Joe Bonamassa

You like this guy? I really enjoy his stuff, kind of SRV at times with a mix of classic rock sounds. If you've only heard him with Black Country Communion you should check his solo stuff.

As a big fan of guys like Stevie Ray and Kenny Wayne Shepperd, I thought this guy would be a slam dunk. However the stuff I've heard either on YouTube or Amazon hasn't exactly knocked my socks off. I've debating getting an album to check out, but have been kinda hesitant.

I like him well enough on both BCC albums, but I don't get the sense that he's playing to his full ability, if that makes sense. I'm guessing he holds back a bit when he's playing in a full-on band as opposed to his solos records.

By the way, if you read Classic Rock magazine out of the UK, they promote this guy like he's the Second Coming, if you catch my drift. Not an issue goes by with some article, mention, blurb, photo, whatever of Joe Freakin' Bonamassa.

Classic Rock Magazine gave away a free Comp of his and I enjoyed it, I did not think he was as good as the Classic Rock writers make him out to be, and I was surprised when I found out the guy was not British, considering how heavily promoted he is over there, and he was even the cover buy on the last month's cover.

manny wrote:

Classic Rock Magazine gave away a free Comp of his and I enjoyed it, I did not think he was as good as the Classic Rock writers make him out to be, and I was surprised when I found out the guy was not British, considering how heavily promoted he is over there, and he was even the cover buy on the last month's cover.

That Bonamassa issue FINALLY came in at my local Books A Million this week. I picked it up today. Pretty cool they gave us an exclusive "best of". I haven't popped it in yet but from the 2 Joey Bones albums I have (not counting BCC), I like him a lot.

Have you guys heard the Joe Bonamassa/Beth Hart disc? If you like blues, that's a must-have IMO.

tohostudios wrote:

Have you guys heard the Joe Bonamassa/Beth Hart disc? If you like blues, that's a must-have IMO.

I like this alot....

BCC=good

His solo stuff is hit and miss. Great player but weak songwriter (IMHO)

Bonamassa is incredible. My girlfriend is a huge fan of his and is even in one of his videos. I went to see him live last spring and his playing was incredible. He plays heavy blues/classic rock and his voice is also quite good. Check out his Live At Royal Albert Hall disc. It smokes!

I dig this guy too !!!

He's the modern day Gary Moore, dude got pure soul can pierce your heart with his playing

manny wrote:

Classic Rock Magazine gave away a free Comp of his and I enjoyed it, I did not think he was as good as the Classic Rock writers make him out to be, and I was surprised when I found out the guy was not British, considering how heavily promoted he is over there, and he was even the cover buy on the last month's cover.

I'll have to stop by the local Barnes & Noble and pick up that issue. Maybe something on the cd will grab me by the short & curlies.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

manny wrote:

Classic Rock Magazine gave away a free Comp of his and I enjoyed it, I did not think he was as good as the Classic Rock writers make him out to be, and I was surprised when I found out the guy was not British, considering how heavily promoted he is over there, and he was even the cover buy on the last month's cover.

I'll have to stop by the local Barnes & Noble and pick up that issue. Maybe something on the cd will grab me by the short & curlies.

There are some great tunes on there but I have feeling, he is someone you have to see live in order to fully appreciate it.

Live, like many blues players, is what sells it. I think the Brits love him because of his love of British blues and he always gives kudos to them as his influences.

Dark Horseman wrote:

Live, like many blues players, is what sells it. I think the Brits love him because of his love of British blues and he always gives kudos to them as his influences.

Real "british" blues is basically homage in style and substance to traditional american roots music, only electrified.

True, wouldn't argue with that. But Mayall and Clapton did add their own little spin and Joe seems to honor that.

Dark Horseman wrote:

True, wouldn't argue with that. But Mayall and Clapton did add their own little spin and Joe seems to honor that.

Mayall had alot of great players.....Clapton ,J. Bruce, P. Green, M. Taylor, H. Mandell, L. Taylor ect ect.

