Beacon .... Definition = (A person or thing that serves as a guide, inspiration, or warning)
Joe Bonamassa ..... Definition = (A person that serves as a guide and inspiration)
guide to those who believe in real live music and an inspiration to keep it alive for the future of Blues and Rock.
A little over 2 years has passed since the Joe Bonamassa Holy Grail show at The Royal Albert Hall in London. Here he is in his home State playing at the equally impressive Beacon Theater on Broadway in New York City. He states that when he lived a few blocks up, he would walk past this grand theater often and dream of his seeing name on the marquee.
Well Joe Bonamassa stepped out onto the stage of The Beacon Theater at 8pm and set about parading his unique style of Raw Rock and Subtle Blues, but this was no normal full on electric Bonamassa assault, this was Supercharged to the max with the added energy of 3 very talented guests at the top of their game.
The show starts with the precision of an engine finely tuned on Slow Train, and it's full steam head for over 2 hours of Blues fused with Rock and Soul, Cradle Rock follows in raw fashion with it's jagged groove,then When The Fire Hits The Sea washes over you with that relentless riff, that's a tremendous 3 song opening then out of the night flows the velvety Midight Blues Joe steps up to the microphone head slightly tilted at an angle as to caress the words to this atmosphere stealer, the audience watch in emotional silence as the guitar cries it's own lonely story, stunning, just stunning ... Up next is the expansive sound of Dust Bowl with it's Mid western theme and a rip snortin' solo to fade out into the distance, then there's no let up with The River making a very welcome return, slide guitar afficianados drop their jaws with glee as Joe tears it up dirty low and nasty.
Joe's first guest of the evening Beth Hart is welcomed with raptuous applause, they both pour their souls out on I'll Take Care Of You, a slow burning ember of a tune that captures the audience from the start and created a sumptous atmosphere with some tender soul, awesome. and the evening had just got rolling, next they brought some raw gospel blues to the room with Sinners Prayer, my lord it was religious and cleansing with Beth rasping her beliefs through tune, this huge musical extravaganza continues with the ever soul thieving Sloe Gin, it's intro takes you to a place thats other worldly, serene your heart is touched by it's violinesque beauty, this song opens up the soul of the audience who are silenced by the sheer poetry of this power gem, guitar notes soar and pierce the night which stun the listener.... truly epic and very fittting for this memorable night in Joe's career.
After the standing ovation subsides, the song just pours and pours emotion to you and you feel pure, standing ovation is compulsary .... You Better Watch Yourself comes out shuffling and the seats are rockin the whole place is alive and jumpin, Oh Yeah wooo hooo.
The show just flows on through tunes like Steal Your Heart Away a bad a$$ slice of Zeppish Rock that floors with slabs of crunchy chords... a sweet change of pace as we move into the lonely realm of empty bar room heartache on Bird On A Wire, joe's vocals are hauntingly correct on this tale which showcase his soft subtle tone. The strong history laced tune The Ballad Of John Henry follows in all it's glory with a chugging chunky riff to a real life fable of old America, Carmine Rojas hammers down the thickest layers of Bass Guitar imaginable resonating through everyone of the 3000 in attendance, Joe blends some wicked slide playing alongside the relentless rhythm, a show highlight for sure which leads us into the nights second guest Mr John Hiatt, the legendary American songbook writer and the pair provide us with John's very own Down Around My Place, a sad song about life's change put marvellously to word and then a very lively version of I Know A Place with a stomping midsection with smiling exchanges between Joe & John which connects to the audience, these excellent two songs give way to Blue And Evil, yes an evil riff moves along at a devilish pace and is driven by Tal Bergman's thunderous beat rockin' The Beacon.
Joe introduces his final guest for this momentous evening,
Paul Rodgers the classic vocalist who fronted Free, Bad Company and Queen too, Wow! he sounded so great and rocked it like old school, on Walk In My Shadows with it's funky rock groove and scorching solo the crowd lapped it up and more was to follow, the punchy Free tune Fire And Water tore out some Blues/Rock of the finest 70's calibre breed into a 2011 sure fire show stealer with screaming guitar to boot, Rodgers still has that magic rock god presence when you hear his voice, it is truly real rock tone vocals.
Mountain Time is Joe Bonamassa's very own signature tune and is another epic delivery in his repetoire which yet again can silence an audience with it's inbuilt arrangement of stunning beauty, and the guitar solo within tells it's own meandering tale of lonely life in the mountains,
a sublime finish to the main set, the band take their bows but soon return after continuous applause.
Joe alone with acoustic guitar plays his own classical blues piece Woke Up Dreaming, teasing the audience with every sinew of his skills, every spot on the 6 strings and fretboard are tested to their limits with 12 minutes of a stunning acoustic overture.
We arrive at the final song of the evening "Young Man's Blues", a full frontal assault brutally delivered in the rawest fashion that doesn't let the pace let up til the very last note of this absolutely amazing show.
So The Beacon Theater has been given The Joe Bonamassa treatment just lke The Royal Albert Hall and folks i gotta tell you it was as just as magnificent in stature and performance.
Infact i would go as far to say it was Joe Bonamassa's greatest show ever .....
Roy Weisman (Joe's Manager), Len Bonamassa (Joe's Dad) Both in attendance and even Joe himself have said same, don't take their word, get the dvd when it comes out ......
Yep it's time for The Royal Albert Hall show to step aside, The Beacon Theater show is
Joe Bonamassa's new benchmark.
............. Michael
ps .... tired last night, so hopefully put it right 
Joe Bonamassa ....... His Greatest 3 Videos ... IMMHO After Much Deliberation
3rd ...... Mountain Time / Rockpalast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h01xa6NMsJo2nd ...... Sloe Gin / Vienna
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRASS8O8ZnE 1st ....... Blues Deluxe / The Borderline
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnl3E_KLxYg
Almost exactly... 
I had the distinct pleasure of head butting with Michael an entire weekend in NYC. We each said of the other, what a character he is. 
A lovely time. 
..... thank you yo funky biatch
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