Topic: Eventin Appolo
Nigel Foster writes lovely show reviews. He posted this, on Facebook, about tonight's show. 
Joe Bonamassa - Eventim Apollo
If you are lucky enough to be going to see Joe tomorrow or Saturday night at this iconic London gig venue then I can tell you now you are in for a veritable treat. Tonight was my first night of two and already I reflect on a night of wonderful music and cannot wait to get tomorrow out of the way to return and see The Master again on Saturday night.
Suffice it to say, as ever Joe is on scintillating form and true to form there are some surprises in store. This time round the vibe created is less rock, a lot less rock in fact and loads more Blues infused numbers.
The distinctive peerless precision of Joe's fretwork and that of his band is very much in evidence but there is added depth and texture to the sound added by some superb percussive interventions and a full on brass section of Trombone, Trumpet and of course Saxophone. It adds a richness and extra lustre to the sound that really does round out the melody. Add in a well crafted but subtle lightshow and absolute pristine sound and everything was and is there for a truly memorable show.
If you have and love Joe's latest album Different Shades of Blue expect liberal lashings of the album to punctuate the set including the opening salvo of the fuzzed up Hendrix cut of Hey Baby seguing straight in to the thrust of the powerful Oh Beautiful replete with the mid song chainsaw solo.
If you are going to one of the remaining shows however much you love a beer or glass of wine do not go anywhere when Joe slides in to the Blues riven vibe of Double Trouble that morphs in to a ten minute jam, Hammond organ weaving in and out of Joe's coursing lead runs and sumptuous solo. If anything the ante is upped even more on the scorching hot arrangement of Love Ain't A Love Song, driven on by Bergman and Rojas in the backline and a meandering Bonamassa solo that is deconstructed and then built later on later to a piercing crescendo.
Be warned the zenith of the show is astounding and if you know Joe you will not be surprised at the song selections. First the epic sonic soundscape that is the anthemic Sloe Gin, the opening notes brought loud cheers of instant recognition and from there every single note was and is something to truly saviour. The gut wrenching tearing solo with phenomenal sustain took me to that place where certain passages of music take me where I lose myself so totally I am hardly aware of my own breathing. Atmospheric, moody and very moving and from there straight in to a brutally powerful version of The Ballad of John Henry. Tonight no histrionics with that gizmo Joe often uses, just bludgeoning riffs poured over Rojas's strutting bass lines and Bergman's pounding drums.
Two full hours of music of the very highest order from a man and a band that are masters of their craft. Of course there was an encore, time for another fusion of the Blues complete with a welcome guest appearance of young Elidh McKellar who traded licks with Joe with supreme confidence.
Yet another memorable night in my personal library of gigs and a fair number now are courtesy of Joe Bonamassa.
