Concert Review: Joe Bonamassa, Las Vegas - May 31, 2006 - Page 2

Among the other showstoppers were "Bridge to Better Days", "So Many Roads", and the show closer, "Asking Around For You".  All three are on the new You & Me CD hitting the stores on June 6. The last song killed me. It was a tribute to one of Joe's friends, and it reminded me of Buddy Blue (who died on April 2nd) and my friend who almost died in January. I cried. It was so heartfelt and beautiful.

Since the band was on a short run to the west coast and had to return to their bus and all their regular tour gear on Friday, they were working with a bare bones setup for their Vegas shows. Some have criticized Joe for "relying" on his pedals to boost his sound. Let me just say how very wrong they are! The thing with Joe is that he's able to elicit the sound and tone he wants all on his own. The pedals are just another way for him to enhance his already stellar talent with a guitar. I watched him play as stood at the edge of the stage. I rarely saw any pedal work. In fact, I can't remember any. More than that, I stood just a few feet away from him for a good part of his show and I watched as he worked his guitar — he played flawlessly, all without his usual array of pedals. And man, what incredible playing!

During "Work Up Dreaming", I stood mesmerized as he worked from almost imperceptible movement to his lightning speed fingerwork across the strings. Blazin' speed and not a single missed note. Ranging from barely audible to booming sound, Joe covered the blues, a little jazz, straight out rock, some serious country pickin', and then back to the blues — all in one song. And the tone! Oh, that sweet tone. No one does it like he does. No one should even try.

There was a special playfulness to a few of the songs in this show. I've never seen Joe (and Mark) pull the audience into sing along before. At one point, Joe actually stopped playing and told the crowd he plays the guitar and sings however many songs every day, 365 days a year, and all he wanted was a little participation. He got it, too! Well, after two, uh, enthusiastic and, um, uninhibited dancers left the floor. I won't go into much detail, but let's just say the two women had been doing their best to share their affection for each other with everyone else in attendance. Ever the professional, Joe acted as though he hadn't seen them. The audience was all too well aware, however. Once they left, the show and the sing along went on without a hitch. We all sang along with the band. It was too much fun to pass up.

Article Author: Joan Hunt

Former Baywatch babe, Playboy centerfold, and stunt double for Abe Vigoda, Managing Editor of Blogcritics and member of the board of directors for BLUSD, Joanie juggles her love of words, music, photography, wildlife, and television with her greatest love -- her kids. …

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