When I arrived, Buddy’s crew had just finished setting the stage for his soundcheck.  I had brought along one of our yet to be released GLXD guitar pedal wireless system to show to crew and hopefully have someone demo. Everyone who has tried this system so far has been very impressed with it’s sound and features.

After Buddy’s soundcheck, Jonny’s band showed up and began to set his stage.  After a 30-40 minute check, I went up on stage to say “Hi” to Jonny and show him the system.  As usual, he was impressed with the features and said “Let’s give it a try.”  After a 15-20 minute trial, he was definitely interested and wants to try it again once it’s available.  He mentioned that he hasn’t used wireless in quite a while and he would love not to be dealing with a trailing cable again.

Jonny took the stage first and immediately the room started heating up.  Jonny has been singing on the KSM9 for quite a while now and he’s got a KSM313 Ribbon on one amp and the KSM32 on another. He’s been performing for so long and it’s incredible to see how much emotion pours out of him in performance.  He’s such an approachable person and music just flows out of him.

Buddy Guy is legendary!  You are hooked right when he walks on stage.  He has been through so much and never seems to stop performing, even in between recordings, he’s still out there.  Buddy Guy has been a Shure Artist for well over 20 years.  He commands the stage through is KSM9HS yet can be as subtle as a kitten on guitar.  Your attention is quickly drawn in when he starts out a song with a guitar lick at almost at an imperceivable level.  Every show I’ve seen with both of these artists is a treat and I will always make it out to their shows when I can.

Who are some artists that you will not miss when they come to your town?

Ryan

Buddy's KSM9HS

Buddy Guy's amps - KSM313's

Jonny's KSM9

Jonny tries GLXD

Jonny Lang

Buddy Guy On Stage

Nashville, TN – The Ryman Auditorium

OK, so what do I mean by reunion?

About 14 years ago, a good friend and contact at A & M records – Al Marks – called me up and told me I  had to come out and meet the new artist he was working with.  I was still working up in Chicago then and this new artist was only 15 years old.  Jonny Lang had just started touring in support of his first major release, Lie To Me, and Al was hoping Shure would start working with him.

Sometimes, choosing to work with an artist can be really easy, especially when they have as much talent as Jonny has.  After seeing him, it was clear that we had to. A few years later though , after a few management changes, Al was not working with Jonny.

So we fast forward to this wonderful Saturday, when for the first time in 11 years, it’s Al, Jonny, and Shure all in the same room – together again.  It was a great thing to see.

I spoke with Jonny right before his soundcheck at the historic Ryman Auditorium and he started to mention how much he liked his champagne KSM9 wired vocal mic,  stating that it was like “not knowing I needed glasses and then getting them.”   He loves the clarity and openness of the mic, whether it’s singing out strongly on the heavier tunes or holding back on the ballads, or a combination of both.

FOH engineer, Mike Ronkainen, also commented on how well the KSM313 is working on one of Jonny’s guitar amp. Mike also uses the KSM32 on his second amp. I was able to grab a quick shot of Mike at FOH trying out the new SRH840 headphones and he gave them a thumbs up!  He also said he likes to monitor using Shure earphones.

I hung around and ate dinner with Mike and Al to get caught up on things.  As I was watching the show, a lady came up to me and asked if I worked on the crew.  I informed her that I worked for the microphone company that provided Jonny’s mics.  She said “That must be a cool job.” I agreed with her. She went on to say that Jonny was such a great performer and she had never seen that much emotion coming off the stage.  I agreed with her a second time.

If you have not seen Jonny Lang live yet, please check his tour schedule and make it a point to.  He is truly a talented singer/songwriter/guitarist.  I have always enjoyed his shows and apparently, so does Vince Gill who was in attendance that evening.

On several songs, Jonny would break it down and vamp for a while while some of the other band members would solo.  During the encore, he gave them all a chance to shine.

The Ryman was 99% sold out.  What more can I say to convince you?

Ryan

Snow Patrol lends their cool factor to the cover of this issue, in which editor Cory Lorentz defends his lifelong appreciation for Journey, and contemplates why certain bands stick with us through the years.

View and download the full On Tour With Shure Summer 2007 Issue on shure.com.