Bonamassa, Joe: Live At The Sydney Opera House

Any live album from blues-man extraordinaire Joe Bonamassa is worthy of our attention and none more so than this latest example of the master at work, where the guitarist and his band set the stage alight at the legendary Sydney Opera House. Although released in late 2019, the show captured here was actually recorded in 2016 but no matter the vintage the bouquet released is full bodied, and as you’d expect, alludes to a beautifully flavoured performance that captures the imagination.

Highlighting the latest album of the time eight of the songs in this performance come from Blues Of Desperation, with only “Love Ain’t A Love Song� from 2014’s A Different Shade Of Blue and the Clapton cover “Mainline Florida� otherwise forcing their way into the set. That may mean that casual Bonamassa fans will miss the more obvious choices that some live performances throw out but with the amount of live displays from this singer and guitarist beginning to stretch towards twenty, if that’s a make or break deal, then there’s plenty opportunity to hear those songs elsewhere. Therefore this set gives the chance to experience some lesser lights of the Bonamassa catalogue in arguably their natural setting - and one where the man himself can stretch out with solos, improvisations and tricks aplenty, while his backing band go to great lengths to dig the grooves in deep and build banks of glorious backing vocals. Whether through the heart tugging beauty of “The Valley Runs Low� or the chugga-boom of “This Train�, the combined efforts make for an enthralling and involving experience and one fit to grace a venue as revered as the Sydney Opera House. Add striking versions of “Drive� and the set closing stunner “No Place For The Lonely� and the effect is quite spellbinding. Superlatives simply roll off the tongue where Joe Bonamassa is concerned and on the strength of his latest live offering, is it any wonder why?

Track Listing
1. This Train
2. Mountain Climbing
3. Drive
4. Love Ain't A Love Song
5. How Deep This River Runs
6. Mainline Florida
7. The Valley Runs Low
8. Blues Of Desperation
9. No Good Place For The Lonely
10. Livin' Easy (Bonus Track)

Added: November 11th 2019
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: The Bonamassa Store
Hits: 807
Language: english

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