already.

I land in SLO about 9:30 ish. Taxi - no problem. He even stops at a cash machine for me, what a guy.

Check in - they just finished cleaning the room I'm going to be in, so I can check in right away. It's about 10:30 now. I sleep, but keep getting woken up by various noises. I've set the alarm for 1:30 pm. About 1:15 I hear an electric guitar across the parking lot playing "American Woman". It sounds to me like Tommy. I peek out the window, and see a couple of folks hanging on the upper balcony, right by someone's room. The door is open. I call Janice and tell her where I am. Sure enough, it's Tommy hanging out in Keith Baim's room, playing guitar. Koog and Janice and someone else were there too.

We get ready and head over to the Firestone with Fred. It's a beautiful day, sunny, blue skies, etc. SLO is a pretty town, and the old fashioned trolleys are charming. We get to the Firestone (which is apparently a college hangout). And also dog-friendly - we saw people sitting at the outside tables accompanied by their dogs.

Inside, there's some forumites milling around. Sterling is holding court at the back table. We go and pay our respects. Janice brought Sterling peppers from their garden. I had brought a pound of select coffee beans that only are available once a year, but didn't give them to him til much later.

It was Steve Dude Barr's birthday, so everyone was wishing him well. We all toasted Steve. There was a special toast to Ernie, one of several throughout the entire weekend. I met Sterling's wife, (and here we go - the first name I now cannot recall). She was very nice and let us interrupt her sandwich to yak a little.

I met Mike VT and several other forumites. When Janice and I went to pay for our sandwiches, we discovered that Sterling picked up the tab for everything. Which I thought was beyond generous, since he was already picking up the tab for the rest of the weekend and we were not expecting it. Big Poppa rocks!

Janice and I were eating our sandwiches when Lucious came over, plopped himself down opposite us. "Hi ladies!" He told us about how his wife shops for him because he hates to. It was a nice conversation. No, Steve, you didn't offend us! (A question both he and Sterling would ask several times during the weekend).

Awhile later we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the evening festivities. The vans picked us up to take us out to the country club. The grounds were beautiful and we' were in a large banquet room with west-facing windows and a magnificent view of the sunset and the surrounding hills. When we checked in, we were given a swag bag - 2 different EB Tshirts, a set of guitar strings, a Sharpie, and EB hat, some patches, and our access passes for the next day. Guitar picks were strewn on each of the tables inside.

A very nice dinner was served. I finally got to meet several folks from the Steve Morse mailing list – Chels, Paul and his wife Eva, Bob from San Diego and his wife Kathleen, and Keith Baim. Sterling took the stage and talked a bit about the history of EB. Then the forum awards were presented. The first one went to bovinehost, I don’t remember the actual title of it, but I’m going to call him the Official Champion of the Bongo. Sterling presented Bovine with a one-off custom made 4 string Bongo, olive green with red flames. The look on his face was priceless. Bov ended up playing the Bongo during the subsequent jam.

Then Tommy started up the jam, Shamus on bass, and the mighty John Ferraro on drums. They did Whipping Post and a bunch of other tunes I now cannot recall. Tommy called Chels up to sing and they did a great job on Sweet Home Chicago, Chain of Fools, and I think one other tune. Eventually other people got up to play, including Jack (Bovine), David Ball, Sterling Ball, Keith Baim, one of the forum Steves, and I can’t recall who else at this point. They did Little Sister, Great Balls of Fire, and some other tunes (did anyone write down a set list)? Also, TNT got up and did some nice guitar work on EVH tunes – Ain’t talking Bout Love, and also Eruption and You really got me. Nick got up to sing China Grove, the EVH stuff and a few other tunes. You hung in there Nick!

Keith did a wonderful original tune, which I only caught part of, I’m sorry to say, since I was outside. Tommy is an amazing guitar player, and it was nice to hear him part of a live band. Shamus did a real nice job on bass. James, I was pleased to finally meet you in person and get to talk some Motown stuff.

A couple of personal high notes for me: Steve Dude Barr, who hosts the Dude Pit Forum, told me he really liked my idea for the radio show – coming from him, I felt that was a high compliment, since he’s done such a thorough job with his bass forum. Big Poppa offered an interview and so did Luke.

I also got to talk to Dudley a bit outside, and John as well. And then Janice ended up giving me a neck rub, which turned me pretty much to putty. She also did it again on Saturday night, and I am eternally in her debt. Thanks, dear! 

The wait staff at the country club were really enjoying the whole live jam thing.

There were only a handful of folks left when I left around 11:30 or so. I got back to the hotel just in time – Joe (my husband) came in right after, completely jet lagged from flying 5 flights in 36 hours. He flew from India to Singapore to Tokyo to Portland, stayed about 10 hours in Portland (no sleep), then flew to SLO. He looked terrible but I was very glad he was there.

