Topic: The next level, again
It seems like every time I go see Joe, he has taken another step. From my perspective four rows back at Riverbend in Chattanooga, he's done it again. Clearly, Joe is continuing to focus his show in a classic rock framed vision of his torrid blues sense. Bridge To Better Days was received as the blues rock anthem it is. It was like watching ZZ Top do Waitin' for the Bus in 1973. The crowd was crumpled up in funk from the opening bass drum beat. So Many Roads was a like reading a dark novella about a tragic life underscored by an absolultely searing solo that brought folks to their knees. Mountain Time was an epic journey in pacing and textures. The deafening and sustained response from what was largely a group of music lovers who had heard about, but not heard Joe had to have been extreamly rewarding to Joe and the band.
High Water Everywhere was met by a downpour of rain that continued through Sloe Gin which featured Joe literally "standing in the rain" for his solo. He said that if we could gut it out, he could too.
A highlight for me was the reworking of Don't Burn Down That Bridge. He is continuing to explore the blues rock genre by creating new riffs that are drenched in the emotion of the blues yet crunch with the spirit of Led Zeppelin et al. Find something to hold on to when this one kicks off, gang. It's wicked funky rockin cool.
As others have remarked Joe looks like the confident master he is, cool black outfit, a little Hollywood in his hair. He was animated on stage and played to everyone in attendance. No one was having more fun that Joe and the boys.
Run, don't walk to the nearest venue to see the greatest blues guitarist on the planet as he continues to create his own version of the blues that I believe will land him in a new place for singer/guitarists, a place that only he can inhabit.
Blessings,
Larry
