Johnny Winter Tonight!!!

[floydfanatic]

Johnny Winter is playing the Saskatoon Jazz Fest tonight, and my dad is taking me so im pretty excited. I'll let you guys know how it is. I wonder if he'll be sitting or standing...? He said in an interview that he wanted to start standing. Either way Johnny will no doubt tear my heart apart with his blues riffs. I hope Reese from Double Trouble joins him..........Rumour is he will!

[benjammin420]

man im jealous, i missed him last time he came thru town, and ive been kicking myself since

[Ricky_Rockhardo]

Saw Johnny about four months ago. He was sitting and was getting it done the whole night. His vocals have suffered which is to be expected. All in all it was a good performance. Hope you guys enjoy it.

[stelligan]

Saw him a few months back and he was sitting. Saw him with Rick Derringer - "Johnny Winter And" way back. Have been a fan since forever. While he seemed a shadow of his former self, that is still a big shadow...... Love Johnny - I am sure you will enjoy!!

[Broken Cord]

Yeah man! Johnnie is a man that can play the hell outta the Blues. He is a real deal.

[Teleman]

One of the absolute greats that is still performing. See him while you can. I saw Johnny Winter for the first time in about '68 wit tha "and" band. Rick Deriiger, Bobby Caldwell and the bass plaer that went on to play with Stevie Ray. ( Man I can't remember his name at the moment!) Just unbelievable!

[stelligan]

One of the absolute greats that is still performing. See him while you can. I saw Johnny Winter for the first time in about '68 wit tha "and" band. Rick Deriiger, Bobby Caldwell and the bass plaer that went on to play with Stevie Ray. ( Man I can't remember his name at the moment!) Just unbelievable!
Tommy Shannon was with Johnny way back, but don't think he was the bassist when I saw "And". I think I saw Randy Jo Hobbs? Shoot - I was just a twirp - can't remember 'cause I was just into the guitar slingers...
http://www.tommyshannon.com/

[Tonefish]

Way Cool!! Have fun; he's a great one!

[defcrew]

Saw him a few months back and he was sitting. Saw him with Rick Derringer - "Johnny Winter And" way back. Have been a fan since forever. While he seemed a shadow of his former self, that is still a big shadow...... Love Johnny - I am sure you will enjoy!!
at his best, IMO, during that era

[Arnie Guitar]

Tommy Shannon was with Johnny way back, but don't think he was the bassist when I saw "And". I think I saw Randy Jo Hobbs? Shoot - I was just a twirp - can't remember 'cause I was just into the guitar slingers...
http://www.tommyshannon.com/

True dat, Tommy Shannon and (drummer)Uncle John Turner were sent on there way (with I believe 3 weeks pay) when manager Teddy Slatus joined the remaining McCoys with JW. The bassist for the McCoys at that time, and for all of JW And was Randy Jo Hobbs, may he RIP...

[floydfanatic]

Just got back from his show.............Now, I could lie and say that it was great but man what a disappointment. Probably the worst show I've ever seen. It was almost depressing to see him come out barely able to walk, then he sits down and his guitar playing was frankly unnacceptable. I was really excited but man........ he's lost it. Every 10 notes or so a few missed notes would come out and it was a little embarrassing. Although when he brought out the Firebird his slide work was better than most. His rhythm guitar player was amazing but only got to do about 2 solos but the guy could rip hard! His bass player was also great and the drummer was alright. There set was MAYBE a little longer than an hour but what can you expext from a guy thats somewhere around 70.
BUT I have a lot of respect for the guy. I mean hes been through a lot and was once an awesome player. He was a heroin addict and his old manager really did a number on him. Overall the show was really boring. Every song was pretty much the same mainly because Johnny's vocals were pretty buried in the mix and his lead playing was always the same stuff. So having 1,4,5 played over and over was not too fun. I mean I love tha blues but this was definitely a sleeper of a show. No disrespect to Johnny though.
Be honest, forget the whole legendary status, as a performance was he really that good when you guys saw him? Im interested to hear what you guys havee to say. Hope you don't bash me for speakin my mind.

[rwe333]

Drag the show was a let-down. Johnny does seem hit/miss these days. <sigh>
I've seen Johnny many times over the years, first when I was 11 on the John Dawson Winter III tour that produced Captured Live (the Firebird years w/ Randy Jo Hobbs, Richard Hughes and Floyd Radford) then on many Laser-years pub tours since - all good (first one awesome!).
But, a show I saw at the Ottawa Blues Festival a few years back was simply dreadful... Embarrassing, sadly - pretty much everyone left the park (sad to see 10,000 dwindle to 100 within minutes). I felt so bad for JW - what a poor salute for an icon - but, at the same time, it was a waste of money for the myriad ticket holders.
Seems its been a Catch-22 since... <shame>
DO check out Johnny's '70s glory/recording years. Much to respect/learn from there.

[floydfanatic]

DO check out Johnny's '70s glory/recording years. Much to respect/learn from there.

Don't worry I have! 20 minute Tobbaco Road with his bro. Awesome!