Saturday Sept. 17th

Ugh. Morning bad. Good thing I didn’t drink the night before. I looked as tired as I felt, but I wasn’t going to miss anything. Off to the factory we went. Joe wore his Jersey Devils jersey in honor of Sterling, who is a big Devils fan. The two of them talked hockey – and later on, before the artists round table, Joe also got to talk hockey with Vinnie Moore. Vinnie spotted the Devils jersey and chanted the Flyers chant, “Let’s go Flyers LET’S GO!” We live in Oregon, so there aren’t many Devils fans.

The tour was pretty darn cool. We were in the first group. We couldn’t hear a lot of what was said in the noisier parts of the factory, but it was neat to see the machine that routs out all the body parts, and the thingy that punches the frets on the neck. The guy Tomas who did our tour is the wood buyer and has worked in various places around the factory. There are some really great pics of the factory that others took.

And hell yeah Ursula rules!

I felt sorry for the pregnant woman in our tour – all of the smells were getting to her.

Outside mostly everyone was playing with the guitars and basses set up. That was cool, with all of the little ‘listening stations’ to play through.

At some point, Beth took Janice and me into the prototype room because it wasn’t included on our tour. I recognized the Tony Levin burnt up bass – he had a story about that on his website a few years back, his barn where he kept all of his instruments burned down.

Lunch was served. Sterling came out, and with Dudley gave more history of the factory and some stories. About this time the wind really picked up, and while it was sunny out, under the tent was almost a wind tunnel. Many of us thought that either the tent or the backdrop behind Sterling would come down, maybe both. It was cold. A lot of folks moved their chairs into the sunshine to warm up.

All of the prototypes were brought out, and various other items, like the first few attempts at EVH’s guitar. A Bongo guitar. The Nigel Tufnel guitar. The first Silhouette. A John Petrucci one-off that wasn’t quite finished ( a big thank you to Koog for taking my pic with this guitar). The first Sterling bass that Leo Fender built for Sterling (I hope I have that right, Big Poppa!). Dudley told the story of how they finally got the Steve Morse model to where Steve was perfectly happy with it. He’d tried several times before he (Dudley) finally got to see Morse’s famous Frankenstein guitar, the one Morse had been playing forever. Once Dudley saw that guitar, he totally got what Steve wanted –and the Steve Morse model was born.

Dudley and Sterling answered questions and talked about each one. I’m sure there are more details that some of the gearheads could supply.

There were cameras recording the whole time, and there was an impromptu group shot of the forumites holding the various prototypes.

Afterward, I asked Dudley about the Nigel Tufnel guitar. I asked him why the tachometer didn’t go up to 11. He replied that on some of the guitars, that it did indeed go up to 11. And he also said that on the eleventh one that they made, there were a pair of dice put into the 11th fret – a 6 and a 5. Beth had also said that on the 11th one, instead of the little 8 ball, it was an 11 ball.

Joe made it back in time for the artists forum. He’d gone back to the hotel right after the tour, completely wiped out and running a fever. He reported feeling better after sleeping a few hours.

Due to the wind, Sterling made an executive decision to move us all into the prototype room for the artists forum.

Upstairs, seated at the table from left to right was Tony Levin, John Petrucci, Steve Lukather, Sterling, Dave La Rue, Steve Morse, and John Ferraro at the far right. The forumites all sat on the floor in front of them. This was really great because not only did we get to ask questions, but at some point, they were also discussing out loud amongst themselves about various things like amp preferences and such (sorry, I can’t remember exactly what was said). A little girl asked Steve Morse if he still played guitar while driving, and he launched into a huge explanation, of how he does it and when and why, and finally would up just saying, yes, he still does. He also alluded to flying and playing, which I found really, uh, alarming. Bob from San Diego, who is pilot, later told me he could totally see doing that. I told him that that wasn’t what I wanted to hear, given that I was flying the next day. He just laughed.

The other really funny moment (which has been covered elsewhere) was when Luke turned to Petrucci and asked him the size of his penis.

That can be filed under “things you thought you’d never hear” – at least between those two guitarists. And in front of a crowd.

It ended with the artists taking pictures and signing b&w pics of themselves. I asked Tony Levin if he & Petrucci were planning another Liquid Tension Experiment CD, and he said not likely, because everyone else in LTD is now in Dream Theater. Luke gave me a big hug. I got to say hi to Steve Morse and yak for a minute (he liked my guitar sweatshirt).

More later…..

 

[Victrola]

The Weekend Report - Part II

Saturday night

The Madonna Inn is a really nice place, as we drove up we saw another gorgeous sunset. Inside, they had the place all decorated with beautiful centerpieces and the tables and chairs were all covered with black spandex with various belts of color – pink, orange, blue. It sounds strange but it was rather elegant.

We were served another great dinner, and then the artist concert got under way. Each artist did two songs, and then there was a free form jam.

I hope I have the sequence right. If I don’t, someone let me know please.

Steve Morse, Dave La Rue and John Ferraro, the musical work horse of the entire event, were up first. Steve did two songs – Vista Grande and (I think) On the Pipe. Then, John Petrucci came out and played with LaRue and they did two songs from John’s most recent solo CD – the second one “dedicated to Mr. Morse” – Petrucci is a huge Morse fan, and it shows in his playing. Which is not a bad thing. 

