Joe Bonamassa

[Gogar]

BB, Clapton, Robert Cray, Jimmie Vaughn.

And Hubert! in the audience.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

No soul, no feeling, no heart. He knows what to do - he just doesn't know why.

Might be a little harsh but after watching him on a PBS show I didn't feel any whoopee about downloading any of his music or finding more videos to watch. I guess you might say the 'why' is that he can. For those of us that can't even play, one has to appreciate something about him.

[yazhound]

Originally Posted by MMiller

This is not correct. This whole conversation is subjective, so we all have an opinion.
I'm ok that you don't enjoy his art. I don't see you're in a position to say the man has no soul, feeling, heart....

I have had the pleasure of seeing his show... Enjoyed it every bit as much as seeing SRV.

I have seen SRV five times. The first on his Texas Flood tour, were I was right up front row in a tiny club, 3ft from him the whole show. I have never been blown away like that night.

However, saw JB a few years back at the Fox in Atlanta, and was also blown away. The man is just a fantastic guitar player, who clearly loves to play and it shows.

And as previous poster noted... cannot beat his Just Got Paid. And, he always has a great band with him that compliment what he does well.

[yazhound]

Originally Posted by chocaholic

check out any of the jb with beth hart videos on youtube. Just stunning.

1+

[Don Ro]

No question the guy is talented...in fact, extremely so...IMO.
It's just that that "something" is missing.
When I hear that "something", my body, heart, and spirit murmers, "Oh Yeah!"
.
"I listened to Jimmie Vaughan play guitar and I wanted to take lessons. I listened to Stevie and I decided to not."
.

.
PS I listened to Beth Hart...nice!!!

[greglepore]

I'm in the "Joe is all show" camp.

Derek, on the other hand, has chops. Especially without Susan-she's ok and all, but the show were better when it was Derek, Oteil, Mike Madson and Todd Smallie.

Heard the Derek/Maron interview a couple months back, would second the advice to give it a listen, he gets it. The stuff about him and Hooker is hilarious. Just like the verse about John Lee in the Hiatt song.

[astrochex]

To go slightly OT, I have seen Clapton multiple times and one time left early because I thought he was mailing it in.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by astrochex

To go slightly OT, I have seen Clapton multiple times and one time left early because I thought he was mailing it in.

Got more EC albums/cds than I can count...Mayall, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney & Bonnie, Derek and the Dominoes, then tons of his solo stuff from the 70s on. One of the most disappointing shows I've ever been to was in the Dean Dome in Chapel Hill...EC backed up by a dozen or so stringed instruments....he mailed it in and it flat out sucked . I like shows in small clubs ...4-500 max...but sometimes ya gotta do the stadium thing...oh well...

[Cajundaddy]

I have seen EC several times with various experiences. The best show ever was just a few years ago at the Universal Hollywood before it closed. It took him a few songs to relax and find his groove, then he just owned the place all night. Brilliant.

[sammyg2]

Bonamassa on stage with some 18 year old kid I've never heard of .....

[Gogar]

That video is a great example of JBs business acumen vs "real blues." It's totally legit entertainment and pretty good music anyway.

[yazhound]

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

I have seen EC several times with various experiences. The best show ever was just a few years ago at the Universal Hollywood before it closed. It took him a few songs to relax and find his groove, then he just owned the place all night. Brilliant.

Saw EC at Budokan with John a buddy from H.S. in 81. Being American teenagers we snuck around backstage before the show and got to the threshold of the room EC and the band were in, sitting around a table. Got nabbed by back of the collar like the proverbial cartoon shot. Got thrown out to wait in line with all the ticket holders. My friend John had a Sony recorder with two hand held mics - the old journalist rig. We ended up with a cassette recording of the show. Brought it out a few weeks ago and well, sound is awful but a good memento.

As I recall, Alvin Lee had a prominent role that night handling guitar duties.

[Rtrorkt]

i was following this thread while i was in Seattle. Interesting debate. But here's the thing. In my younger days i was known as the go to guy for advice on stereo equipment. The one thing that is subjective, is the sound from a speaker. Now i was a JBL L100 fan. Big base, great rock and roll speaker, others were Bose 901 fans or AR. At the end of the day, it is personal preference.

I happen to like Bonamassa. Some don't like his suits (think Robert Palmer in the later years), some say no soul, i say if you like it, then like it. Try this from Red Rocks

[Rtrorkt]

and apologies for putting this one up, but on the back side, i am not sure Zep did it any better in the day Dazed and Confused

Saw them open for Jose Felciano in Athens, OH spring of '69. Think i remember it.

[Chocaholic]

Two awesome examples Rtorkt. We may be on opposite end of the political spectrum, but not where JB is concerned. I see others say he's the wrong color and not a real blues man. But as evidenced above, that's not what he is. Dazed and Confused, Just got Paid are fusion tunes which is where he excels. Apples and oranges fellas.

I enjoy his rock and roll, his blues, his respectful backup to Beth Hart, his skill, his integrity and his work ethic. Big fan of his and so many others...each for a different reason. Perhaps I'm not enough of a guitar snob...I like em all.

[DanielDudley]

Dwayne or Dickie ? Ginger or Mary Anne ?

It's all good. One thing I will say is that Joe can play, and he can play with the best of them.
If he sounds like he does, it is because he wants to sound that way, and not because he has to.

[Rtrorkt]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Two awesome examples Rtorkt. We may be on opposite end of the political spectrum, but not where JB is concerned. I see others say he's the wrong color and not a real blues man. But as evidenced above, that's not what he is. Dazed and Confused, Just got Paid are fusion tunes which is where he excels. Apples and oranges fellas.

I enjoy his rock and roll, his blues, his respectful backup to Beth Hart, his skill, his integrity and his work ethic. Big fan of his and so many others...each for a different reason. Perhaps I'm not enough of a guitar snob...I like em all.

Chocaholic, on board man. Shows that music transcends. Thinkin' if you like it listen to it. If others don't who gives a chit. There are days when i will crank ZZ Top on my upgraded stereo in the Range Rover and then other days when i listen to Spa on XM and chill my way through life.

It used to be folks just chilled and listened to the music. If you like it, good, if not well, others might. Must say i hated Disco, but man the girls loved it and you could find some nice ones dancing on the bar, in the day

[sugarwood]

I find disco to be tons more engaging than formulaic blues.
Disco was the last gasp of real music talent before computers took over in the 80s.
Literally no weak links. Killer, and I mean KILLER bass grooves, horn sections, funk guitar, amazing vocalstalent, rock solid drumming.
Nothing has even come close since.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

I find disco to be tons more engaging than formulaic blues.
Disco was the last gasp of real music talent before computers took over in the 80s.
Literally no weak links. Killer, and I mean KILLER bass grooves, horn sections, funk guitar, amazing vocalstalent, rock solid drumming.
Nothing has even come close since.

Haha! Disco, as a musical high water mark? That's funny. Recent music may indeed suck but that doesn't make disco anything special.

JR

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by javadog

Haha! Disco, as a musical high water mark? That's funny. Recent music may indeed suck but that doesn't make disco anything special.

JR

He has a point.

Like any genre there is a point where it goes from obscure to mass market.

Thats when the record labels start pushing formulaic manufactured crap to the less discriminating consumer.

Disco in the early days was a more sophisticated funk variant.

It's not Do The Hustle.

And Giorgio Mororoder was a genius.

I disagree that it represented the last of real talent.

Has been plenty since and if you know where to look there is great stuff from very talented people being produced today.