[84Bravo]

Just got back from his show.............Now, I could lie and say that it was great but man what a disappointment. Probably the worst show I've ever seen. It was almost depressing to see him come out barely able to walk, then he sits down and his guitar playing was frankly unnacceptable. I was really excited but man........ he's lost it. Every 10 notes or so a few missed notes would come out and it was a little embarrassing. Although when he brought out the Firebird his slide work was better than most. His rhythm guitar player was amazing but only got to do about 2 solos but the guy could rip hard! His bass player was also great and the drummer was alright. There set was MAYBE a little longer than an hour but what can you expext from a guy thats somewhere around 70.
BUT I have a lot of respect for the guy. I mean hes been through a lot and was once an awesome player. He was a heroin addict and his old manager really did a number on him. Overall the show was really boring. Every song was pretty much the same mainly because Johnny's vocals were pretty buried in the mix and his lead playing was always the same stuff. So having 1,4,5 played over and over was not too fun. I mean I love tha blues but this was definitely a sleeper of a show. No disrespect to Johnny though.
Be honest, forget the whole legendary status, as a performance was he really that good when you guys saw him? Im interested to hear what you guys havee to say. Hope you don't bash me for speakin my mind.

Geez dude, I dunno. Ask BB or Les Paul or Buddy Guy. Age got nothing to do with it.

What can you expect from a kid under 30?

[French Fry]

... His rhythm guitar player was amazing but only got to do about 2 solos but the guy could rip hard! ...

Is that Paul Nelson still playing with him? Goofy lookin blond guy?

I used to take lessons with him in stamford ct. Absolutely Amazing guitar player. Would love to get back in touch with him.

[floydfanatic]

Geez dude, I dunno. Ask BB or Les Paul or Buddy Guy. Age got nothing to do with it.

What can you expect from a kid under 30?

Buddy Guy also came to the jazz fest 2 years ago AND this year. I saw both shows and his set was MAYBE an hour and a half. And BB sits down at every show as well. Depedending on the person and there health situation some can play longer, with more energy than others.........these are usually younger people. But Buddy chops last week weren't that amazing. 2 years ago he was great but this year it was an off day for him. BB is still the MAN though.

[floydfanatic]

Is that Paul Nelson still playing with him? Goofy lookin blond guy?

I used to take lessons with him in stamford ct. Absolutely Amazing guitar player. Would love to get back in touch with him.

Yeah. What a monster!

[keefsdad]

Just got back from his show.............Now, I could lie and say that it was great but man what a disappointment. Probably the worst show I've ever seen. It was almost depressing to see him come out barely able to walk, then he sits down and his guitar playing was frankly unnacceptable. I was really excited but man........ he's lost it. Every 10 notes or so a few missed notes would come out and it was a little embarrassing. Although when he brought out the Firebird his slide work was better than most. His rhythm guitar player was amazing but only got to do about 2 solos but the guy could rip hard! His bass player was also great and the drummer was alright. There set was MAYBE a little longer than an hour but what can you expext from a guy thats somewhere around 70.
BUT I have a lot of respect for the guy. I mean hes been through a lot and was once an awesome player. He was a heroin addict and his old manager really did a number on him. Overall the show was really boring. Every song was pretty much the same mainly because Johnny's vocals were pretty buried in the mix and his lead playing was always the same stuff. So having 1,4,5 played over and over was not too fun. I mean I love tha blues but this was definitely a sleeper of a show. No disrespect to Johnny though.
Be honest, forget the whole legendary status, as a performance was he really that good when you guys saw him? Im interested to hear what you guys havee to say. Hope you don't bash me for speakin my mind.

That's sad to hear. I won't bash you, you were respectful and just being honest.
I have never seen Johnny play badly, but the last time I saw him was in the 80's. And yes he was that good. I saw him in '69 too. Mindblowing. And on the Chicago crossroads festival I thought he still kicked ass. But he is old and weary, and way past the life expectancy for an albino. Thanks for recognizing that he is a legend, and we will all get there someday, unless we die first. Long may he run.

[Doug H]

I've got a chance to see him in October, small theater, $25 ticket price. It almost sounds too good to be true. If he's been hit or miss I may have to think about. OTOH he is a legend and I missed him in '76 when he was a no-show at another concert. Would love to take my son and see a good show. Hmmm...

[JDW3]

I've seen Johnny about 7 times since '96. Only once or twice did he actually "bring it". The rest were way off key, lost in the changes, blues by the numbers. And I'm a huge JW fan.

You can be respectful and also honest. How long can respectful be entertaining?

There was much specualtion on what happened to Johnny in the early/mid '90s. Worst one was he had an OD, stroke or both, and ended up in the hospital for awhile. May or may not be true, Remember he was on methadone for a long time. The fact is, he only remembers how to play about 12 songs, and that's going back to '96! Even into '92, Johnny could play just about anything, at any speed, from his mental blues catalog, which is just about anything he ever heard in his life. Something happened shortly after that that changed him forever.

Yes, that really sucks.

Long live Johnny.