Hi Randy - I haven't had any time to check in in the last 2 weeks, and just read yr reply to my missive re: the Joni/B.B. set. Personally, I thought the version of "Coyote" was great... I've never heard King play guitar the way he did on that tune. It was all stacatto picking, little fills and accents. Not at all the way he normally plays. It was obviously a challenge for him. True, the rhythm section may not have had the song down, but I didn't think they botched it. And Joni was playing guitar, handling all the chord changes. B.B. only played lead, as always (I don't think he ever plays chords!). The version of "The Thrill Is Gone" was fascinating, and exciting, because Joni was visibly nervous about singing his standard. B.B. sang the first verse, and then was pushing her forward to sing the next, but she kept backing away, shaking her head. When she finally did, the lyrics were completely different. "the thrill is gone... you left me, and I hope you - die!" sung with a bitter intensity. Seemed like she meant it, and indeed I believe that she and Don Alias had just broken up, so it may have been directed to him. A friend who was backstage said that she was huddled with B.B. prior to his set, writing out the lyrics. She told him that she was indeed nervous, and just hoped to get through the tunes! B.B. then said that they had to leave as they had a gig in Reno that evening, so they left and Joni stayed on. She played the wireless Stratocaster that Neil Young had played the previous night (w/ the Hawks & Doves band - their sole live performance), and did 2 new songs... "Man to Man" and an amazing version of "Dream Flat Tires". They were both raw, and sensual and unlike the renditions that finally appeared on "Wild Things Run Fast". Then she was off, leaving me in a puddle under my seat. After a set by Tom Paxton, and part of another unremembered performer, I turned to my companion and said "Let's go. We're not going to see anything else that's even going to come close to being as good as Joni's set." And we left.
The tune she did with Herbie was from the '79 Bread & Roses show, which I wasn't fortunate to witness. I saw someone in the row behind me with mics, and they had recorded her set. I asked if I could get a copy, and he reluctantly took my address, but nothing ever came of it. But at least one person recorded it! And I believe that there is a copy of it in Joni's archive (I saw a reel to reel going at the side of the stage that was started at the begining of her set, and turned off as she finished). Perhaps it'll turn up one of these days. Russ
