By Michael Yanko
Rock Legends Photographers
Having been a live performance photographer because the 70s and taking pictures 1000’s of live shows, a whole lot of festivals, and 9 music cruises, Purple Rocks has been on my bucket listing for a few years. Once I obtained an e-mail from Gov’t Mule stating that they had been enjoying there, it piqued my curiosity. Once I discovered that Jason Bonham was opening and that Joe Bonamassa was enjoying the evening earlier than, I spotted it was time to make a visit to Colorado and cross this one off my listing!
It takes two 18-wheelers to convey Joe Bonamassa’s gear to a venue close to you!
I’ve seen Joe Bonamassa carry out a number of instances, however seeing and listening to him at Purple Rocks was an expertise by no means to be forgotten. It rained nearly your complete present, however the sold-out crowd got here ready with raincoats and ponchos. Photographing was tough within the rain, however I did handle to get a number of good pictures!
The rising anticipation for the beginning of the present was climaxed with Tom Petty’s “The Ready,” adopted by the band’s entrance to thunderous applause!
Opening the present with “Evil Mama,” the band adopted up with songs from Bonamassa’s large catalogue of albums together with: “Mud Bowl,” “Love Ain’t a Love Track,” “Self-Inflicted Wounds,” “I Wish to Shout About it” from the forthcoming album, and “Final Matador of Bayonne.”
To the delight of the group the following music featured particular visitor Warren Haynes (Gov’t Mule, Allman Brothers Band) who was scheduled the following evening. Bonamassa launched him by saying “Some individuals in the present day requested me, ‘you going tomorrow, is he coming right here?’ I mentioned ‘effectively I can’t make it tomorrow however I’m certain it’s gonna be f-cking improbable.’ My buddy Jason Bonham is right here tonight. I don’t give this man sufficient credit score as a result of over the course of the primary hour of this present he’s in all probability written down 20 issues that I’ve f-cking stolen from him on the guitar, together with this model of this music by Albert King known as ‘Breaking Up Somebody’s Dwelling’ and we’re gonna convey out Warren Haynes proper now to play it.” The guitar duo jam throughout this music was astonishing!
Bonamassa channeled his interior Buddy Man a number of instances all through the evening, dropping “F” bombs at random. Following the music with Haynes, Bonamassa launched his band consisting of: Josh Smith (guitar), Calvin Turner (bass, changing the late Michael Rhodes), Lemar Carter (drums), Rock & Roll Corridor of Famer Reese Wynans (keys), and Dannielle DeAndrea and Jade MacRae (backing vocals).
After introductions the efficiency continued with “Curtain Name,” adopted by a inventive cowl of Barbra Streisand’s “Prisoner” (Love Theme from Eyes of Laura Mars). Subsequent up was “The Coronary heart That By no means Waits.” Following an incredible blues solo, Bonamassa supplied up a touch of “Trigger We’ve Ended as Lovers,” giving a short salute to the late nice Jeff Beck! After delighting the sold-out crowd with that tidbit, the band adopted up with “Lonely Boy,” adopted by ZZ High’s “Simply Received Paid,” which morphed into Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed and Confused” earlier than morphing again into “Simply Received Paid.” The set ended with a five-minute drum solo after which the band cleared the stage. The gang was loud and hungry for extra. The band returned for the the anticipated encore, “Mountain Time.” Bonamassa instructed the group that somebody posted on Twitter, “Man, I actually hope you play ‘Mountain Time’ on the mountain!” He shared that he didn’t plan it, however that it simply makes f-cking sense. It was a fantastic ending to a memorable efficiency!
Joe Bonamassa is likely one of the biggest dwelling guitar gamers and his performances are at all times extraordinary. Whether or not you’re a blues fan, rock fan, or each, you’ll want to put Bonamassa in your should see live performance listing!
For extra photographs from this present https://www.abetterdj.web/ROCK-LEGENDS-PHOTOGRAPHERS-CONCERT-PHOTOS/BLUES-CONCERT-PHOTOS-1/JOE-BONAMASSA-Purple-Rocks-8-6-23/
