Joe Bonamassa is billed as the most hard working musician in the business with eight studio albums and three live albums in the last five years, you can’t exactly accuse him of being idle, this also extends to touring and has started off with a thirteen date European tour starting off in Glasgow at one of the most acoustically pleasurably venues in the form of the Armadillo.
Throw in his work and shows with Black Country Communion and the much anticipated Rory Gallagher tribute shows in Ireland, it’s hard to see where he has time to breath
This time though, Joe’s new album ‘Breakthrough’ isn’t due till July this year so it’s a setlist from the (very considerable) back catalogue that the loyal Joe Bonamassa fans are treated to this Easter Monday
The virtual sell out crowd is seated and waiting with anticipation as the intro music stops and Joe’s band move onto the stage with the main man himself, last to the party before the band fire into an extended version ‘Hope You Realise It’ as the opener
Joe’s rhythm section of Lemar Carter on drums & Calvin Turner on bass are as tight as two coats of paint and its immediately apparent for those that haven’t seen Joe before that this is more than ‘The Joe Bonamassa Show’ with the power and vibe emanating from the stage. The epic ‘Dust Bowl’ is second up and showcase not only the acoustics previously mentioned but the crystal clear sound that is a sound engineers dream.
Another extended song in the form of ‘24 Hour Blues’ is next up followed by a showcase of all band members in the bluesy ‘Done Got Over With it’ especially Key man Reese Wynans who sits stage left. Backing vocalists Jade MacRae and Danielle De Andrea are a superb foil to Joe’s style and are always given the chance to shine, no matter what the track, especially in the emotional ‘Self Inflicted Wounds’ with some unbelievable fret work from Joe.
You never know what you’re going to get from a Joe Bonamassa show (unless like me you were sent the setlist before) but be it cover or original, there’s always emotion that generates a connection with the audience that has to be seen to be believed, there’s also none of the mass picture taking & video filming that proliferates a modern show, and not a Yondr bag in site!
Joe’s mastery of tone, no matter what guitar he has round his neck (and he has hundreds of them) is excellent and this is shown as the band glide through ‘The Heart That Never Waits’ and ‘Hard But Fair’ much to the delight of the audience.
A cover of Led Zep’s ‘How Many More Times’ and drum solo from Carter that was also blessed with a cheeky ‘Love Gun’ segment that shows traht Joe has the confidence to take his music in a slightly different direction, which, let’s be honest, isn’t really a surprise given his back catalogue and musical influences.
That was that for the main set before coming back with a rip roaring version of ‘Mountain Time’
Joe’s shows are an experience and he always gives his all, be it through his skilful playing or soulful vocals, but he is one for not standing still and is always evolving his music, and this is evident if you have seen him over the years and for those just discovering him, welcome to the party
Review & Photographs by Gavin Lowrey
