When the time came for sound check, we headed out to take our place in front of the stage. As we sat and watched the stage crew loading amps and gear, I explained how the gear was being placed closer to the edge of the stage because Foreigner would be playing after "our" band. Little Dude wanted to know if Joe usually got more stage to work with other places and I replied in the affirmative. He looked up at the stage, assessed the situation, and pronounced, "they definitely need more stage, Mom. Especially if Joe's going to be able to show the audience what he's really made of."

Now, mind you, my son's never seen the band perform live before, so I can only assume he'd paid close attention to my photos and/or the A New Day Yesterday Live DVD. Either way, the kid got the concept and also understood that Joe and the band will be headlining at Humphrey's soon enough. "Next year, they're gonna have the whole stage. I know it. I feel it, Mom. Joe's gonna be HUGE! 'Huger' than he is now." I can't say I disagree. Joe is going to be 'huger' than he is now. Very soon, too.

One of the special treats of the early evening occurred when Jason Bonham (son of the late John Bonham and currently touring with Foreigner, also recently seen on VH-1's Supergroup) got behind the drums for "Bridge To Better Days." For those who are unaware, Jason played drums on Joe Bonamassa's latest CD, You & Me. Consider this: the CD was recorded back in October 2005, it was a one shot sort of deal, and yet, the guys knocked it out like it was something they did on a daily basis. Now this, this is what I keep telling folks when I'm educating them on Joe and his band: these guys are MUSICIANS, musicians with incredible talent and even greater work ethic. They only surround themselves with the best.

Another sweet surprise came in the form of Joe's manager. He took a seat right in front of us, struck up a conversation with my son, and I sat and watched the interaction in amazement. From shy fan boy to networking pro in less than an hour, the kid was warming up to the whole idea of hangin' with musicians. He's no stranger to the music world, but it's always been on a different level and never with someone he's held in such high esteem. (It makes a mother proud to see her child blossom before her eyes.)