Then, Vinnie Moore took the stage with LaRue and Tommy Alderson – they did two songs. I forgot the name of the first, but the second was called the Maze and Tommy you kicked ASS – you learned all those changes in 4 days!

Tony Levin came out and played with Steve Lukather. And then everyone came out .. and this is the part that I really loved, because it was just sort of up for grabs, and so they were trying certain things, and some things worked, and some things kind of didn’t, but it was really a treat to see all those guys working together and doing the organic process thing! Great moments: Steve Morse and John Petrucci did a few bars of the Dregs’ Rock and Roll Park. Steve Morse started playing Africa by Toto. Luke responded with a few bars of Smoke on the Water. Everyone took a turn at Crossroads.

Luke had technical difficulties, and Dudley was trying to fix them when Steve Morse leaped up on stage (he was sitting with his wife in the very front at that point) and the two of them became Luke’s techs. That was fun to see!

At one point, Sterling and Dudley were off to the side, watching the artists play, looking very happy. That was great to see. Sterling also got up and played, but I don’t remember what he played – only that he did it quite well. Tony Levin did a bit of a thing with John Ferraro during one song, he got up on the riser and would play his bass but also occasionally tap one of the cymbals.

Luke did an incredible Hendrix. How many guitarists have you all heard over the years who imitate Hendrix? He was better than Eric Johnson at it, and I think Eric Johnson can do a mean Hendrix.

They ended with Red House, and Tommy Alderson joined them for the last bit of that. What a great ending!

We hung out for a bit, and Chels took my picture with Steve Morse – I’ve been a Steve fan since 1982, and this is the first time I’ve ever had my pic taken with Steve.

On the way back to the hotel, I discover that my voice has dropped an octave or two and I’m rather hoarse. I can’t wait to crawl into bed.

The next day, I had to leave earlier than Joe. I headed out to the airport, to discover that Pycho Ward is on the same plane I am. We have ourselves a good yak, and arrange to sit together on the plane so we can continue the conversation. Chuck, you were a very pleasant companion, and I thoroughly enjoyed talking with you. Chuck plays country and old timey stuff, and he used to play sax and keyboards. He says that playing bass is his mid life crisis.

A great weekend, and thanks once again to BP and the whole crew. Hugs to everybody!

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

Petrucci was very red..... and so was luke, actually.

I think Luke's face is always a bit "red".

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

A couple of personal high notes for me: Steve Dude Barr, who hosts the Dude Pit Forum, told me he really liked my idea for the radio show – coming from him, I felt that was a high compliment, since he’s done such a thorough job with his bass forum.

Thanks Vic....I'll be putting a link to your site on the new VBTC website which I'll be launching as soon as I get back off The Poophead Tour '05 in October and will help you contact any bass players you may wish to do interviews with.

 

[SteveB]

great job, Philly Kid!

Victrola did an admirable job recapping the weekend.

I'll fill in a blank or two:

Sterling's wife is Stacey (hope I spelled it correctly).

Yes, Morse played "Vista Grande" and "On the Pipe"

The fist tune Vinnie Moore played was "Check it out!", then "The Maze".

Petrucci played two tunes from his "Suspended Animation" solo CD.
The 1st song I can't remember the title...
The 2nd song was "Glasgow Kiss".

PK, I chatted briefly with your Joe at the SLO airport while he was waiting for his flight home. Nice guy! I would never have known what a wringer he had been through if you hadn't mentioned it.. he was a real trooper!

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

Petrucci played two tunes from his "Suspended Animation" solo CD.
The 1st song I can't remember the title...
The 2nd song was "Glasgow Kiss".

First song was "Curve"

 

[Victrola]

Thanks Vic....I'll be putting a link to your site on the new VBTC website which I'll be launching as soon as I get back off The Poophead Tour '05 in October and will help you contact any bass players you may wish to do interviews with.

Steve - once again, Happy Birthday! Your attention to detail and creativity at the Pit is amazing. Truly, it IS a bass players' wet dream!

I am planning on linking to the PIT as soon as I finish updating my website. The update has moved to the top of my priority list....Joe leaves for England (work) on Saturday, and I'll have the computer all to myself, and some time to actually do it!

And Steve, it was great to meet you, and thanks re; the interviews!

hugs
v.

 

[Victrola]

Victrola did an admirable job recapping the weekend.

I'll fill in a blank or two:

Sterling's wife is Stacey (hope I spelled it correctly).

Yes, Morse played "Vista Grande" and "On the Pipe"

The fist tune Vinnie Moore played was "Check it out!", then "The Maze".

Petrucci played two tunes from his "Suspended Animation" solo CD.
The 1st song I can't remember the title...
The 2nd song was "Glasgow Kiss".

PK, I chatted briefly with your Joe at the SLO airport while he was waiting for his flight home. Nice guy! I would never have known what a wringer he had been through if you hadn't mentioned it.. he was a real trooper!

Steve! Hey, thanks for the details. My memory cell isn't what it used to be.

Joe IS a nice guy - and he was just fried, but he really wanted to come and he was glad he did. BTW, today is his birthday! We're going out to dinner tonight.