Bela should be the opener…

GuinnessGoon

Bruce Hornsby setlists, concerts, downloads Forums General chat Bela should be the opener…

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  • #25606
    Avatar of GuinnessGoonGuinnessGoon
    Participant

    Man, I can’t believe that Bruce is the opener for Bela :?
    Bruce is much more popular act and definetly a more entertaining show to end a co-billed concert.
    Don’t get me wrong I love Bela and the boys but it just doesn’t make sense to have bluegrassish jazzy mellowy instrumentals follow a funky stanky groovin’ band like Bruce and the ‘makers.
    I have seen Bela a few times and it was always a cool show but they were usually the warm up act when co-billed and its just weird to me to have Bruce as the warm up act.

    This sorta reminds me of when Bob Weir/Ratdog opened for Black Crowes….although it was nice to get on the road early before I had to hear/see/deal with Chris Robinson, but BC should have been the warm up band for the legend Bobby Weir.
    Same goes for when Bob Weir/Ratdog had to open up for Allman Bros not as bad as the BC thing but still a former member of a more popular/successful/better band as the opener just never made sense other than me getting on the road a little earlier.

    #32845
    Avatar of TakavlTakavl
    Participant

    GG —

    For which show(s) is BH opening? Where did you see/read/hear such scandalous assertions??? 🙄 😆

    T

    #32846
    Avatar of GuinnessGoonGuinnessGoon
    Participant
    Takavl wrote:
    GG —

    For which show(s) is BH opening? Where did you see/read/hear such scandalous assertions??? 🙄 😆

    T

    Check out Bruce’s tour page and then click on the venue link. They tell you the times and who opens.
    Almost all of the shows Bruce is the opener.
    I just sold my 3rd row tix to the Kettering show because I’m not gonna drive 4 hours to get an hour or so of Bruce and two hours of Bela. Just not worth it to me.
    Bruce just announced a Pittsburgh show for September 1st so I’ll hit that up.

    #32847
    Avatar of David DayDavid Day
    Participant

    From the whatever it’s worth department, for whatever it’s worth……

    I don’t know if this is “cast in stone”, but…..Whoever has the “top bill” usually does not open. At Biltmore, it’s Bruce and Bella which means usually Bella will open. The next night at Chastain, it’s Bella and Bruce which usually means Bruce will open.

    I’m sure that no matter who opens…..There will probably be a party at the end! :D

    Still havin’ a ball! :D

    David Day
    Lake Lanier, GA

    #32848
    Avatar of TakavlTakavl
    Participant
    David Day wrote:
    Whoever has the “top bill” usually does not open. At Biltmore, it’s Bruce and Bella which means usually Bella will open. The next night at Chastain, it’s Bella and Bruce which usually means Bruce will open.

    I’m sure that no matter who opens…..There will probably be a party at the end! :D

    I read ya, Dreadlock Dave, but GG points out that BH’s site has actual stagetimes, my friend….as in, “Bruce at 7 pm, Bela at 8:30 pm, etc etc.”

    BTW, and take it in stride (as I’m sure you will ;) ), but dude, it’s “Bela,” NOT “Bella.” “Bela” is Austro-Hungarian male Jewish, not an Italian/Latin nickname for a young female, i.e. “Isabella” or “Izabella.” Bela Fleck, not Bella. Sorry, that’s just a pet peeve of mine, as my third bundle of combined DNA is named after (20th century mod-composer) Bela Bartok, and I usually have to correct peeps who see his name in print; like drs. and nurses, etc:

    Me: “Um, no…he’s not a girl. At least last time I checked. It’s pronounced ‘Bay-lah’…”
    Embarrassed nurse/secretary/receptionist: “Oh, I’m sorry…mumble mumble mumble…

    While there might be a party at the end at the Windsor Locks Summer Wind Blowin’ Innapalooza, I won’t be attending. Just can’t ever seem to get in with right peeps. And, as there are only so many hours in the day, and so many bucks I don’t feel like spending for people I don’t feel like seeing (sorry, Jaimoe, Bela, Flecktones, Gregg whom I’ve already seen solo circa 1985) and with my creeping senescence (and occupation as Mr. Mom), I must choose my partying accordingly, knowwhutahmsayin,’ Mr. Havin’ A Ball??? 😆 😈

    I’m sure BH won’t care, as he’ll be hearing from me in the ever-so sophisticated and urbane confines of the Colonial…. ;)

    T

    #32849
    Avatar of babytweety2yobabytweety2yo
    Participant

    I personally don’t see what difference it matters who opens or closes or who does what set. I’m riding the bus again all the way from Texas to Biltmore..ain’t the happiest of rides, but to see Bruce play what ever he plays it worth it.

