Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2019 20:21:11 GMT -5
Awhile back I hinted at posting a Bonamassa thread and now I'm finally getting around to it!
To start with, let me point out that there are two types of music fans in this world: 1) Those who love Joe Bonamassa, and 2) those who are like, "Joe who?" There doesn't seem to be any middle ground with him. I've personally never heard someone say, "Aw, he's just ok..." I'm hoping that any fellow EH'ers who are unfamiliar with him might at least look into his music.
I first learned about Joe around 10 years ago from a fellow employee named Robert who was a serious fan. I clearly remember the initial conversation, as we were talking about the band Deep Purple, one of my old classic rock favorites. Robert informed me that Glenn Hughes, DP's bassist, was fronting a supergroup with Joe Bonamassa called Black Country Communion. Robert burned me a disc, which I thought sounded pretty good, but none of the songs really stuck with me. I liked the guitar sound though. Around this time I started dating Deb who was another major Bonamassa fan, and before long she was dragging me (willingly) to some of his concerts. And the rest, as they say, is history. Deb's been gone for almost two years, and I haven't talked to Robert since I moved, but to this day I am still a huge Bonamassa fan.
To say that Joe is an incredible guitarist is a bit of an understatement. He can riff through Eddie Van Halen-type solos with ease, but in an old school blues style. His vocals are very powerful also. So far, he has released 13 studio albums, numerous live albums, and several concert DVDs. He has been touring virtually non-stop, and I can tell you first hand his shows are amazing!
Believe it or not, with that many studio albums, his music is anything but repetitious. Each album has its own flavor. His latest album "Redemption" released late last year has a sort of Gospel theme going, and it is one of his most energetic set of songs. The album before that, 2016's "Blues of Desperation" is more of a rootsy early American styled outing. I highly recommend that one for someone new to his music because it represents his style in a very relatable way. Plus the CD is paired with a DVD of his live Radio City Music Hall performance, which is among his best videos. And it can be had at a good price.
I'd rather not take up a lot of space giving a rundown on each album, but I would like to give a general overview. His first few albums are just a bit rough sounding, which is perfectly ok in blues music. His first album, cut in 2000, features a cover of Jethro Tull's "A New Day Yesterday" (which is also the title of the album). 2006's "You and Me" is one of my personal favorites with a killer cover of Led Zeppelin's "Tea For One". "So Many Roads" off the same album is a true classic blues tune in the same mold. The next album "Sloe Gin" features an excellent cover of Bad Company's "Seagull". The title song is a standout power ballad. The next album, "The Ballad of John Henry" contains my all time favorite Bonamassa song, "Happier Times" and I will leave you for now with a link of that song:
To start with, let me point out that there are two types of music fans in this world: 1) Those who love Joe Bonamassa, and 2) those who are like, "Joe who?" There doesn't seem to be any middle ground with him. I've personally never heard someone say, "Aw, he's just ok..." I'm hoping that any fellow EH'ers who are unfamiliar with him might at least look into his music.
I first learned about Joe around 10 years ago from a fellow employee named Robert who was a serious fan. I clearly remember the initial conversation, as we were talking about the band Deep Purple, one of my old classic rock favorites. Robert informed me that Glenn Hughes, DP's bassist, was fronting a supergroup with Joe Bonamassa called Black Country Communion. Robert burned me a disc, which I thought sounded pretty good, but none of the songs really stuck with me. I liked the guitar sound though. Around this time I started dating Deb who was another major Bonamassa fan, and before long she was dragging me (willingly) to some of his concerts. And the rest, as they say, is history. Deb's been gone for almost two years, and I haven't talked to Robert since I moved, but to this day I am still a huge Bonamassa fan.
To say that Joe is an incredible guitarist is a bit of an understatement. He can riff through Eddie Van Halen-type solos with ease, but in an old school blues style. His vocals are very powerful also. So far, he has released 13 studio albums, numerous live albums, and several concert DVDs. He has been touring virtually non-stop, and I can tell you first hand his shows are amazing!
Believe it or not, with that many studio albums, his music is anything but repetitious. Each album has its own flavor. His latest album "Redemption" released late last year has a sort of Gospel theme going, and it is one of his most energetic set of songs. The album before that, 2016's "Blues of Desperation" is more of a rootsy early American styled outing. I highly recommend that one for someone new to his music because it represents his style in a very relatable way. Plus the CD is paired with a DVD of his live Radio City Music Hall performance, which is among his best videos. And it can be had at a good price.
I'd rather not take up a lot of space giving a rundown on each album, but I would like to give a general overview. His first few albums are just a bit rough sounding, which is perfectly ok in blues music. His first album, cut in 2000, features a cover of Jethro Tull's "A New Day Yesterday" (which is also the title of the album). 2006's "You and Me" is one of my personal favorites with a killer cover of Led Zeppelin's "Tea For One". "So Many Roads" off the same album is a true classic blues tune in the same mold. The next album "Sloe Gin" features an excellent cover of Bad Company's "Seagull". The title song is a standout power ballad. The next album, "The Ballad of John Henry" contains my all time favorite Bonamassa song, "Happier Times" and I will leave you for now with a link of that song: