[ Closed ] i pitty the fool pt. 2

I liked Gomes last album a lot...this one doesn't really do it for me. At times, sounds like a continuation of last album.

Not enough rock for me...and he really has gotten preachy/religious/spiritual.

I'll still go see him live anytime...helluva a guitarist.

Personal opinion: Anthony is fun to see live...once. But not more than two times in a row. I'd elaborate more, but...let's just leave it at that.

Great guitarist? Eh. He can play. His vocals are better than his guitar skills.

My favorite album will probably always be Sweet Stringin' Soul. I'm still working my way through Medicine.

Hi Jane, thanks for posting a link to AG.com, I didn't like the CD when I first listened to it and the more I listened the more I see it for what it is worth. I really don't like some slow Blues or some Gospel but AG has a way of putting all that he has into it and the out come is great music. You can listen to the whole cd on AG.com and don't have to spend a cent unless you want to buy it. That should be the norm nowadays, Anthony Gomes is no one trick pony!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

After reading the posts about Anthony Gomes and the remarks by "visitor" I have to weigh in. We don't get a lot of blues artists here in Knoxville, TN so I jumped at the chance to go see Anthony Gomes last night at a tiny blues club in nearby Maryville. In a word it was disappointing. I went expecting to hear some great blues guitar but instead heard (and can still hear--man it was loud) what sounded like an above average, journeyman rock and roll bar band guitarist with a well above average voice. He had some flashy speed licks that gave him instant credibility, but as the set wore on, I kept hearing them over and over. The material was much closer to fusion funk rock than blues, two token balads notwithstanding. ( I thought it was interesting that he introduced them as "for the blues fans in the house" as if to admit that most of the other stuff really wasn't blues.)

Even on the slower things, his playing lacked the sensitivity and nuance that can reveal the heart and soul of a player. I wanted to say okay, we know you've got chops (though he was pretty sloppy at times), back off and show us what's inside. What I think is so remarkable about Joe B is that for all his technique, it's never really about his chops per se. It's about communicating his soul through his technique.

Granted, it was Thursday night in a tiny bar that was about half full. Maybe inspiration was hard to come by last night. I haven't heard the body of his work; the rest of it may be pure blues and what I heard was just a temporary field trip to some other regions. I will have to explore his catalog.

As for "visitor's comments", one thing is crytal clear. Considering the cover charge was $8 for AG (I made it through just over an hour) I would have to say that $20 for 90 minutes of JB is the bargain of a lifetime. November 15th in Louisville, KY is circled on my calander. Joe is on a level of musicianship and professionalism that doesn't have room for many others. You get what you pay for, and in Joe's case, a lot more.

Just my thoughts, for what it's worth,
Larry