Joe Walsh Concert (Shelton, Washington/24 August 2012)

Last night I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Mr. Joe Walsh live and in concert in Shelton, Washington. From the James Gang to The Eagles and all the solo stuff in between, it was top to bottom a great show. For those who don't know, the reason I've decided to write about this is due to the fact that Joe sold Jimmy Page his famed Number One 1959 Gibson Les Paul, which you can read all about here by looking to your right in the labels area.

Joe hit the stage in leather or snake skin covered Les Paul, and donning a black suit. It seemed like it took him maybe the first three songs or so to warm up the fingers, but once he had he took off into the stratosphere playing with a rapidity and a control that us mere mortals can only wish to attain.

The best part of course is when he busted out the slide. As a slide player it's hard to find one better than Joe Walsh. To my eyes it appeared as though he was using a glass pill bottle just like Dwayne Allman used to do. At least it look similar to it; only one end was open.

For the first half of his set he stuff mostly to stuff from his solo days, but as the night wore on he busted out James Gang and The Eagles songs with more frequency, including "Funk #49", "Life in The Fast Line" a scorching version of "In The City", "Life's Been Good" and for the encore, "Rocky Mountain Way". My one criticism is that I wish he would have played more songs from his most recent release "Analog Man". He's one of the first artists I've encountered that I've felt that way, but I think "Hi Roller Baby", "Wrecking Ball" and "Fishbone" would have made outstanding additions to the set.

All in all in was a great show filled with great songs, some I didn't know, but that I definitely need to track down now, "The Confessor" was just plain badass! Go see Joe Walsh if he comes to your town, and keep your eyes on his fingers, the acrobatics that he pulls are simply mind-blowing. The funny faces he exhibits when he goes off on a solo are a mere distraction so you don't cop the master's technique!

Setlist

Welcome to the Club

A Life of Illusion

Walk Away

The Confessor

Analog Man

I Shall Be Received

Over and Over

The Bomber

Turn to Stone

In The City

Personal Manager

Funk #49

Life's Been Good

Life in The Fast Lane

Rocky Mountain Way