Leeds First Direct Arena – 12/05/23
Joe Bonamassa has made quite the name for himself over the past few years; not only as an exceptional guitarist and singer, but also as one of the biggest guitar nerds out there. As a self confessed guitar nut myself, I was looking forward to seeing some of his impressive collection!
With no support act, the show kicked off at 8pm sharp, the crowd were poised and ready and what followed was nearly two and a half hours of guitar heaven! Pretty much every song was played on a different guitar and I loved it!
The set on paper only looks short, with just 13 songs, but each song was longer than the last. That being said, the gig absolutely flew by! ‘Evil Mama’ kicked things off, Joe with his Les Paul slung over his shoulder hit the ground running. He was on fire. ‘Dust Bowl’ and ‘Love Aint A Love Song’ follow, as does a guitar change for both, a 335 and one of the nicest sounding strata I’ve ever heard are his weapons of choice for each song.
One of the things that struck me on Friday night is Joe’s use of colour in his sound, always playing with the tone and volume knobs and creating such dynamics, with the slightest touch.
Then out comes Terry Reid’s guitar, the butterscotch ‘52 tele with black pickguard, an iconic guitar being played by an iconic man! Again, his subtle use of the volume and tone knobs giving a sound so magnificent, it’s almost indescribable! But it was epic. We’re now 45 minutes in and we’ve only heard four songs. Other bands at this point would be winding down, but Joe is only just getting started. He jokes with the crowd about the typically British weather, rain, rain and more rain! And he says how it’s nice to be in the ‘Malibu of the U.K.’
Every musician that Joe shares the stage with are at the top of their game. Backing singers Jade MacRae and Danni D’Andrea are sensational (definitely worth checking there solo stuff out too) and the band is completed by Hammond and Keys player and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Reece Wynans. We were treated to some mighty fine organ solos throughout the show and in fact, I think he had an air of John Lord about his playing! The rhythm section comprises of bass player Calvin Turner and drummer Lemar Carter who actually delivered a great drum solo towards the end of the night.
Second guitarist Josh Smith is brilliant and unleashes some incredible solos of his own throughout the night. On any other stage he would be heralded as a guitar god, but despite Joe insisting that Josh is the best guitarist on the stage, Joe Bonamassa is not just good, he is other worldly.
The set continues, Joe keeps swapping and changing guitars, back to the Les Paul, an old SG on ‘Happier Times’ which sounded divine, in fact I don’t think I’ve ever heard an SG sound quite so good! And then one of my favourite guitars comes out, the Flying V and a Korina one at that. Wow!
Lonely Boy sees Joe start with his Tele, before swapping half way through the song to that V! I’m in awe. Then, another cover, this time ZZ Top’s ‘Just Got Paid’ and this is even bigger and more raunchy than the original. Half way through, as a nod to Led Zep, the Theramin comes out! We get a little bit of Dazed and Confused too and then all too soon, the song draws to a close signalling it’s very close to the end.
We have the encore first though, and Joe explains that the song was played when he and the band played the Albert Hall and has since become a staple. The opening chords to ‘Mountain Time’ ring out throughout the arena, the song builds and Joe delivers another stunning solo. It’s not fast and furious, it is however, perfection. The perfect way to end one of the best displays of musicianship that I have had the pleasure to witness.
If you have never experienced a Joe Bonamassa show then you are seriously missing out. Friday was my first time and I left on such a high, it was such an inspiring, incredible experience and I left needing to get home and pick one of my guitars up! I just had to play something! I loved every minute of the show, it quite literally blew my mind. It may have been my first time seeing him, but it certainly won’t be my last!
