Joe Bonamassa is somewhat of an outsider when it comes to blues music, since some people believe that his style is a little bit closer to outright rock 'n' roll rather than the genre that they first pegged him in. Although there is a little bit of heavy rock and even prog-rock in his setlist on this DVD, his style is unmistakenly his own, a mix of original Delta blues influences and a dash of rock 'n' roll that in turn create edgy blues rock, a combination that never loses any of the emotion associated with the genre. The man has come a long way, even though he did open for B.B. King when he was a mere twelve years old.
Showmanship and Guitarmanship
Throughout this DVD, there are plenty of performances that hark back to British blues, especially one such as 'Blues Deluxe', a tour de Fender song that is played brilliantly and with passion, especially in the run up to the bridge section as Bonamassa reams out the chord work. The so-called "violining" makes it more than worthwhile to watch, as does the sheer speed of the player, even though it seems like a slower-paced song. Bonamassa's creativity on the guitar shines through in every song here.
The concert starts off with Bonamassa's own song 'Takin' The Hit', a number that is appropriately rock-y for an opener, with lightning-fast licks going up and down the neck of Bonamassa's guitar. The band is also well up to scratch, with a very good bassist and drummer helping the accomplished blues player along. The next one, 'A New Day Yesterday' compounds the fact that back then, Bonamassa was a man who needed at least one song for his voice to warm up properly. Here, he is a guitarist first, and a singer second, and this really shows as his voice is clearer, more confident and stronger, showing more passion for his work, as his Gibson wails away up and down the scales.
Blues: Deluxe Edition
Going back to 'Blues Deluxe', it is a ten-minute opus of great guitar-work with a sparkly gold Fender and more gurning than should be allowed on a live performance. There is a great little introduction to the song before it really starts, making it important, as it goes from seeming delicate solos before crashing down into a bruising, high-pitched scream. It is great to see an old Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck song up there, especially done so well. 'Mountain Time' is also a more rock-influenced Bonamassa original with a nice solo here, and it's a good bridge to the excellent boogie 'You Upset Me Baby' with a nice, very cool improvisation in the middle that once again presents Bonamassa as a great showman.
Also by this time, it is more noticeable that the direction of the cameras could be a little bit better at times, as an interesting quick solo would cut to a head or to someone in the audience, slightly upsetting the flow. Happily, once 'The River' comes along, it's a little bit better, which is just as well since watching a great piece of slide guitar is always good for the soul.
Intermission
'Burning Hell', originally by John Lee Hooker and Co., features a fast paced riff that along with the clapping of the audience, you just want to bob your head along to it. It has a great groove to it and is very listenable. And that should be it, except that of course there is the encore, featuring the favorite 'Had To Cry Today', once again with an intro before building up into the crushing main riff. Then there is one short interlude in 'Heart of the Sunrise' and 'Starship Trooper' before ending with the 'I Don't Live Anywhere', a soft melodic blues number that does the genre service.
The DVD is a must-have for Bonamassa fans and is also a great introduction for young blues afficinados. With taste and style, Joe makes a good show.
James Clapham - After winning his Creative Writing Diploma, James Clapham moved to Slovakia. He currently works as an English teacher there, and is also ...
