Higain - 46 man! Oh! Not the thing to say with a "belated" in that post. Quick! Edit it to say 46! Heh. SBM does rock. What did you think of What Breaks a Heart because that song does things to me. Everything about it is amazing. And about technicality vs melody, Joe has really taken me over with the melodoes on this album. He may not have gone as crazy with the flapping fingers but you can't tell me you didn't have to check your underwear after you heard the arps in Mind Storm. That pickslide solo rocks too.

Psycho Monkey/ Ovation1: I was on holiday in Japan just last week. Stayed in Tokyo for 3 days. Have you guys ever been to ESP Craft House in Shibuya?? It's totally awsome! It's got really funky guitars. Like 3D angels and stuff. Think of Steve Vai's weird guitar collection. They also make custom guitars for customers!

Need some 'SLICK' up in here!

NoStringGuitar - Joe usually sings one song live. It looks like it'll be I Believe this time around.

the alien surfer - Use the "mark read" buitton at the end of each post.

Joe,

Have you ever thought about doing a studio album featuring yourself and other great guitarists of the modern era doing original songs composed just for this hypothetical alumn? Also since this is all hypothetical; who would want on an album of this nature?

Narface : Yeah, been there a couple of time... talking about a crazy place ... well, it's in Shibuya... (people that went there will know what I mean by that)

ESP got a whole building with only guitar goods in Ochanomizu, THE area for guitar/instruments in Tokyo. That's where I usually go for my guitar shopping. It's like 2 stations away from tokyo on the chuo line (orange line)...

Paul - Thanks for the photos, didn't take too long to download, they're not crystal clear but nice to keep, thanks again. When the concert started did you see that bloke who was taking photos officially for Satch, he had been outside too taking pictures of us lot queueing.

Shell - we were downstairs front, centre right next to the bloke who passed out.

Higain- Joe is now 46.

Austin - does Joe appear much on any of the music channels. We don't have Sky/Cable yet.

Joe, have a safe journey home and come back soon.

I can't stop listening to this "Strange Beautiful Music". This offering is like manna from heaven to my ears.

jblaze1: I don't know if you'd be interested but I have a few things I'm going to sell and I thought you might want first dibs

1.) ADA MP-2............................................$250

2.)Digitech 2112.........................................$300

3.)Digitech Control one................................$150

......2112 & Control one................................$400

4.)Mesa Boogie 395 simul-stereo...................$375

5.)Tascam 424 4 tracker................................$125

6.)Gallien Kruger ML-250................................$225

7.)ART midi foot control w/ cable....................$50

8.)Crate 4X12 cab w/ 70watt celestions...........$325

Hey! It's monday (groan!).

JS Clone1, Chromeboy_1999 - sorry the JS10th mp3 demo didn't get through. I was having some trouble mailing from home, but I guess that it won't get through to you JS as it's 3.5mb in size...

Chromeboy, I've just resent to you and it seems to have gone through ok this time. Let me know if u get it!

Death Cube K - hey, thanks for the interest (would you like me to mail it to you?) - but I really don't know how to put the mp3 'out there' on the web and am about to go on holidays this week for 1 week, so unless someone wants to help out in putting the demo up for me somewhere, I'll have to wait til I'm back to figure it out!

Popefridge, i was at the show in amsterdam, but i didn't see any hoodies at the merchandise-stand...there were only 2 or three kinds of tshirts, a longsleeve shirt and caps....i didn't buy any though, i think the prizes were pretty high....but if there was a hoodie to buy, i would have !!!!

JOE - plz, if you read t2j while you are on the road, plz tell me if you got my present at the amsterdam show...i left you a cd, wich was placed at your pedalboard by a security guard...so plz tell me that Mike Manning or someone else gave you that cd....there was a note inside the jewel case wich was adressed to you...it's from a friend of mine, and it would mean a lot to me if i could have helped him out by giving you his present.....

greetz,

Hi Joe. Thanks beyond measure for a truly stunning performance at the Apollo. I posted a review but that was before I read T2J. There are a few things I'd like to say. One . I feel really sorry for those that missed seeing Joe after the show. Everbody usually waits by the pub. This year I couldn't wait because I had to take a friend home. An idea might be to issue some kind of pass so that the fans that are interested might gian entrance to a controlled area after the show. I don't know how this will go down, I would think that Joe might really want to get away and relax after playing some many notes so well. Anyway - just an idea. What was it that the guy who got on the stage gave you Joe ? I'm glad that he succeeded anyway. Now, the venue. The Apollo has great sound - that is partly because the building is a heavy construction. I saw Joe at Cardiff in a modern arena (i.e. Big shed). These are the modern equivalent. They are clean and well appointed but, because of the lightweight (cheap !) construction the sound is AWFUL. I was at the front of the balcony on the left. The sound in the balcony always seems to be good. If you're at the front near the stage you get blasted and maybe the sound from the monitors muddies what you hear. Joe's guitar was a little quiet for the first few numbers (the balance between Joe and the rest of the band was a little off). But, it seems to have been corrected. Joe established a more personal bond with the audience right from the word go. I think he is a lot more confident. He said, "I'm in the mood for playing the guitar " - and he WAS. I have been privileged to grow up accompanied by the best musians ever - Beatles, Stones, Who, Hendrix, Cream, Zep, Airplane, Dead - and Then Satch and Vai - Musically there never was a better time to live. A warm thanks to you Joe. I have another massive dose of inspiration for my own playing - that will last at least a year (actually no - the rest of my life!).

Hi Joe

Saw U in concert on Friday night (Fri 19th July). The first 2/3 of the show were great. But then after that you couldn't seem to get off the stage fast enough! And only 2 songs for an encore?

The venue also sucked ass but U can't be blamed for that next time you come to England and the Midlands try Wolverhamptons Civic hall it pisses on the Academy. Get your promo guysd to check it out.

Ovation1 --- Many, MANY thanX for your help!!! :) I have read your message on T2J and wil be E-mailing you soon...

To all... --- Does anyone have a full setlist from any of the shows? I'd be interested in knowing what songs were played, instead of just catching it in bits and pieces. ThanX! :)

Prog X update... --- My new song "Fly To New Planetary Systems" may take a little longer than expected to be posted at my site at Prog X's Temple. I've stopped working on it mid-drum track because after hearing it about twenty million times already my fresh perspective on it is starting to get a little stale, and I'm currently encountering a case of "writer's block" with it. Meanwhile, I have pulled an old song out of the closet and began working on that and am giving it the "Prog X" treatment. It may take a little longer, but by the time I'm finished, I may have TWO new songs posted instead of one. Stay tuned and be patient! :) Menawhile, everyone is welcome to visit my site above and give my tune "As I Watch The Clouds Rush By" a listen...