Bonamassa keeps blues alive at SPAC
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> The Joe Bonamassa concert at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center on the U.S. Summer 2019 tour drew about 3,000 baby-boomer fans who obviously loved the confluence of rock and blues and who know their roots.
Those who came out to fill the pavilion seats only event will undoubtedly remember staying up in 1976 and years after to watch Austin City Limits, a public television program that showcased blues and rock performers such as Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble, Jimmy Ray Vaughn and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, the Allman Brothers, Howlin’ Wolf, and other performers.
On Saturday night, from the moment Joe Bonamassa took the stage moments before 8 p.m., it was clear what his influences were.
Starting off with the Muddy Waters classic Tiger in Your Tank, followed by his own originals Evil Mama, Just Cause You Can, No Good Place For The Lonely and King Bee Shakedown, the overlying theme was one of loneliness, love lost, and withdrawl from the addictive pull of a relationship gone bad.
The message included the search for Redemption, which, appropriately enough, is the title
of Bonamassa’s thirteenth solo studio album, released in September 2018.
Bonamassa continued with his own Self Inflicted Wounds and This Train, drawing thunderous, lengthy standing applause encouraged by Bonamassa who gestured without loosing a beat for the audience to get up out of their seats.
This was a crowd who grew up dancing and grooving to the driving, fast rock backbeat of some numbers and Bonamassa granted them permission to rise. Most did so, if only in place because of the numbers of people present, blocking a view of the stage in one cohesive, bumping life force.
The influence of the Allman and Vaughn brothers were heard throughout and reinforced in Bonamassa’s rendition of bluesman Willie Dixon’s I Can’t Quit You Babe.
Bonamassa introduced the well oiled machine that comprised his band of seven, including:
Drummer Tom Morrow and recording legend Michael Rhodes (bass), both of Nashville, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and member of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Reese Wynans (piano/organ), Paulie Cerra (sax), Lee Thornburg (trumpet), and two soulful background singers from New South Wales, Australia, Mahalia Barnes and Jade MacRae.
Bonamassa changed guitars frequently, switching from classics including a 1963 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst, similar to what Stevie Ray Vaughn was known for favoring, to a 1963 Firebird Treasure, and Gibson Les Paul’s that appeared to be 1950’s originals.
The crowd that wouldn’t let Bonamassa leave was rewarded with two additional originals, Woke Up Dreaming and Mountain Time.
A native of New Hartford, New York, the 42-year-old Bonamassa demonstrated his own awareness of the importance of one’s roots to his own craft. He sent this post concert shout out Tweet to Saratoga Springs fans who had attended the two hour event:
“Saratoga Springs... Thank you for your hospitality yet again. Nice to come back to the area that raised me.”