I really enjoyed the show last night here in Chattanooga, and there were several reasons that I was happily surprised.

First Joe did a lot of his older stuff which I respect because people want to hear the songs they know and love. Also it shows he's not just pushing his new record and is working on really growing and pleasing his fan base with his entire discography.

Second, this show, while it totally rocked, had a bit more blues presence than the show I saw in Atlanta last year; which felt more like a rock concert. Joe didn't play with his little reverb box and only touched it once that I recall.

In Atlanta he did a smokin' extra long solo bit with this Gizmo, which was cool, but I was just as happy without it.

Now for a guy that plays hundreds of shows all over the world, Joe talked about the Riverbend show and how it started to rain when he played "Sloe Gin." I was at that show as many in the crowd were and I like that he remembered it. Maybe Joe is actually reading these forums. Hi Joe. You're great.

The funny story about Billy Gibbons seemed like a genuine "aw shucks" moment between one star fading into a supernova and another star on the rise. Classic.

I do wish the show would have been a little longer but that is always the case at a great show.

The sound at the Tivoli was great and it proved Joe's point that he made about playing theaters instead of clubs. Better sound, better stage, better show. The only negative was it was tough to jump around in the theater but at the end of the night we hit the floor and rushed the stage anyway.

I had read one post about the Knoxville show the guy said he thought Joe's voice was "road worn;" I didn't feel that way at all; in fact I thought the slower bluesier set was highlighted by his vocals and it appears to me he has really been working on that side of his game. I felt his singing has improved and was as solid as ever, but I do not pretend to know everything.

Now I wish we had given Joe a sold-out show. I want him to come back to us. So instead of whining about how Chattanooga doesn't support live music, I going to join the street team and do my part to get him back. If your a fan reading this in Chattanooga or surrounding area I challenge you to do the same.

Thanks, Joe.

B. Alan Webb
Chattanooga