You gotta consider that those influences go beyond the Chicago sound of Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, and B B KIng and are found in Lead Belly. Elmore James, Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, and Willie Dixon

Bo Diddley and even Chuck Berry's (early rock and roll influence) was a big factor on the british blues movement.

I would love to hear Joe B. do an acoustic blues set

Not to mention many of the British blues guys were also hip to many of the great jazz players as well. Alot of these cats like Ginger Baker played jazz prior to the british-blues boom of the late 60s. That adds another coloration to the sound of many players from that era.

S.D. wrote:

Not to mention many of the British blues guys were also hip to many of the great jazz players as well. Alot of these cats like Ginger Baker played jazz prior to the british-blues boom of the late 60s. That adds another coloration to the sound of many players from that era.

Some Mayall and most of the early Savoy Brown records with Chris Youlden on vocals were very jazz orieinted/flavored.

manny wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

manny wrote:

Classic Rock Magazine gave away a free Comp of his and I enjoyed it, I did not think he was as good as the Classic Rock writers make him out to be, and I was surprised when I found out the guy was not British, considering how heavily promoted he is over there, and he was even the cover buy on the last month's cover.

I'll have to stop by the local Barnes & Noble and pick up that issue. Maybe something on the cd will grab me by the short & curlies.

There are some great tunes on there but I have feeling, he is someone you have to see live in order to fully appreciate it.

I'm listening to it now and honestly, it's just not doing much for me. I think his playing is a little too "controlled", if that makes sense. He's very talented, no doubt, but he plays too clean or reserved for my taste. He needs to loosen up a tad. From what I'm hearing, he doesn't seem to have much personality in his playing. It could be any modern day blues player.

I guess I'm just used to the coked-fueled, sweat soaked, wild playing of Stevie Ray. I can pick his playing out anywhere and he's one of the few players that can solo and send a shiver down my spine.

Sorry Joe, but I just dont think you're the one for me. You're a nice fella, but it's not gonna work with us. Take care.

Excellent comparison with SRV, I think I might like the disc more then you did MG, but I did not love it, maybe because I am comparing him to SRV ( I know I know very unfair) but SRV seemed to fly by the seat of his pants and played with so much passion and feeling, I just do not get the same feeling from Mr. Bonamassa.

Yea, I don't dislike the disc or anything, but I don't see me going out and buying up any JB albums anytime soon. He lacks a bit of personality from what I'm hearing. Maybe he does come across different in a live setting, but on disc, he's too cold and clinical. Especially for the blues.

The comparisons to SRV are goofy. Joe intentionally switched from Fender to Gibson as a teenager to stop those comparisons. Also, did you watch those live clips I posted??? This guy slays on record and live. He can't help it that he's not into coke, whores and booze.

Witchfinder wrote:

The comparisons to SRV are goofy. Joe intentionally switched from Fender to Gibson as a teenager to stop those comparisons. Also, did you watch those live clips I posted??? This guy slays on record and live. He can't help it that he's not into coke, whores and booze.

Not into coke, whores and booze, and he calls himself a blues man?!?!?!

manny wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

The comparisons to SRV are goofy. Joe intentionally switched from Fender to Gibson as a teenager to stop those comparisons. Also, did you watch those live clips I posted??? This guy slays on record and live. He can't help it that he's not into coke, whores and booze.

Not into coke, whores and booze, and he calls himself a blues man?!?!?!

Quote :

He can't help it that he's not into coke, whores and booze.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

I'm not knocking the guy and yea, it's probably not fair to compare him to SRV. They're 2 different styles of play. But I'm admittidly particular when it comes to my choice of blues players and I'm just not feeling it with Joe.

The thing he did with the electronic gizmo (I can think of the name) during the solo was pretty cool though.

There are very few modern blues players I can listen to, it's just too controlled and polished for my taste. I blame Eric Clapton, he has inspired generations of insipid blues "practitioners" who took the basic building blocks, made it safe for white audience consumption and strangled all the soul out of the music.

I'll stick with T-Bone Walker.

Hmmmm, I thought I was picky about my blues.