Joe Bonamassa, a native of Utica, NY, first played in Rochester, NY, on May 1, 1989, a mere seven days away from his thirteenth birthday. In spite of his early break, Joe’s career did not take off right away. His first major recording project was released in 1994 with a group called Bloodline. It was met with only moderate success and it was not until 2000 that Joe’s first solo album “A New Day Yesterday” was released. In the last ten years, Joe has cranked out eight studio albums, two live albums a live DVD recorded at the Royal Albert Hall. He is also the guitarist for the new supergroup Black Country Communion.
Joe’s return “home” to Rochester was certainly a welcome one. In the morning, he appeared on a local radio station, in the afternoon, he met with a group of high school students and in the evening, he performed what can only be described as a perfect set of his greatest works.
The two-hour set featured plenty of Joe’s blistering guitar solos and spirited vocals. The show began promptly at 7:30 pm with Joe launching into Rory Gallagher’s “Cradle Rock,” the opening cut from Bonamassa’s debut album. It was obvious from the onset that this was a special night for Joe. He was all smiles and playing with incredible intensity. It seemed like he drew a standing ovation at the end of each song, and he fed off of the energy of the crowd.
Those unfamiliar with Joe’s brand of the blues might have been looking for a mellow evening of music, but Joe’s style is much closer to blues-rock than the traditional form that originated in the American South. His style is closer to that of the British Blues Revival of the 1960s which brought Clapton, Beck and Page to the forefront, a style that is often confused with classic rock. Bonamassa has carved out his own unique style that honors the greats like B.B King, but is more of an extension of what the British players like Paul Kossoff of Free were doing.
Nonetheless, Bonamassa can also play the ‘rip your heart out’ style of blues to perfection, as was evident on “If Heartaches Were Nickels,” a song that brought a quiet hush and sense of awe over the crowd. This was a song that showcased the progression of Bonamassa’s playing over the years. He now plays like a seasoned bluesman, well beyond his years.
Other highlights of the show included Joe’s version of “The Ballad of John Henry” and his take on “Young Man Blues,” a song that appeared on The Who’s classic “Live at Leeds” album. Joe’s spin on “Young Man Blues” was typical British Blues with a traditional American blues flavor.
Bonamassa also showed off his skills on acoustic guitar with an extended version of “Woke up Dreaming.” This song is a highlight on the Royal Albert Hall DVD, but was performed even better in Rochester. After completing the show with “Mountain Time,” Bonamassa performed Leonard Cohen’s “Bird on a Wire” from his last solo release “Black Rock.” The final number was an extended version of ZZ Top’s “Just Got Paid,” featuring Joe playing a Flying V and a Theremin. The crowd stood for the entire song, followed by a roaring approval. Perhaps the best thing about this show was that it was a triumphant homecoming of sorts. It was in Rochester where Joe met B.B. King and the rest is, as they say, “history.” Twenty-one years later, Joe returned. Although he has come a long way since opening for B.B. King in a tent, he still portrays the sense that the best is yet to come.
Set List:
Cradle Rock
So Many Roads
When the Fire Hits the Sea
So it’s Like That
If Heartaches Were Nickels
Slow Train
Steal Your Heart Away
Sloe Gin
Ballad of John Henry
Happier Times
Never Make Your Moove Too Soon
Great Flood
Young Man Blues
Woke up Dreaming
Mountain Time
Encores:
Bird on a Wire
Just Got Paid
Photos by Gus Griesinger
BackstageAxxess would like to thank Erin Podberski from Jensen Communications for allowing us to review the show.
