Springfield Mass grade C

Attended my 6th (and last) Bonamassa show in 4 years Wednesday night. Sorry i can't provide a setlist. Joe actually came out 2 or 3 minutes early. Better be seated at 5 of 8 if you want to catch the whole show!  LOL   Started with 1 hour acoustic set which although not my favorite JB format, was probably the better format on this night. Musicians were awesome. Percussionist was fabulous. I really liked the bluegrass/irish/mexicali number (no idea what the name of this song was). Following a 15 minute break Joe came back with the electric band (new keyboard player and percussionist from the acoustic set remained with them). Sounded awesome which re-enforces my desire to just see the electric show. I the set included Story of the Quarryman, Mountain Time, Sloe Gin, along with stuff off the new album. Joe and the band certainly had their moments and he displayed his chops to be certain but to be perfectly honest some of the new arrangements had akward transitions and once again, as with the last time saw him, the mix was less than stellar. I had great seats and love it loud but there were times where the PA was just over driven. No idea who Joe's sound engineer is but the last 3 times i've seen him I've been less than impressed. I always wonder if it's "just me" and i'm being to critical but all you have to do is put you headphones on and listen and watch the just got paid (or anythig else from RAH) or the opening tunes at the beacon and you'll hear what I'm saying. My first Bonamassa show (Hanover Theatre in Worcester MA still by far the BEST I've seen. Next two shows I saw later that year and the next were also awesome, the last few were OK. Still love Joe but I'm definately being priced out of the equation (the reason this was my last show). I'll just buy the DVDs which always seem to be perfectly mixed and great performances. Tal and the percussionist were the best on this night.  Rock on JB