Topic: Express and Star review of Joe's gig at Birmingham NEC by Ian Harvey
HEADLINE: "Joe not Sloe for praise as best"
"If there's a more thrilling guitarist on the planet than Joe Bonamassa, thens it's almost beyond belief.
THe New Yorker's Saturday night concert was the highlight of the three-day Music Live event at the NEC, with a sell-out 1,600 crowd pumped up to greet the star after the success of his latest album Sloe Gin.
And the guitarist did not disappoint, producing a virtuoso display of classic heavy blues rock melded into heartfelt, emotional songs like Bridge to Better Days, Another Kind of Love, Asking Around for You and the heartbreakingly gorgeous LP title track Sloe Gin.
For those who have discovered him it's easy to see why, Bonamassa's technique is mesmerising, his command of his guitar, whether a Les Paul or an acoustic, is absolute, and he is utterly comfortable taking centre stage without ever appearing arrogant.
He pays homage to his own heroes, mixing the fire of Green era Clapton, the soul of Free and the bite of ZZ Top, at one point taking on the latter's Just Got Paid only to see it metamorphosise briefly and magically into Zepellin's Dazed and Confused.
There are doubters, particularly in the traditional blues fraternity, but on this showing Joe Bonamassa is the real deal"
Not bad eh? - perhaps someone should mention Joe's new album LFNIP to Ian but it would appear that he's a fan nonetheless...
Doh! All that typing and its on the net (also interview with Joe 16/10/08) see link below:
http://www.expressandstar.com/?s=bonamassa
Vicky
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