    I saw him in 95 or 96 play a solo show with Bela and they shared the stage…was a fun night…they each played some of their songs…together, some solo. So I’m sure even now they will share the stage and play some apart. So I don’t think it will be a show to miss.

    But hey to each their own…I’m looking forward to what ever the night holds! :D

    Monica

    #32850
    Avatar of GuinnessGoonGuinnessGoon
    Participant
    babytweety2yo wrote:
    I personally don’t see what difference it matters who opens or closes or who does what set. I’m riding the bus again all the way from Texas to Biltmore..ain’t the happiest of rides, but to see Bruce play what ever he plays it worth it.

    I saw him in 95 or 96 play a solo show with Bela and they shared the stage…was a fun night…they each played some of their songs…together, some solo. So I’m sure even now they will share the stage and play some apart. So I don’t think it will be a show to miss.

    But hey to each their own…I’m looking forward to what ever the night holds! :D

    Monica

    I hear ya. Most openers play only a little over an hour and the closer usually gets about 2 hours when co-billed in this kind of situation. Yeah they each will come out for a song or two in each others sets.
    The point I was trying to make is that Bela’s music can put you to sleep if you’re not into what he does as it is 90% instrumentals as Bruce’s music can be explosive with funky stankin grooves and can end the concert on a high note.

    Two different styles of music which do need a correct order based on style of music and the size of fanbase. I seen it when Bob Weir and Ratdog opened for Black Crowes….most went there for Bob Weir and when his band was done so were the fans. A large amount of the crowd left before the Black Crowes came out. Im not saying people would leave for Bela Im just pointing out it makes more sense to have Bruce close the show on a high note with his style of music compared to Bela’s bluegrass instrumentals, but yeah to each their own.

    #32851
    Avatar of TakavlTakavl
    Participant
    babytweety2yo wrote:
    I personally don’t see what difference it matters who opens or closes or who does what set. I’m riding the bus again all the way from Texas to Biltmore..ain’t the happiest of rides, but to see Bruce play what ever he plays it worth it.

    Yeah, but M — everyone knows that you, my dear, are the very HARDEST of the hard core… 😆

    T

    #32852
    Avatar of David DayDavid Day
    Participant
    Takavl wrote:
    knowwhutahmsayin,’ Mr. Havin’ A Ball??? T

    Mi kno zactly whad ya sa! 😆

    On the other hand…..Monica is right! It’s Bruuuce no matter who opens! You can bet that Bruce will be there for closure too! 8-)

    Still havin’ a ball! :D

    David Day
    Lake Lanier, GA

    #32853
    Avatar of DMBTex10101DMBTex10101
    Participant

    While my opinions of who should “open” and “close” during this tour probably differ from most here, I wanted to clear a few things up.

    This is a co-headlining tour, meaning their sets will be the same length which is just over 90 minutes. And they will share the final encore.

    Looks like the first few shows have shown lots of collaboration between the two bands with an encore (both bands on stage) for Bill Monroe’s Little Maggie. The Denver show also seems to have had a Bela/Bruce duet before Little Maggie in the encore.

    Checkout archivesincowtown.org for more details on the Flecktones setlists including some Bruce guest spots and the encore details.

    I’d love to catch these two acts, regardless of who plays first or second, two amazing bands, some of the best musicians on the planet, and they all work so well together. Sign me up.

    #32854
    Avatar of TakavlTakavl
    Participant
    DMBTex10101 wrote:
    (M)y opinions of who should “open” and “close” during this tour probably differ from most here…
    This is a co-headlining tour, meaning their sets will be the same length which is just over 90 minutes. And they will share the final encore.

    Checkout archivesincowtown.org for more details on the Flecktones setlists including some Bruce guest spots and the encore details.

    I’d love to catch these two acts, regardless of who plays first or second, two amazing bands, some of the best musicians on the planet, and they all work so well together. Sign me up.

    About your opinions, well yeah, you think? 😆 A corollary would be Si visiting your above-mentioned site and mildly chastising your members. ;)

    Thanks for the link, BTW. P.S. DMB — most of us here DO know what “co-headlining” means, but thanks for clearing it up; seriously, that tidbit of info from you is more than we’ve gotten from BH, BH Facebook, BH’s site, etc. At least as far as I know…I could be wrong.

