USA Spring Tour 2013

 

Tour bus license plate, November 2010.

Joe Bonamassa's Spring Tour USA begins Wednesday in Canada. Perhaps he's playing in a city near you? Perhaps you're free that night? Perhaps you want to buy tickets and don't know where to turn? Here's the tour/ticket link. http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/

"Blues Masters" Contestants at 2054

Over the weekend, I queried Guitar Center about whether there is a "hub" of all video uploads in Joe's Blues Master contest. There are 2054 entries, sorted by popular and all. This is located at bottom of page. Click on the artist profile photo and it'll take you to their Youtube channel and video entry. I think it will be interesting to see the song choices, whether or not more of these artists trend toward a couple of specific Joe tunes. Here's the link. Enjoy. http://bluesmasters.yoov.io/v2_gallery.php

Vienna Opera House is phenomenal!

The early word: This recording is phenomenal and unlike anything I've heard from (Mr.) Joe Bonamassa before. An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House was released on March 26, 2013 and is available on BluRay, DVD and CD.

Surrounded by a brand new band, all of whom were hand-picked by producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley, Joe says of his bandmates, "This band is acoustic. It borders on country. It borders on Americana meets Irish meets good old fashioned New York, swampy, authentic, kind of bluesy stuff. It's a very eclectic mix of musicians."

I've watched the DVD twice now, including the bonus disc, which is a wonderful documentary on the making of this program. When the TV's off, the CD player picks up the slack! I can't get enough of the Americana and wordly flavor woven into these acoustic tracks.

My full review will soon be available on Bluebirdreviews.

Yours in music,
DebFromMaine

Joe at the Borderline

Good morning fellow music buffs. If you've been following any of the Facebook pages, music magazines, blogs, and such, regarding Joe Bonamassa's music career and "rise to fame", then you're fully aware of the excitement surrounding this weeks events.

Last night, 200 devoted fans were privvy to the first of four unique setlists with one of four distinct bands Joe has assembled. The Borderline gig saw powertrio Anton Fig on drums and Michael Rhodes on bass, and, of course, Joe on lead guitar and vocals. And with over 70 projected "never before performed live" songs taken from his 13 studio albums, fans are in for a real treat! Each of these shows are being filmed for DVD, set to be released later 2013.

Some of the first fan-filmed videos (and photos) are popping up on Youtube and I wanted to share Story of a Quarryman with you now.

Yours in music,
DebFromMaine

An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House

An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House: Album Preview: My first impression: Mr. Bonamassa's classically trained guitar skills, flanked by four handpicked, culturally diverse musicians from Ireland, Sweden, and the USA is the ultimate melting pot of rich, wordly color and flavor. The various songs chosen from 13 studio albums were rearranged for this acoustic performance.

Led Zep's "Tea For One", Bonamassa Style

Fans of Joe Bonamassa have long loved this version of Led Zeppelin's classic "Tea For One" off the  studio album "You and Me." It featured Jason Bonham on drums and Doug Henthorn on vocals.

An announcement came out yesterday where Doug Henthorn would perform on the Spring Tour. Here is Tea For One filmed at Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam. Enjoy!

 http://youtu.be/CbBRmSqGcSM

Yours in music,
DebFromMaine

The Guitar Event of The Year

If someone were to daydream too long about the endless possibilities likely to occur in London next week, they could render themself BonaUnconscious. (Hmmm...I think I'm speaking about myself.  Hahahaha.)

 

The 2013 "Guitar Event of the Year" is around the corner. Hailed as a "rise to fame" series of one-off performances, London will be forever changed when Joe Bonamassa takes the stage at the Borderline, the first venue played when beginning his successful musical journey in the historic city. The club is intimate and holds up to 200 people, and surely will become the talk of the town.

 

Joe will then continue on to larger theaters O2 Shepherd's Bush and Hammersmith Apollo, with a grand finale show at the infamous Royal Albert Hall, on March 30, 2013. His last concert at RAH on May 4, 2009 was a childhood dream come true. Filmed for DVD, it has proven a successful boost to his notoriety.

So...I've been feverishly following all news regarding these shows since the 2012 announcement. (And though I'm not able to attend, I know many fans who are and can only imagine their excitement.) Joe and his management team have divulged tid-bits of insider information: four unique set lists, four different bands including the "power-trio", and a horn section (as seen on Live From Royal Albert Hall, 2009).

Fans have speculated which songs Joe will perform, as he has commented where over 60 "never before performed" songs will make it to the stage for the first time, at the incessant request of his most devoted fans.

What's more, these highly sought after shows will be filmed for DVD. The potential guest musicians list is unparralled when considering the multiple influences affecting Joe's professional career: B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Paul Rodgers, and Eric Clapton. Then, there are those guest musicians/artists Joe has performed alongside of, which include Ian Anderson, Derek Trucks, Billy Gibson, Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham, John Hiatt, and Beth Hart, to name a few.

So..with all of this taken into account, those fortunate concert goers will most likely have the experience of a lifetime as their "blues-rock" socks get blown off. For the rest of the world, we'll have to read the press writings, posts, view still photos, watch videos and buy the DVD(s) set to be released in later 2013.

In closing, here's a wonderful write up from Bman's Blues Report. And for more on details, please follow anyone of the pages listed in the sidebar.

Yours in music,
DebFromMaine