OMG I went to see the Rubber Plants last night, I took my two little boys and their mates. I was blown away - the utube link doesn't convey the standard to which these guys play. (Thankfully they don't dress up as Led Zepplin, the bass player Charlie would have lost out there...depending on the era of course) The front man (Gavin doing Jimmy Page and Robert Plant in a weird hybrid) has all the right ingredients for a proper frontman, pretty, slender, slightly cocky, and loads of stage presence.

To be honest he's too good for fronting a tribute band, but there's stiff competition out there for someone of that caliber...there's 1000 magnificent guitar players to every successful and respected guitarist, as we all know (and some of you are). He had a selection of guitars, a les paul, and ibanez of some breed, a double necked guitar and a couple of others.

The style of the music suited him perfectly, alot of it was improvised and disturbingly sexy, just like Robert Plant! It was like they take the Led Zep stuff as a parameter then just go for it.

It's worth mentioning the drum solo during 'moby dick' - I think (don't shoot me) better than the solo on my Led Zepp CD which I think is a bit scrappy. (ok ppl don't hate me for saying that - I'm sorry the late Mr Bonham ). Additionally, one of the things I love about Led Zepp is the bass is far from boring, it gives lots of scope for playing around. Charlie had a great time on his 5 string, he grinned through the whole gig! He makes it look soooo easy too. I told him that, he says he should do he's been playing for a hundred years!

The highlight of the show is when Gavin called out my two boys names - he dedicated the song to Elan and Cormac, their first gig....ever. Everyone (it was a large crowd) cheered and clapped and the boys were like rabbits caught in the headlights...and so happy and starstruck, it was cute. They got their tickets signed by the band and got chatting to Gavin about their guitars, I imagine they'll be talking about that for a long time to come.....

What could top that, only a chat with Mr Satriani of course but as that's unlikely to happen we'll just have to continue being fans, buying CD's and DVD's and hopefully someday they'll see him live!

Tuesdays Child - have added your message to the Messages For Joe list :) i've only got 5 messages so far people so keep them coming in >=:o) be good to get more then 11 this time...each time someone wishes Joe a Happy Birthday i put some balloons on the page. got 3 sets of balloons so far >;P also it doesn't matter how long your message is...for those who have left a message and would like to add something just post it on here :)

i hope the printer doesn't run out of ink...

Hello Super Colossal Satch, pleaseeee to back Porto Alegre BRAZIL...pleaseee. Do you haved problems with CURITIBA???

Next show stand by for you Master Super Colossal Joe Satriani, the Super Satch...

ibanezguitars - Wow, haha... Is that list roughly a Top 10 list for you, or are those just the first songs you could think of that you like more than Achilles Last Stand? ;-)

Oh well...one of us is right and one is wrong. If I'm wrong, I'll buy you a drink or something at a Satch show...whenever and whereever that may be. Ha!

My favorite LZ cover band, though, is Led Zepagain. I've seen them about five times over the past few years. They dress the part and everything...they're really professional with it all...they stick to the same live arrangements the band played, they do a few acoustic songs mid-set, and so on. Here are two videos if you want to check them out:

The Song Remains The Same
Good Times Bad Times

I'm trying to get this girl to go with me to a show they're doing in a few weeks, but I've so far been unsuccessful...argh. I think she thinks I have other expectations. Women are confusing...but, anyway...

Hey DoTheStu

Dearest Joe,

I am the moderator of a fan community for you on ORKUT with 2500 members, we all love and respect you sincerely!

We believe your music has been more of a cult rather than just music, WE LOVE YOUR STYLE!

We have one request for you, could you please touch up your site to match your bright and cheerful personality? please visit steve vai's site to get the grip of what I mean.

It's a pity that I could not prove the scale of your fanbase here in Iran. But I am sure you would have enjoyed to know us, our history and culture more in depth, if conditions were else and the true face of the nation were rightfully represented worldwide.

I wish the very best in all aspects of your life,

Cheers,

Hey Joe, I was wondering when will you tour or play in Minnesota because i really want to see you play.

'Thankyou' by LZ is one of my favourite all time songs. It wasn't played at the gig last night but I understand that as it's not the crowd pleaser as Black Dog and Heartbreaker would be.....and of course, Stairway to Heaven which probably can't be left out no matter what! Tesla covered 'Thankyou' too and did a really nice job of it. I'm sure there are more covers of the song too, does anyone know of any?

Cool vids!! Thanks!!

Looking forward to the London Guitar Show tomorrow! Have my Joe tickets :)

Do the Stu - I think Zeppagain is a great cover band too. But man, naming the top Zep songs is quite a challenge (if you're a fan I guess). The guy who mentioned In the Light, that was a good call. I think my favorite is a REALLY obscure song. Carouselambra, followed up with For your Life amd then Kasmir. Although if you were to throw Plant and Page Unledded into the mix, Kashmir and The Rain Song and Thank You are right there in the mix.

Hi Joe, I met you at a guitar shop in Chicago in 2004. I have to say you are so cool man!!!! I have this J.S guitar that you said was ultra rare. Hard tail trem, dimazio pickups ,wood finish,#J 001872,I think it was made in the mid 1980's, one of the first I Want you to have this guitar,you said you had an eye out for one at the time.If you are still looking let me know.

Do The Stu,

I am 35, the concert was about 14 years ago. I doubt very seriously you will be able to guess! :) Thanks for the info on flights! I checked the airline website today and looks like I could take my axe on board one of two ways. Possible check it when I get on board and they may have a closet it could go in or I could buy a seat for it.... uh, no. Anyway, hopefully the music store out there will have something to rent or maybe I'll just go in and pick a little. Holla at cha later dude!

Blue_Moon,

Finished watching your video. You're awesome! All that your equipment or you at a studio? Keep up the good work, maybe I'll be able to play that well one day!

Ali Tamaddon - that's a great post to Joe >=:o) i've included it in the Messages For Joe, if Joe doesn't see it on here he'll read it in a few weeks :)

Keniko - from reading others posts i've found out about your Dad :( so sorry mate *hug* i didn't see your post...i'm scrolling through the board too fast :/ God Bless You and your family. BB

ibanezguitars - I've never heard of The Smoking Stones until now, but they do sound pretty good. Do you know where they're from? Do they play in the US often/at all?

And it's cool to see you mention Battle Of Evermore...I like that LZ song a lot. I don't think it'd make my top 10, but it'd be in the top 25.

A quick glance at the Wikipedia page for Thank You tells me The Flaming Lips and Tori Amos have both covered the song...I'll have to find those somewhere and give them a listen.

Anyway, about the girl...I don't know! Well, I have a bit of an idea. I'm a few years older than she is, we don't really live near each other, and most of our closest mutual friends have graduated college and moved out of town. And regarding the gig, she has plans earlier that day that involve a lot of driving...so she doesn't want to do more driving after that. I've offered to pick her up, but I think she feels weird because it's out of my way and we don't know each other too well. But I still have a few weeks to figure something out. Hopefully she'll come around...we'll see.

Geeze...I'm making my life sound like a soap opera. ;-)

I have a feeling our lists of LZ favorites would be pretty similar. I've been on a big In Through The Out Door kick lately, so I completely agree with Carouselambra being up there. I also really like For Your Life...as a quick aside, I was really excited that they played that song at their reunion gig last year. Most of my favorites are their funkier songs...Hots On For Nowhere, The Wanton Song and Candy Store Rock, to name a few. I also love how they mix electric and acoustic...so there you have Ten Years Gone, Stairway To Heaven, and the song I feel best represents Led Zeppelin, Over The Hills And Far Away.

Man...what an amazing band.

It sounds like a cool guitar...do you have any photos of it?