    I’m with the Goon regarding the Flecktones opening — conventionally speaking (emphasis on the conventional), you’re asking for a lot of walkouts when the (no offense, really) “lesser-known” (loaded term, I know, forgive and bear with me) group, particularly a mostly instrumental group closes the show…it’s hard enough for BH to do what he does (no setlist, radical reinterpretations of his tunes nightly, ad hoc stage banter and vocals, etc), but when you throw an almost indescribable genre that Bela and co. inhabit (what, “new-age bluejazz improv”?) after, in this extreme case, the Noisemakers, the people that came for BH will most likely leave, BH appearance in the encore or no. Who benefits the most from said co-tour? Probably the ‘tones…(I wasn’t here for the Bruce/Bobby co-tour, so I can only wonder how many of my list-mates, the ones not disposed to liking the Dead, stuck around for the Bobber.)

    Yes, they’re all excellent musicians. Yes, they have fun together. Yes, there will be converts and fans of both exposed to new stuff. But for some of us, it just isn’t a show that, given BH’s propensity to frequently spoil us with at least 2 hour shows with no opener (or almost as good, an opener that can be listened to from the bar or the bathroom or the front gate 😆 ), well, at least a few of us will be attending. Unfortunately, there are some shows that some people just can’t make, or other tix for same artist later on in the year that we’d rather blow at least $80 on. 8-)

    Funnily enough, the only show closest to me is the Windsor date, which also features Jaimoe and Gregg Allman. It’s in a field, midstate CT, the heat of summer….so not only do I pay for the ‘tones, I also pay for the other two, not to mention any possible inclement weather. I think that I’m saying that if it weren’t a show with those others, I might consider going…. 😳

    Personally, I like Fleck, but I’m not a fan of the Flecktones. I really like that Fleck/Meyer/Hussain disc, however…so don’t completely write me off. It comes down to the subjectivity of art vs. the appreciation of a talented musician; there are some musicians who, while incredibly adept and magical performers, just can’t reach every muso snob like myself. Ask the Goon about my dissing of his beloved Phish…. 🙄 :P

    Earnestly and sincerely,

    T

    #32855
    Avatar of GuinnessGoonGuinnessGoon
    Participant

    Hey bruuuceboardnewbie I applaud your enthusiasm and positive vibe of the Flecktones and claim of love for Bruce and welcome you to the bruuuce board. You picked a great thread to bust your Bruuuce cherry with, but you missed the point that I made within this thread. T made a great point/explanation/point again 💡

    On a sad note T the Bruce/Bobby shows were the complete opposite which sux because those wooks missed out on some good shite our boy BH does. I never got why those two didn’t alternate openers so that didn’t happen.

    T-bird you should still go to the Windsor show because that would be a jam packed nite of some jazzy snazzy jams. If you like jazz you’ll dig Jaimoe’s band I dl’d two of his shows and really dig it. You can find some of his shows on etree.
    Also, Gregg Allman is playing with a different band and don’t have that goon Warren Haynes with him wrecking songs with his horrible guitar sound/playing/voice. Allman’s solo band is much more jazzier/bluesier and he changes up many of his ABB tunes and also he plays ‘Im no Angel’ come on you know you miss that song.
    You can hear samples from https://www.munckmusic.com/wms/mp3playe … concertID= what the? link doesn’t work shortcut style. Oh well you gotta take my word for it.
    I know you said its in a hot-ass field and the price and possibility of it raining and turning the field to a mud pit and possible wookie skinny dip but that show looks interesting and I gotta say I’m jealous that stuff like that don’t come to Cleveland anymore :(
    Just go man and dance in the sweaty field with the wooks that Allman will attract.

    …but yeah Bela should still be the opener ;)

    #32856
    Avatar of DMBTex10101DMBTex10101
    Participant

    haha, thanks so much for the responses. I sincerely apologize if I came off as chastising, as I had no intentions of starting a war. I just came here to see if you guys had info on the shows and wanted to make sure you all knew it was a co-headlining tour. I had no other intentions but to make sure that was out there since it hadn’t been mentioned at all in the thread.

    And I have no intentions of starting a Bela vs. Bruce war here either . . . even though I’m somewhat inclined to argue some of your points :) . . . but that is perhaps for another day (and/or thread).

    Regardless, I’ve been somewhat of a Bruce fan for a bit now just not to the crazy obsessive level as I am with Bela. Hopefully we get some great music from this tour and there are some new fans for both bands. I know I enjoy when they collaborate very much.

    Oh and I’m with you on Phish, I never really got into them, I won’t deny their talent, but they aren’t exactly my cup of tea.

    Nice to meet all of you, and again, my apologies if I had a negative tone, I assure you it wasn’t intentional.

