Renovčević (Blues & Rock)

Minneapolis, MN, USA (2002-10-11).

Album Details
Title: So, It's Like That
Artist: Joe Bonamassa
Label: Mascot-Provogue BV
Released: January 1, 2002
Genre: Rock

 Songs
1. My Mistake
2. Lie, No. 1
3. No Slack
4. Unbroken
5. So, It's Like That
6. Waiting for Me
7. Never Say Goodbye
8. Mountain Time
9. Pain and Sorrow
10. Takin' the Hit
11. Under the Radar
12. Stick in Love
13. The The Hard Way

Joe Bonamassa may well be a young guitar virtuoso, in line with the likes of Derek Trucks and John Mayer (like Jonny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepherd before them) to be the Next Blues-Rock Guitar Hero. Unfortunately, he's not much of a songwriter. So, It's Like That, his sophomore solo effort, is filled with subpar tunes bloated with clichés. The production (by Clif Magness) is swell enough, though Bonamassa's guitar sometimes sounds too carefully dirty, and his band — comprised of drummer Kenny Kramme and bassist Eric Czar — far too generic. Bonamassa shines when he is allowed to stretch out and explore, on songs such as the sonically varied "Pain and Sorrow." There, on a long improvisation, he works through myriad modes of playing, textures, and musical ideas. And, since it is one of the album's only extended tracks, it is also one of the album's only redeeming moments — and the only thing that clearly separates Bonamassa from generic boorishness.

Album Details
Title: Blues Deluxe
Artist: Joe Bonamassa
Label: Provogue
Released: August 26, 2003
Genre: Blues

 Songs
1. You Upset Me Baby
2. Burning Hell
3. Blues Deluxe
4. Man of Many Words
5. Woke Up Dreaming
6. I Don't Live Anywhere
7. Wild About You Baby
8. Long Distance Blues
9. Pack It Up
10. Leftovers
11. Walking Blues
12. Mumbling Word

Joe Bonamassa's first solo release in 2000, A New Day Yesterday, paid homage to classic '70s blues/hard rock. Three years later, with the release of Blues Deluxe, the young guitarist is doing the same with the roots of the blues. Eight of the 12 tracks are covers: B.B. King's "You Upset Me Baby," John Lee Hooker's "Burning Hell," Buddy Guy's "Man of Many Words," Elmore James' "Wild About You Baby," T-Bone Walker's "Long Distance Blues," Freddie King's "Pack It Up," Albert Collins' "Left Overs," and Robert Johnson's "Walking Blues." The problem with about half of the disc is the difficulty of covering this type of material without being able to add much to it. At this relatively early stage in Bonamassa's discography, it may have been a better idea if he would have mixed 70 percent originals with a few covers instead of vice versa. It's obvious Bonamassa has devoured this material, but his take on "Burning Hell," for instance, doesn't come close to matching the strength and realism of the original. The album's strong points are the three originals — "Woke Up Dreaming," "I Don't Live Anywhere," "Mumbling Word" — and the Jeff Beck Group's "Blues Deluxe," which features smokin' guitar pyrotechnics. Still, thanks to musicians like Bonamassa, the more traditional blues artists covered on this disc continue to gain just as much exposure as younger artists as Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, or Jimi Hendrix.

Bluesmore Festival, Cedar Rapids, IA, USA (2004-08-07).

Title: Had to Cry Today
Artist: Joe Bonamassa
Label: Provogue
Released: August 24, 2004
Genre: Rock

 Songs
1. Never Make Your Move Too Soon
2. Travellin' South
3. Junction 61
4. Reconsider Baby
5. Around the Bend
6. Revenge of the 10 Gallon Hat
7. When She Dances
8. Had to Cry Today
9. The The River
10. When the Sun Goes Down
11. Faux Mantini

The guitar gods have graced Mr. Bonamassa with lightning in his fingertips. The former child prodigy delves into blues, soul, rock and country on "Had To Cry Today". Whatever the genre, Joe proves conclusively that he's all over it. "Never Make Your Move Too Soon" and "Reconsider Baby" just freakin sizzle. You take a tight band and a deft mixture of covers and original material and the guitar that roared and you've got yourself a major type listening experience. The scary thing is, Joe's just getting started.

Milwaukee, Wi. 7.28.04.

Mr Kyops, Pool, Dorset, UK, 18th May 2005.

Recorded live at Inter-Media Arts Center, Huntington, NY 26.02.2005.

The "black eagle" has the Flair of a Bahnhofskaschemme. Harm, the name promised nevertheless rather a cosy tavern. Unfortunately the word "friendliness" seems to know also nobody here. The fact that the shop is not yet insolvent is probably because of because it is the none one far and broad. Ella & Olli, which we also met in this evening, reported that they had to wait over 80 minutes for your meal. Sadly, sadly! The concert hall against it is quite pleasant and the acoustics is correct.

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