Going to see EJ twice this week!

[DrewJD82]

As much of an EJ fan I am, I’ve only seen him twice before, in ‘96 and 2018 on the Ah Via Musicom anniversary tour.

Tonight he’s opening for Kenny Wayne, I’ll stick around for a couple KWS tunes but I checked out a couple albums last week and it’s not really my thing. Dude can play for sure but man, those songs are remarkably uninspired. Lyrically and musically. I’m sure I’ll hear some killer guitar tones and playing, though.

Saturday is going to be the real treat; EJ is playing in Stuart at a smaller theatre, I got a 2nd row ticket directly in front of his amps and since the VIP was only $100 for the soundcheck pass and a Q&A, I grabbed a VIP ticket. Next to Gilmour, he’s the only guitar hero I haven’t met yet so that’ll be nice to say “Thank you” and while I’m not really an autograph guy, I’ll likely have him sign my EJ Fuzz Face or the Dover Drive. I’m really just anxious to be in that room without a ton of people and getting to hear those amps coming off the stage.

If I see an avenue to get my face as close as it can get to his amps while he’s playing, I’m taking it. Security is going to think I’m rushing EJ like some crazed fan, but I’ll just be going for his 4x12 cab.

 

[KHAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!]

I saw him a couple of times in the early 2000's. Bucket list artist for me.

 

[la szum]

Awesome! Shaping up to be an EPIC week!


Don't forget to toss your panties on the stage.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Saw him once with Rush and it was Enjoy!

 

[DrewJD82]

Saw him once with Rush and it was Enjoy!

Damn, surprised he landed that opening spot, that’s a big one for him!

Funnily, he also opened for Big Wreck in the 90’s in Canada, which is how this happened-




Shit, I’ve actually never seen that before, I was looking for an entirely different terrible quality vid!

 

[JiveTurkey]

Damn, surprised he landed that opening spot, that’s a big one for him!

Funnily, he also opened for Big Wreck in the 90’s in Canada, which is how this happened-




Shit, I’ve actually never seen that before, I was looking for an entirely different terrible quality vid!

That show with that lineup in that time (when Big Wreck for me was PEAK) would be

 

[Eagle]

He was on my list of must see artists but never came to the UK . I had tickets for the G3 tour but he didn’t end up doing the UK shows. So after years of not being able to see him he eventually did a UK tour some years back and played five minutes walking distance away from home. Then came back the next year. So I did get to see him in the end.

 

[CBHScott]

Saw him once with Rush and it was Enjoy!

Me, too!

I also saw him at Sweetwater Gearfest (RIP) in 2019. He ended the big jam session they had there with other guitarists. He played a lot of jazzy stuff that night, which was really cool.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Awesome!
Seen him a few times as well. Last time was about 15 yrs ago I think.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Stoked for you! Seeing our guitar heroes up close is a thrill unlike many others.

 

[DrewJD82]

Well, that was a waste of money.

Digital ticket had 7:30 listed on it, didn’t say if that was doors or show time, so I assumed it was doors. The venue is 10 minutes down the street from me, a straight shot from my apartment so I figured leaving at 7:30 would give me enough time to park and get to my seat with a few mins to spare before EJ came onstage.

Well, because it’s 2026 and people’s brains seemingly quit functioning at any given moment while driving, it took me 25 minutes to drive 2.5 miles, by the time I got to my seat EJ was finishing a song I wasn’t familiar with and said “We got a couple more for ya, this is called “Desert Rose” and I thought he was just kidding, assuming he just got onstage.

Nope! “Desert Rose” then “Cliffs” and it was over!

So I ran up to the stage and grabbed a couple shots, which was when I decided I was gettin’ the fuck out of there due to the crowd…

I know one question I have for Saturday- “How much stock of George L’s cable do you own?!”

That’s a black Fuzz Face and it looked minty new, I’m curious if he’s working on something with Dunlop or he’s just swapping them out when he’s not digging what they’re doing. During the “Desert Rose” solo he was kicking the Tube Screamer on for feedback while using the Fuzz Face, at one point he stomped on it several times in succession and then you start hearing the guitar feeding back, the switch must be shitting out on it and it’s just kinda funny seeing someone of that caliber deal with broken gear like that during a gig.

Why I decided to bail immediately after taking that pedalboard shot-

I’m not one to get into age-related shit talking as I find dumbasses come in all varieties, but the boomers I dealt with last night were straight up assholes, acting like fucking children. The usher brings me to my seat (it’s a nice theatre) and this dude in his late 60’s/70’s has his camera about eye level, filming while he’s rocking out in his seat. My initial thought was “Dude’s having a good time already, looks like a dude I’d have a beer with!”

His jacket is in my seat so I motion for him to move it and this is when the BS starts- he looks at me like I just pissed on his foot then takes, I shit you not, 45-60 seconds to move his fucking jacket off the seat while still filming and looking straight ahead. He eventually snatches it angrily and gives me a glare like I did something wrong. Song ends and he asks me if I can “just move up a couple seats” and I say “No, because if those seats were available I would have bought the ticket for them and I’m not taking someone else’s seat” and he waves me off.

The end of “Desert Rose” comes, EJ fucking KILLED it and I think “Oh, now’s a good time to maybe bond with dickhead next to me as I could tell he’s a guitarist, he was hootin’ at every cool thing EJ did and all the variations from the studio version, he’s a fan”, so I look over and just say “Yeah!” while giving a thumbs up and the guy looks at his wife and says “GO MOVE OVER THERE I’M NOT DEALING WITH THIS SHIT!” turns to me “GIVE ME MY FUCKING WATER UNDER YOUR SEAT”

They move down a couple seats, EJ finishes with “Cliffs” and I make my way to the stage (there’s a HUGE gap between the stage and front row, leaving ample room for people to walk freely) and got the 2nd wave of asshole boomers with zero concert etiquette. Just unbelievable; pushing right through people, screaming next to people’s ears when there’s no need to scream at all, in all the years of going to metal shows I’ve never come across a group of people with such disregard for the people around them. Mind blowing.

At one point I saw people trying to sit where the asshole and his wife moved to, moving him back to his seat next to me and I just bailed. Like I snapped that picture of the pedalboard and maybe 20 seconds later I was out of the venue. I had zero interest in sitting through bland songs while dealing with that kind of crowd.

Fortunately, Saturday should be an entirely different experience.

 

[la szum]

"Hell is other people," Jean Paul Sartre

Hope EJ Part Deux is much better.