    #32857
    Avatar of Si TwiningSi Twining
    Keymaster

    As I’ve corresponded with DMBTex10101 for some time time, I can confirm two things unequivocally:

    i. he has the least user-friendly name that I’ve ever seen, and
    ii. in no way would he have meant to come across as chastising

    Check out his definitive Bela Fleck website – you’ll see from the front page that he’s worked with Bruuuce.com in the past, and I’m sure we’ll do so again, given the two wonderful talents on offer (Bela and Bruce, or Bruce and Bela, but not Si and DMBTex10101).

    http://www.archivesincowtown.org

    #32858
    Avatar of hnddncrhnddncr
    Participant

    I have to say that I just saw two Bruce/Bela shows in a row. Woodinville, WA and Portland zoo. Bela opened in Woodinville and Bruce opened in Portland. Both shows were amazing musical experiences! I have worked with and followed Bruce since the early 90s. Knowing Bruce the way i do, i think it is clear that he has great respect for Bela and considers him an equal and thus deserving equal bill and that would be why they share top bill and rotate opening and closing. I understand the point that Bela is a bit more mellow but the encores with both full bands on stage made it hard to leave both venues! SERIOUS JAM AND HIGH TIMES!
    DON’T MISS THESE SHOW REGARDLESS OF WHO OPENS!

    #32859
    Avatar of David DayDavid Day
    Participant
    hnddncr wrote:
    SERIOUS JAM AND HIGH TIMES! DON’T MISS THESE SHOW REGARDLESS OF WHO OPENS!

    Amen brother! You’re “preachin’ to the choir” here! 😆 You don’t want to miss it!

    Still havin’ a ball! :D

    David Day
    Lake Lanier, GA

    #32860
    Avatar of gdwomangdwoman
    Participant
    hnddncr wrote:
    I have to say that I just saw two Bruce/Bela shows in a row. Woodinville, WA and Portland zoo. Bela opened in Woodinville and Bruce opened in Portland. Both shows were amazing musical experiences! I have worked with and followed Bruce since the early 90s. Knowing Bruce the way i do, i think it is clear that he has great respect for Bela and considers him an equal and thus deserving equal bill and that would be why they share top bill and rotate opening and closing. I understand the point that Bela is a bit more mellow but the encores with both full bands on stage made it hard to leave both venues! SERIOUS JAM AND HIGH TIMES!
    DON’T MISS THESE SHOW REGARDLESS OF WHO OPENS!

    I was at the same two shows, and am in full agreement. Bela and the Flecktones are right on, tight, and funky. There is no question as to the talent and awesomeness of this band. Regarding Bruce…well, ’nuff said here about how much we love him and the Noisemakers. While I am typically partial to seeing just Bruce and the Noisemakers (sans co-headliner or opener), this is one combination I flew 3000 miles to see because I was unable to make any of the East Coast shows due to other obligations. Bottom line is – if you have the chance to see one of these co-billed shows, don’t miss it. You will have no regrets.

    #32861
    Avatar of HDbahnHDbahn
    Participant

    Sorry you would bail on the Fraze, great soundcheck jam by the Flecktones, who opened for 90 minutes before a similar length set of Noisemakers plus 11-man encore. Bruce & Bela did a “‘Banjo’ Rain” (did I see Si use that?) duet.

    #32862
    Avatar of GuinnessGoonGuinnessGoon
    Participant
    HDbahn wrote:
    Sorry you would bail on the Fraze, great soundcheck jam by the Flecktones, who opened for 90 minutes before a similar length set of Noisemakers plus 11-man encore. Bruce & Bela did a “‘Banjo’ Rain” (did I see Si use that?) duet.

    Yeah the Fraze would have been a 4 hour drive for 90 minutes of Bruce…so I changed my mind and sold my tix to a friend and made $50. I get to see Bruce 3 other times this year so I’m good.
    Man, I really wish this was just a Bruce and Noisemakers tour 😥

    Flecktones are ok but I’d rather just have 2 – 3 hours of Bruce.
    Some of the Flecks stuff just sounds like noodling sleepy unstructured jams.
    As we left during Bela’s set along with a bunch of other people…I over heard some dude comment ‘were those supposed to be songs?’….I laughed because my buddy that doesn’t know the Flecks kept saying the same thing during the first couple songs.

    All in all the show with both bands is great, but I think the Flecktones should just do their thing for like 30 minutes as a warm-up for Bruce and then have their cameos during Bruce’s set and call it a day as more Bruce fans were there and a lot of people left after his set.

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