• Registered: 2013-06-10
  • Posts: 360

Topic: My Review of Tour De Force!!!

Last night I was surprised to find all 4 Tour De Force blu-rays waiting for me when I got home. I was particularly surprised since they aren't supposed to ship out until today for US orders, not that i'm complaining. I have been waiting for these to come out since late-2012 when Joe announced that he was to play these 4 shows and release them all. I had to restrain my inner Bona-holic from watching all 4 shows in 1 sitting. I decided to watch in chronological order, So far I watched The Borderline & The Shepherd's Bush Empire shows (just the shows, not the extras). These two shows are amazing, some of Joe's best work in terms of live performances! It was particularly interesting to see how on the Shepherd's Bush Empire night, the arrangements of songs like So, It's Like That, and Lonesome Road Blues had changed since 2009 when he performed them at the Albert Hall. I would say the standouts for me are Spanish Boots, Blues Deluxe, Happier Times, & Story Of A Quarryman from the Borderline, and So Many Roads, Chains & Things, Stop!, & I Got All You Need from the Shepherd's Bush Empire. These are just some personal favorites that I enjoyed the versions of, every song from each concert is simply amazing! I will be watching the Hammersmith Apollo and the Royal Albert Hall tonight.

  • From: St. Charles, IL
  • Registered: 2013-08-01
  • Posts: 636

Re: My Review of Tour De Force!!!

Django i'm so jealous you got your dvds! tongue It would take all my willpower not to marathon them in one night! Can't wait to hear what you think about the other two!

  • Registered: 2012-05-31
  • Posts: 1,308

Re: My Review of Tour De Force!!!

I am with Erin,   So jealous.  Can't wait until my copies show up.  If you don't hear from me for several days you know I am in Joe world jamming to this Tour De Force.

  • From: Moncton, NB Canada
  • Registered: 2013-02-03
  • Posts: 469

Re: My Review of Tour De Force!!!

Must not be the Marshall box set?  Checking email constantly for update on shipping for mine.  Next Friday can't come soon enough.  Jealousy setting in.

Steve

2011 Gibson Joe Bonamassa Les Paul Studio...among others.
Beacon Theater, New York, May 18, 2013/Keeping The Blues Alive at Sea, Feb. 17-21, 2015/3 Kings Tour, Bangor, ME, Aug. 12, 2015
  • Registered: 2013-06-10
  • Posts: 360

Re: My Review of Tour De Force!!!

edragoo wrote:

Django i'm so jealous you got your dvds! tongue It would take all my willpower not to marathon them in one night! Can't wait to hear what you think about the other two!

Believe me being the Bona-holic that I am, it did take all my willpower. And I would have watched all 4 if i didn't get such a late start. I started watching the Borderline Blu-Ray around 8 pm and finished the Shepherd's Bush Empire around midnight. I plan on watching the other two tonight, I will certainly write another post doing a similar review of the Hammersmith Apollo and the Royal Albert Hall sometime tomorrow.

  • Registered: 2013-06-10
  • Posts: 360

Re: My Review of Tour De Force!!!

MINI_Zoso wrote:

Must not be the Marshall box set?  Checking email constantly for update on shipping for mine.  Next Friday can't come soon enough.  Jealousy setting in.

Unfortunately MINI Zoso, i heard through the street team that the box set was delayed and now wont ship out until November 1st, sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

  • Registered: 2013-06-10
  • Posts: 360

Re: My Review of Tour De Force!!!

Also I forgot to mention this in my initial review, I will say this, not to detract from Tour De Force, both DVD's I've seen were AMAZING, the only let down was that it seems that in post, they cut out a section of Arlan's Organ solo during TBOJH at the Shepherd's Bush Empire.

  • From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Re: My Review of Tour De Force!!!

In an odd twist of fate, the boxed sets get delayed because the manufacturing of the Marshall Box was not up to J & R's satisfaction. That's good enough reason for me...I'll wait patiently and hope they come on a Friday so I can have the entire weekend to watch!

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"
  • Registered: 2013-06-10
  • Posts: 360

Re: My Review of Tour De Force!!!

Sorry for the delay in my posting the second half of this review, I had a busy day yesterday. After watching the Hammersmith Apollo and the Royal Albert Hall i was simply amazed. These were the best concerts out of the four in my opinion (I love all of Joe's material, but I am more partial to his newer stuff, like TBOJH, Black Rock, Dust Bowl, & DTTD). On both of these nights Joe seemed to be on fire, and he played particularly well at the Royal Albert Hall. One thing that also struck me about the Albert Hall dvd was the fact that Joe had borrowed Bernie Marsden's 1959 Gibson Les Paul "The Beast", Peter Green/Gary Moore's 1959 Gibson Les Paul, and Rory Gallagers Strat. It is awesome to see how far Joe has come in the 5 years since the first Royal Albert Hall. And I mean that in that he has obviously gained more fame, and now can afford amazing gear, and I also mean that as a player he has matured quite a bit. Some standout tracks for me from the Hammersmith Apollo were, Athens to Athens, Woke Up Dreaming, Cradle Rock, and Tea for One. Some standout tracks at the Royal Albert Hall were Black Lung Heartache, Last Kiss, Midnight Blues, The Ballad of John Henry, Sloe Gin, and Just Got Paid. These 4 shows are a testament to why Joe is one of the greatest guitar players of all time, and possibly one of his greatest works.

  • Registered: 2012-04-14
  • Posts: 101

Re: My Review of Tour De Force!!!

Thank you very much for the reviews.

Can't wait until my boxed set arrives................counting the days!!!

  • From: St. Charles, IL
  • Registered: 2013-08-01
  • Posts: 636

Re: My Review of Tour De Force!!!

Awesome Django! I can't wait to watch these!

  • Registered: 2013-06-10
  • Posts: 360

Re: My Review of Tour De Force!!!

No problem, I hope you all get yours soon!!!