Joe Bonamassa

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Live At The Sydney Opera House

J&R Adventures, 2019

9/10

Listen to Live At The Sydney Opera House

The blues rock superstar returns with a new album that culls tunes primarily from his no. 1 album, Blues Of Desperation, Bonamassa fleshed out these tracks live at the legendary Sydney Opera House with Anton Fig (percussion), Michael Rhodes (bass), Reese Wynans (keys), Paulie Cerra (sax) and Lee Thornburg (trumpet), not to mention several backing vocalists.

After the powerful and musically dynamic “This Train” opens up the set, “Mountain Climbing” follows with intricate picking and inimitable rhythm, and “Drive” continues the varied setting with throbbing percussion and breathy vocals amid plenty of atmosphere.

As to be expected, the set is very guitar focused as few will ever handle the instrument quite like Bonamassa, though organ fills, bright horns and strategic keys add much to the landscape as deeper cuts like “Love Ain’t A Love Song” finds plenty of grooves to reside in, while “No Place For The Lonely” displays the blues in a fashion that few ever well with soaring solos from Bonamassa. The record highlight, though there isn’t a dull moment to be found, is “Blues Of Desperation”, where the brass really shines, though each player gets some time in the spotlight with their esteemed talent.

Now past #15 when it comes to live albums, Bonamassa again proves that his version of the blues sounds amazing in any setting, but here, at the Opera House, it sounds even better. Trimmed down from a 16 song set to 9 tunes, every moment here shines, and the vinyl version even comes with a bonus track, “Livin’ Easy”.

Travels well with: Reese Wynans- Sweet Release; Robert Cray- Bad Influence