Author Topic: The Ventures at Busch Gardens...Feb 2012  (Read 790 times)

Offline wstagner

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The Ventures at Busch Gardens...Feb 2012
« on: March 04, 2012, 10:12:37 pm »
Tom....we're all anxiously awaiting your posting regarding this amost weeklong E vent.
Don't keepus waitin any longer....pullleeze? ;D
« Last Edit: March 05, 2012, 01:22:37 pm by tabalt11 »

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Offline tabalt11

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Re: The Ventures at Busch Gardens...Feb 2012
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2012, 11:29:48 pm »
Walt- I'll need a few WIND DOWN days but it'll happen this week.  Best approach might be for me to field questions 'cause I can honestly say having NOW experienced FIVE Ventures related vacations- the famous 2003 criuse with Los Straitjackets, EPCOT '08 & '09 & BUSCH GARDENS '11 & '12, I'm starting to
feel & act like a groupie.   I'll try to figure out an interesting appraoch.   

This year's Sat. eve. Meet & Greet seemed to win the 'best ever' award.   The Q&A offered lots of interesting questions- just a matter of replaying the tapes & posting the back & forths.  They played Wed. thru Sat. at 11:30, 1:00 & 3:30 each day.   There were minor song changes along the way & an effort was made to offer up something different each set.   

Jack De Franco, the group's superb stage manager has worked tirelessly over the past year on the LARGE MONITOR SCREEN DISPLAY that preceeds the band's arrival on stage.  He's constantly adding- deleting where necessary & keeps it interesting to the audience.   Timing is almost always right on.   There's the customary artist accolades interspered with THE VENTURES JOURNEY to their rock induction.   A park announcer greets each crowd with details of upcoming park attractions but never leaves without noting the accomplishments of TODAY'S GUESTS!   Don's toned down a bit this year in the jokes dept.  They're still there but more widely spaced.   

He was quick to point out WDR's grammy deservance & mentions the Casey Kasem trivia question regarding two hits with the same song.   I always get a big kick when THE VENTURES LOGO is prominent on the large video montage while Nokie is intricately offering up another blistering rendition of I GOT A WOMAN with the entire crowd clapping up a storm- remember the tag SURF BAND!   Yeah right!   

The final day they treated the crowd to SLEEP WALK, DRIVING GUITARS & EL CUMBANCHERO.   Then there was the first day second set that had Bob Spalding beltin' out MISERLOU & PETER GUNN fresh out from behind the curtain intro.  So they try their best at their age to keep us guessing.   Don bragged to the crowd after doing PIPELINE towards the end of one day- "you know next February I'll be 80 years old & I'm lovin' every minute of the journey."   

That'll do it for now.   I'll keep details coming as the week goes on.    The tent-style wooden theater venue easily seats 1000 & is usually crammed for the earliest show.  Teenagers do enter from time to time & sit in the side area fringe seats but they rise up after just a few songs not seeming to understand it's their music that's truly forgettable.   
« Last Edit: March 05, 2012, 01:23:23 pm by tabalt11 »

Offline oldflogger

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Re: The Ventures at Busch Gardens...Feb 2012
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2012, 07:52:26 am »
Great post and news Tom. Thanks for being a Ventures groupie.

Rich Miller
« Last Edit: March 06, 2012, 01:27:50 pm by tabalt11 »

Offline tabalt11

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Re: The Ventures at Busch Gardens...Feb 2012
« Reply #3 on: March 05, 2012, 01:20:32 pm »
Keeping it going I managed to snare a set list after one of the shows, then 'all the guys' graciously signed it at the MEET & GREET. Should've mentioned earlier that 'cause of the park's appeal to all, there's enough time 'tween shows to catch an exhibit or two, grab a snack, etc. & it's not uncommon to run into one or more of the band members.   It seems to happen more often after the final show of the day.   For instance Sat. everyone gathered at the SMOKE HOUSE for a bite to eat before embarking back to HYATT PLACE for the already pre-arranged FAN GATHERING.   And tho it never happened, Leon, Jeff Green & myself were just dyin' to go on the new CHEETAH RUN roller coaster!

Another treat for me was being part of the Thursday evening dinner out at the OLIVE GARDEN with Nokie & Judy Edwards.   The rumor I heard was that Nokie told Mary Ellen Magee- "Make sure that guy over there comes along- he's funny."   So myself, The Magee's (John & Mary Ellen), The Green's (Jeff & Julie), Byron Tietjen & naturally Nokie & Judy along with several others had a GRAND OLD TIME!  And tho I
alerted them to the $12.95 all inclusive dinner special, most everybody went with something different.   Nokie was a most talkative soul- touchin' on a variety of topics.   

So check out SETLIST # 7 below with some extra notes to the right hand side!

