GIG: Joe Bonamassa

The first time I heard Joe Bonamassa was Asking Around For You, on the cover disc of the first issue of Classic Rock magazine I bought (issue 94). However, I didn't immediately start getting into his albums or anything. It was a slow process, you see. After that, I started hearing more and more about this guy, and gradually became more intrigued. His cover of Zep's Tea For One has to be heard. Young guitar maestro? Opened for BB King when he was a wee bairn? Wow, thats some achievement. Luckily when my interest was beginning to peak, and I was listening more and more, he released a new album around the end of 2007 - Sloe Gin - which I duly bought. Then I was hooked. So you can imagine my wonderment when I heard he was coming to Newcastle!

After waiting a while once more near the front of the familiar-becoming Academy stage, on came Joe Bonamassa with his band. Looking around me, I could see he had great support. Fans of all ages had come to see him do his thing. I was happy to see him open with Bridge To Better Days, a great song. He continued to play some great new stuff from Sloe Gin, including Another Kind of Love, Dirt In My Pocket, and the emotional title song. The weird thing is, the new album seems to be a slower pace from his older albums. But holy mother of God, he plays the guitar FAST. My eyes were rooted to the man's fingers, and I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one stunned at how amazing Joe was. There's a mix of genres in his music, with a heavy blues influence, with a little light folk and rock stuff too. Songs such as One Of These Days and Woke Up Dreaming just left me stood there wondering if this guy was the guitar messiah. It's great seeing bands with fantastic guitarists - there are tons out there - but when you come to see one man, he has to do something special to persuade you of his greatness. Joe did it in style, playing Just Got Paid...with an additional solo from none other than Zep's Dazed and Confused. I roared with joy. He went off stage briefly, coming back on with an England football t-shirt on to perform footstompin' Highwater Everywhere. The best was for me a tie between A New Day Yesterday and Woke Up Dreaming, for sheer playing skill. I must say, I was flinching often during those ones, he was playing that damn fast. Some mention must go to his band, who are suitably great musicians to complement Joe.