8/1/14 Chautauqua, NY set list

This was a cool venue in this sweet little village…it kinda seemed like a cult compound though but I can’t wait to visit it again!

This was a good show but I was a little disappointed in the set list that Bruce chose to play.
I guess he is done playing requests as this is the second show in a row that I noticed he didn’t pick up a single request or even mentioned a request. He seemed to already have what he wants to play made up in his mind and what he wants may not be what some fans want which isn’t a good thing.
Bruce and Sonny did a great job don’t get me wrong but this show kinda seemed like Bruce was just playing for himself to practice the new songs and play around with his SCK BSTD stuff.

Pat Metheny’s set was great but I felt bad for him as well as majority of the crowd left after his fourth song…I later found out that the outer perimeter of this venue is free tix for the people that stay in the Chautauqua village.
Those of us that paid more for the good seats on the floor stayed ’til the end.
I was front row as usual but was let down by the fact that Metheny had strict orders of no cameras or phones so I couldn’t get any pictures but I did get some from the sound checks from a distance so I guess that’ll do.
I also got a picture with Pat Metheny after the show so that was cool!
It was awesome to see Pat play his 42 string Pikasso guitar…that thing pretty damn sweet looking.

I think this was one of the best version’s of The Way It Is I ever heard as Metheny’s band played it with Bruce & Sonny.
Metheny’s solo was one of the best I ever heard other than one of Kimock’s solos of ’02.
Sonny and Pat’s drummer had a killer drum off which was another highlight of the tune.
Its a shame that they didn’t play TWII this good on any of the handful of recordings that are currently circulating as all those versions seemed rushed as the one we got here was stretched out with many killer solos.

I just wish some better songs were played especially the ones I requested — Sunlight Moon, China Doll, Invisible, Country Doctor

One major let down was that I figured seeing that Bruce is on tour with Metheny that Bruce would play songs that Metheny played on but it didn’t happen. Pat’s only coming out to play on Miami and Valley Road…which had some sweet jamming, but I would have loved China Doll or Harbor Lights.

The orchestrion stuff in the background was connected to each Unity Group member’s instrument which I thought was looked cool and it was fun to see but I don’t think all of it hit the mic.
The bass player was hooked up to those glass bottles on the shelves and I think the accordion. The drummer was able to play the vibraphone and the bells. The dude on the keys was connected to the congas and something else I can’t remember seeing that I wasn’t able to take pictures of it during the show.
Pat was able to play the cymbals, vibes, bells and many other things. I was able to hear them front row but I think some of that stuff may not of had the mics close enough for the sound to go past the first 10 rows.

Yeah I did notice that Bruce has been using a different piano…I noticed it last year in Aurora, IL that he wasn’t playing the usual Steinway. I know he was playing a Baldwin as well.

Yeah I really fell in love with that little village of Chautauqua.
The price’s to stay there are ridiculous but if you notice it does keep out the riff-raff.
I thought it was funny walking through the town at 12:30am and it was completely shutdown lights out not a soul on the roads and all the bicycles left out parked at all the bike racks…even old codger’s Rascals were left out on the sidewalks. These people really had trust in everybody. It was weird to have to walk like a half mile to the parking lot for the town and there were even bikes parked out there in bike racks and hardly any of them were locked up.

I wish I was able to see Bruce or Metheny again so you’re lucky they’re playing near you. Bruce already has tix on sale for a show near Columbus, OH in May but that is way too far away to make the commitment seeing that it is a weekday show.

I really like it. It actually works better than you would imagine.
Anytime I’m at a solo show I always wish for at least one more instrument.
I think I’d prefer piano/guitar or piano/sax duo but Bruce and Sonny complimented each other pretty well and looked like they were having a ball.
I think a Bruce & JT duo would be pretty cool too.

There are a few recordings on DIME to hear for yourself if your a member of that site.