Joe Bonamassa wrapped up his 14-date U.S. Summer 2019 tour on a high note for Mile High City fans.
His signature look of an open-collar shirt, two-piece suit with a sunglasses reflect the class act that he is, at all levels; musician, blues advocate, guitar collector, guitarist master, and showman. Anointed as a child prodigy, none of that matters now. What matters is his radiant love for the blues, incredible chops and truly great showmanship.
His band features Reese Wynans (keyboards), Michael Rhodes (bass), Lee Thornburg (trumpet), Paulie Cerra (sax) and drummer Greg Morrow sitting in for Anton Fig, who is recovering from a broken foot. Completing the seven-member backing band is two soul-stirring, backup vocalists Mahalia Barnes and Jade MacRae. Collectively they are a tight unit and brings a big blues sound. And fans eat it up.
The band ripped through a thirteen-song, two-encore performance at full tilt energy as time flew by in a blink of an eye. Early in the set, he quickly ripped into three tracks from his latest (2018) release "Redemption", starting with the hard-driving "Evil Mama", "Just 'Cos You Can Don't Mean You Should" and "King Bee Shakedown" before playing Warren Haynes' sultry "If Heartaches Were Nickels".
The band ripped through their thirteen-song, two-encore performance at full tilt energy as time flew by in a blink of an eye. Early in the set, he quickly ripped into three tracks from his latest (2018) digital download release "Redemption", starting with the hard-driving "Evil Mama", "Just 'Cos You Can Don't Mean You Should" and "King Bee Shakedown" before playing Warren Haynes' sultry "If Heartaches Were Nickels".
Bonamassa was not short on honoring his influences continuing with the 1962 shuffle-style Albert King version of "I Get Evil" (originally recorded by Tampa Red titled "Don't you Lie to me" 1940), "Little Girl" by John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, a killer Led Zeppelin-Willie Dixon medley "Tea for One-I Can't Quit You" "Sloe Gin" by Tim Curry and Delaney & Bonnie's "Well, Well". with his 2016 title track "Blues of Desperation" peppered in the middle. Unique from the beginning, "Desperation" opens with a synth, rhythmic bed that has a heavier, haunting rock beat where in the middle he cuts loose with a mean slide solo. It is a gripping rock song at its best.
One would be hard-pressed to think of a more fitting song for the final encore at Red Rocks than "Mountain Time". This was a concert to remember.
Check out his upcoming fall tour dates.
