Friday, October 12, 2012

Joe Bonasmassa - mild mannered guitar hero

Band: Joe Bonamassa
Venue: The Palais Theatre
Date: 11th October 2012
Reviewed By: Espylyn


Joe Bonamassa is one underrated guitar dude. His parents ran a guitar shop as he was growing up and he has played guitar since he could move his fingers and at the age of ten he caught the ear of
BB King who was blown away by this kid. When he was twelve he was opening for King and went on to tour with Buddy Guy, Joe Cocker and Gregg Allman. Head forward twenty-one years and Bonamassa is selling our London’s Royal Albert Hall (where Eric Clapton joined him on stage), he has recorded with BB King and has taken home Best Blues Guitarist awards. His name has graced the Billboard charts and tonight’s show proved he is a man who will be playing until arthritis has kicked in and beyond.

I’m sure his show at the Palais Theatre tonight left punters filling their head with thoughts of taking up guitar and hoping they can play quarter as well as Bonamassa. He is fresh, good looking, passionate and down to earth. What a mesmerising show, starting with the song Palm Trees he glides into a few songs off the new album titled Driving Towards The Daylight. Dislocated Boy didn’t sound as good as the album as it’s a rock song made to be played with band behind it, but tonight it was Bonamassa and bongo’s, and I really wanted to it the song rock out. Driving Towards the Daylight was sung in the same style which suited it more. Such a passionate and gorgeous tune, its one of those songs that you close your eyes to and sway along. Loads of blokes here tonight who had no doubt sunk a few brews, but they behaved and gave the crowd an edge by leading thunderous applause and mild heckling.

The night ended with Slow Gin (Tim Curry cover) and Just Got Paid (ZZ Top cover with Led Zep ‘Dazed and Confused" teaser)

Children witnessed the sound of Bonamassa and band and there were all genres of people in to watch the man in action. A light show that cruised with the music and some amazing musicians behind the man. Seventeen songs later people came back to the present and stormed through the merchandise counter with vengeance.