INTRO VIDEO                                                      Certain days the intro & medley would be followed by BUMBLE BEE or JOURNEY TO THE STARS,
VENTURES MEDLEY                                             then  MR. MOTO.   SURF RIDER & OUT OF LIMITS made it into a few shows as well & CARAVAN   
MISERLOU                                                          more times than not!   Can only think of one SOUND SNAFU over the entire four days but the
PETER GUNN                                                      venue isn't a favorite for drummers.   Leon 'cause of certain decibel restrictions must play behind
PENETRATION (guitarists switch)                       a plexiglass baricade of sorts which makes the overall sound much bassier than usual.   As MIND
TELSTAR                                                             BOGGLING as his solos are in WIPE OUT & CARAVAN they would come across perhaps even tighter
LET'S GO                                                            but definetly more brighter sounding were the band allowed to up the decibel threshold.
SLAUGHTER ON 10TH AVE.
SECRET AGENT MAN
I GOT A WOMAN
HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN
HAWAII -0
PIPELINE (two bridges)
WIPE OUT
« Last Edit: March 05, 2012, 05:18:09 pm by wstagner »

Offline jimprice

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Re: The Ventures at Busch Gardens...Feb 2012
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2012, 07:40:17 pm »
Thanks for the great reports, Tom. I am wondering if anyone recorded the Q&A Session and might be able to help those of us who couldn't make it get a copy. I always enjoy listening to their stories and recollections. Of couse I am willing to pay for costs of making a copy. Thanks again for your reports on the shows, songs and activities.

Offline tabalt11

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Re: The Ventures at Busch Gardens...Feb 2012
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2012, 08:45:41 pm »
Jim- Thanks for your kind words.  In due time, I'll have a two hour DVD available which may include more
than just the hour long MEET & GREET.   Right now, I'm fresh out of DVD+RW's & everything revolves
'round a stand alone DVD recorder-  not to mention just what video clips would fill out the disc.
So I'll be back on here once the project is completed with further details! 

Offline tabalt11

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Re: The Ventures at Busch Gardens...Feb 2012
« Reply #6 on: April 03, 2012, 12:35:01 pm »
Thank you James for your interest in this year's TAMPA FUN.
By now you should've rec'd your TAMPA '012 package.   For
added enjoyment I included John & Mary Ellen Magee's PIC
CD which covers the four day vacation quite well.   

Again, I have TAMPA DVD's for both years if anyone else
is interested-

tabalt11@yahoo.com
« Last Edit: April 03, 2012, 01:13:21 pm by tabalt11 »

Offline tabalt11

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Re: The Ventures at Busch Gardens...Feb 2012
« Reply #7 on: April 03, 2012, 02:29:32 pm »
Having now watched the TAMPA '012 MEET & GREET several times,
thought I'd share some tidbits from the Q&A.   As they come to
mind, I'll return & post more.   

Question to all members:    What was your most embarrasing moment on stage?

Leon- "In Japan during a concert, 2nd set was to open with MANCHURIAN BEAT & I
started it off with the HAWAII 5-0 intro instead.   After several blank stares, Don
signaled for me to get it right."

Bob- "Also in Japan, we all know Gerry McGee likes to wander out in the audience
during HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN.   Well I thought I'd be a tad creative in WIPE
OUT, so when my turn came up for the bass solo, I decided to sit down on the
left side of the stage while performing it & then couldn't rise up afterwards."

Nokie- Without speaking, everyone agreed Nokie's never had any embarrasing
moments on stage. 

Don- His embarrasing moment was relayed by Nokie.   "Back in an early 80's show
at the Resada country Club in Ca. Don had plugged a horn into his guitar amp to
use for the beginning of WHITTIER BOULEVARD & when he stepped to the mic &
led in with 'Let's take a trip down Whittier Blvd' then went to press the horn, he
pulled all cables out of the amp & silence prevailed."   

At one point early in the Q&A, Don layed his hand on Nokie's shoulder to deliver a
compliment:   "I just want everyone here to know that if this man right here hadn't
agreed to join us in the early 60's when he did (at a tavern mind you where they got
paid a whole $5 a night), at best Bob & I (where we were musically at the time) might've
been at best a four album duo."    Tremendous applause followed that one!

That'll do it for now.   
« Last Edit: April 03, 2012, 02:36:42 pm by tabalt11 »

Offline wstagner

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Re: The Ventures at Busch Gardens...Feb 2012
« Reply #8 on: April 03, 2012, 06:48:19 pm »
Don- His embarrasing moment was relayed by Nokie.   "Back in an early 80's show
at the Resada country Club in Ca. Don had plugged a horn into his guitar amp to
use for the beginning of WHITTIER BOULEVARD & when he stepped to the mic &
led in with 'Let's take a trip down Whittier Blvd' then went to press the horn, he
pulled all cables out of the amp & silence prevailed."   

YES and this is why the sound for The Ventures Live in LA 1980 LaserDisc was overdub/afterthe fact. I have one track....where Nokie's lead was NOT overdubbed.  I dunno why they coudln't have just fixed Don's part. Makes no cents 2 me.