Hey everyone,
Just got home from the Joe Bonamassa show here in New York. All I can say is WOW. He sounds incredible live. I have to say that I wasn't expecting sound as good as on the Albert Hall DVD but, I was blown away. There wasn't a Gibson he didn't pull out of his arsenal and, he made the music man scream. The venue he played was about ninety miles from his hometown and he told us that it has been twenty five years since he's been back to this particular venue. I sure hope it doesn't take another twenty five before he returns. My apologies for the poor picture quality but, I did the best I could. We hung out after the show hoping for an autograph but we were told that Joe wasn't feeling well and he wouldn't be coming out to sign....bummer ! But, still am awsome show.

_________________
"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD

Cool. Thanks for the pics. Most of us probably don't know much about him except for New Yorkers. I looked him up on YouTube and Wikipedia. Child prodigy looks like. Very cool vibe he has going on there. Reminds me of Jeff Healey a bit. Cool stuff.

_________________
-Kirk

GUITARS
'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
AMP
Vox ac4c1-bl
PEDALS
Compressor
Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
Carbon Copy Delay

I was pretty bummed I missed his show in Melbourne a couple weeks back. Only realized he was in town once I had checked his website the same night he was playing.

Joe is really the best of his generation. I've seen him a couple times, and he is always amazing.

I will try see him anytime he comes anywhere near here.

_________________
I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Hi gldfshkpr: I'm in the UK and I've been following Bonamassa since he first played here about five years ago. I've seen him in big and small venues. Small is best - first time was in a tiny place with a 400 capacity crowd in the middle of Dartmoor one spooky moonlit hound-of-the-baskervilles night. One of the very best gigs I've ever seen.

BigTufGuy, thanks for the pix. I was at that Albert Hall gig on the DVD. I can assure you the sound was better on screen than in the venue. Too big. At smaller shows I've stood about 10 feet in front of the stage and to my ears his guitar tone is just about the best thing I've ever heard live. Absolutely justifies that complicated rig of his.

We're already having the "Joe Bonamassa is not god" backlash, as if anyone ever said he was. But I agree with Twelvebar: the best of his generation. Very good!

Cheers - C

Ceri, I KNEW you would be responding. This was a small venue (about 1000 seats). I did spot you on the DVD and know you're a fan. I'm with you, his tone IS amazing ! (also, FWIW, his drummer Bogie Bowles is also amazing. He didin't miss a beat all night.)

_________________
"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD

- C

PS Yeah, I really like Bogie. I hope he sticks around...

I saw him a few weeks ago in Ft Worth Texas.
HE was fantastic.
I didn't think the sound was all that great, but it could have been the location and his darker guitar tone of late got bit muddy at times in that venue. But again the playing was outstanding.
For my taste, he is the best out there right now.

Nice pics!!!

Got great seats for Huntington WV show on May 1!! Cant wait!!!

_________________
"Wait a minute, somethings wrong here!"

I saw him in Riverside Ca back in March. Best concert I've ever seen. There were maybe 1200 people in the nice little theatre and he played is $@! off for about 2 hours. The guy is simply amazing and really great performer. It was nice to see him for the first time in a smaller venue and I left the show liking him as an artist even more than I did before. He played Woke Up Dreaming and really tore it apart, maybe the best version of it I have ever heard. Joe is in my top 10 all time and by far my favorite artist of anyone out these days. Cool pics! Cool he played the Yellow Explorer, that guitar is sweet. Glad you enjoyed the concert!

Anyone heard the new album yet? I haven't picked it up but planning on getting it soon.

_________________
Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

My wife and I saw him for the first time this past Oct. and wow, was we blown away. Would definitely pay to see him again.

I picked up the new cd last night at the show. It's been in my player ever since we got back into the vehicle after the show. I'm really enjoying it. Track 6 is called "Bird on a Wire" which he did for an encore last night. Amazing song. It seems to have a hint of country in it. If you don't have it...get it !

_________________
"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD

The whole album has a feel of Greek music, which is appropriate as it was recorded in Black Rock Studios in Greece.

I think Joe is still developing as an artist which is amazing, given he has been a pro player for over 20 years now (he is in his early 30's, but there is footage of him and Danny Gatton when Joe was 11!!)

Hopefully he drops the grudge and puts his Fenders back in the mix, I miss his tone with the gold sparkle strat.

_________________
I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

He's amazing and he evolves and shows more depth album by album. I first got interested because Joe's from Utica, NY ... where I'm from ... only to find out that not many people there knew much about him. There aren't many venues around the area, especially not for someone with his talent so it's not surprising that he didn't start making a name until after he left.

Since then, his work has evolved from solid blues-rock to some excellent and more frequently acoustic songs with a lot of complexity. I haven't seen him live yet, but videos show me that any time he's on stage, he's going to be blowing you away. That's great -- an evolving songwriter but one who still puts on a 100% show live.

Sorry though, no Joe connection myself ... I'm his dad's age. The closest I can get is that I occasionally used to work with a jazz drummer back in the day who does know his dad. Joe's dad also played and so I understand, was the original inspiration. But Joe has certainly taken that inspiration and run very far with it.

Indeed. IMO, Fender dropped the ball on this one. It would have been nice to see him going to town on a nice Strat.

_________________
"I like the way he puts Yngwie J. Malmsteen on his album covers. You know,....so you don't confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business"


2008 Fender MIM Stratocaster
2010 Epiphone Masterbilt
2009 Fender Super Champ XD