Canada has the Blues

Hello,
Well where do I begin, I guess I'll start with a quick history, that eventually ties in with Joe. I have been playing guitar on and off, oh for about 25 years now. Recently I have started playing 7 string guitars exclusively (5 years). I remember submitting some songs I recorded to this 7 String forum, and one of the members mentioned my lead style was blues based, well I was offended. Here I was trying to shred, but the blues was evident. So I kept on, ignoring what I knew best. Years later, after a few failed band attempts, I was debating on quitting all together. In fact I had purchased a bass, and began to have fun again (something that wasn't happening on guitar). Then one day, a friend from work told me about this guitar player and mentioned that I should check him out. This friend is also a guitar player, big Eric Johnson fan. So here I am at work, checking out Joe's site. Now before I go any further, I will say that as a guitar player and a lover of music, I often tear up when I hear a beautiful passage in music (especially guitar solos). I can honestly say that in the past, I have never cried, during a blues riff, well scratch that SRV's Tin Pan Alley choked me up, but it has been few and far between. So back to the epiphany, again sitting at work, I clicked on Hear Joe's Music, slapped on the headphones and nearly fell off my chair. Woa! Where the hell have I been or where the hell has this Joe Bonamassa been? Better late than never I guess, so it was there at my desk at work, that I teared up while listening to Blues Deluxe (oh God those volume swells), and decided to revisit my blues playing, something that I ignored, for far too long. I haven't put my guitar down since, just having fun, playing some sweet blues riffs. In fact I am contemplating a new axe, getting back to the six string. Someone in town is selling a Les Paul Studio, wine red...anyway that is my story. Oh Joe, when are you coming back to Ottawa, to play the Blues Fest?