Johnny Winter w/David Gogo
Sunday, October 9th, 2011
Community Theatre,
1375 Water Street,
Kelowna, BC, Canada

Taper: LeifH
Source: CSB's (filter) > Sony PCM M10 @ 24/96 > 8GB Duracell microSD card
Transfer: Memory card > PC via USB > Wavepad Master's Edition > edits and downsample to 16/44.1 > flac (8) via Frontend

Setlist: 1:28:12
00 introduction
01 Hideaway
02 Sugar Coated Love
03 She Likes to Boogie Real Low
04 Good Morning Little School Girl
05 I Got My Mojo Workin'
06 Johnny B. Goode
07 Black Jack
08 Torn Down
09 Lone Wolf
10 Don't Take Advantage of Me >
11 Gimme Shelter
12 Boney Moroney
13 It's All Over Now
14 Dust My Broom *
15 Highway 61 Revistited *

* = with the Firebird


David Gogo was an excellent opening act for this show. I hadn't seen him before and I liked him. Supposedly he had flown from Europe all morning, having had a beer at 09:00 that morning. He notifies the crowd that he's drinking Wild Turkey, and seems to bash himself a few times. "This is from my Juno losing album...Sold well under a million copies..." He had two vintage guitars that he played, both are almost 100 years old. /The heads started to twitch and rock in the dark, the knees bouncing and pivoting./ Part way through David's set, he had some technical difficulties. He thought at first that it was his amplifier, everyone in the crowd keeps yelling at him to get a new chord, and shout other unhelpful suggestions. So he plugged into a DI that the soundguy hastily brought to the stage. That didn't improve the sound quality, and he also realized that it was apparently his tuning pedal that was causing his guitar to cut in and out. But he kept using the DI. I think all the on stage screw ups may have made Gogo more entertaining, because he was able to make light of it and joke with the audience rather than get pissed off or emotional otherwise. His last song featured local harmonica player Sherman "The Tank" Doucette, however, Sherman didn't seem to know the song too well, so his harmonica to dancing ratio was about 1:6.

There was a short intermission, and Winter's band took the stage, as well as his guitar tech. They did their standard introduction, and out walked Johnny, frail as could be. His back was hunched and he only had one eye open. As he sat down in his chair in the centre of the stage, his guitar tech passed him his stupid headless piece of junk guitar. Johnny wore the standard all black uniform and his black, feathered hat. For much of the show, Johnny wasn't as audible as he should have been. Particularily his voice, but also his guitar at points. I hate to say it but Johnny can't play like he used to, not like on the 1971 Live And album. I sort of knew this before the show, so I was happy just to see the actual Johnny Winter, but at times it was painful. His guitar channel is processed with a heavy chorus-flanger type effect, and this is a great way to cover up mistakes (because its hard to hear it properly in the first place). Johnny's band was tight, they were alive and jumpy. The bass player had this look on his face most of the show that just seemed bored, however the drummer and guitarist looked like they were enjoying themselves. I actually saw at least one couple stand up walk out about 3 songs into Johnny's set. They never came back. I thought it was sad to see Johnny in such a condition, but I didn't think it was that bad. The setlist is standard, and I thought Good Morning Little School Girl was one of the better renditions this night. Johnny actually stood up for It's All Over Now! I guess he needs a pre-programmed stretch during his shows, so he stood for about 4.5 minutes. Once the song was over he sat right back down. The highlight of the show for me were the last two songs. Not necessarily because Highway 61 Revisited is one of the best songs Johnny ever did, but because he pulled out the Firebird for those songs! I really wasn't expecting that, that made the show. It was like he wrapped his arms around an old friend and the technique came back! I mean the guy could hardly hold the guitar, but what a difference in sound between that stupid headless guitar and the Firebird.

Both artists played Dust My Broom. I didn't notice until listening to the recordings. After the show, I went to the tour "bus" and saw Johnny sitting through the window, puffing a dart, damn near the filter. A blond chick with stupid hair notified the 10 or so people standing by the "bus" that they could meet Johnny if they form a nice line. I readied my Sharpie and my original vinyl copy of Second Winter. When I got my turn, I didn't really know what to say. I wasn't nervous, there's just so many things I'd like to tell the guy, but I know he's heard all that cheesy shit before. When I got close to lay my record cover on the table, the drummer was sitting across from Johnny, opened the pen for him and showed him where to sign. Johnny grunted, only one eye was partially open, and his skin looked practically transluscent in person. He had his hat off, showing that he still had a full head of hair, no matter how thin and off white it was. The sound of the felt pen against the LP cover was louder than anything for a few moments, and as I thanked Johnny and his drummer, even though I wanted to say so much more, I wasn't going to stand there and babble to a guy who came across as not very fan friendly. Being that close to him was worth the ticket price alone anyway.

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JohnnyWinter2011-10-09CommunityTheatreKelownaCanada (7).JPG
JohnnyWinter2011-10-09CommunityTheatreKelownaCanada (8).JPG
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