On Friday, guitarist extraordinaire Joe Bonamassa returned to the familiar surroundings of a town that adopted him many years ago, Rochester, NY. The Utica born Bonamassa returned two years to the day, from his last performance at the same venue.
In the modern era, two years might mean an album or two, but since his last visit, Joe has released three albums with Black Country Communion, a collaboration with Beth Hart, two solo studio albums and a live solo album. That’s not to mention the DVDs.
Watching the progression of Joe as a live performer is at least as fascinating as digesting his recorded work. In two years, he has reworked his show to include a four song acoustic set at the beginning of the show. It reminded of Eric Clapton’s 2001 tour, which was one of Clapton’s finest tours.
Bonamassa could have fallen into the trap many guitarists do, becoming a one-dimensional shredding machine with the amp turned up to eleven. Instead, he continues to develop and reinvent himself as a performer, with outlets for the loud and brash playing, and opportunities to display his command of his instrument, whether it be acoustic, electric, vintage or new.
Onstage, Bonamassa and his crew are a well-oiled machine, and yet his show is far from a scripted and sterile experience. Quite the contrary, it is like one of his vintage instruments, well constructed and filled with nuances that aficionados appreciate and the rest of us love.
The show was a trip through the history of the blues and its special relationship with rock music. Whether he was playing a Bad Company or ZZ Top song from the classic rock era, a blues classic from Howlin’ Wolf, or an original composition, it all seemed to make sense.
With all the new material, only a few songs were repeats from his performance in Rochester in 2010, including “The Ballad of John Henry,” “Sloe Gin” and “Just Got Paid.” This year he left the Theremin home and let his guitars do all the talking.
Who knows what’s in store for Joe over the next few years, in seven years he will be eligible for the Rock Hall, and at his current pace he should be a lock for induction.
Set List:
Palm Trees Helicopters and Gasoline
Seagull(Bad Company cover)
Dislocated Boy
Driving Towards The Daylight
Woke Up Dreaming
Slow Train
Dust Bowl
Who’s Been Talking(Howlin’ Wolf cover)
Midnight Blues(Gary Moore cover)
The Ballad of John Henry
Song of Yesterday(Black Country Communion song)
Look Over Yonders Wall(Freddie King cover)
Blues Deluxe(Jeff Beck cover)
Young Man Blues(Mose Allison cover)
Django / Mountain Time
Encore:
Sloe Gin(Tim Curry cover)
Just Got Paid (ZZ Top snippet)/ Still Of The Night (Whitesnake snippet)/ Dazed and Confused (Led Zeppelin snippet)
All Photos by BackstageAxxess Correspondent Dave Jones. We would like to thank Erin Cook and Ryan Romenesko from Jensen PR for the credentials to cover the show.
