PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Joe Bonamassa is back with another new release – a live release that is coming out in various formats – a Double CD, or 2 DVD, Bluray or 3 x LP. You may be wondering what sets this release apart from other Joe Bonamassa live releases, but as always he has managed to make sure that he doesn’t repeat himself. This release is a live show that marks the first in a series of tribute concerts (and presumably CD/DVD releases) to different Blues artists – in this case it’s the music of Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf.
While cynics may accuse him of doing covers just to get something else to release, I think it’s a great idea – by paying tribute to two blues legends, he’s helping introduce their music to people who might not have heard them otherwise. Blues purists may say that’s a fanciful notion and that everyone knows the greats, but that’s simply not the case – people get into the blues in different ways and for many people, Joe Bonamassa may well be the first blues artist they’ve listened to seriously so if he can help introduce people to some of the blues legends then that’s a good thing in my view.
The setting for the concert was the spectacular Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Denver, Colorado. It’s an amazing open air venue carved out of the rock with giant red rocks towering over the audience and behind the stage, and with an audience of over 9000 people it’s the biggest show of Joe Bonamassa’s career so far.
One bit that impressed me was that money from ticket sales went to help the Keeping The Blues Alive (KTBA) charity that Bonamassa founded and which promotes the heritage of the blues to the next generation, funds music scholarships and supplements the loss of music education programs in public schools. It’s nice to see a successful musician helping future generations like this.
The concert takes up the whole of the first DVD and is split into three sections – a Muddy Waters set, a Howlin’ Wolf set, and a Joe Bonamassa set. Joe Bonamassa doesn’t slavishly copy the original style – he keeps the main elements of the song, the vocals and guitar then adds his own twist, such as the strong horn section. Even if you didn’t know any of the songs or the work of these two blues legends, as you watch the DVD you’ll hear how the three parts of the show have their own distinct styles as he moves from one artists work to another. It’s a great concert – Joe Bonamassa puts in a great performance as does his extremely talented band, and of course it’s a great setlist.
The second DVD contains the extras. There’s a film about the concert – the reasons for it, and the preparations for it – really a “making of..” kind of thing and well worth watching.
There’s a film detailing the trip to Mississippi by Joe Bonamassa and Kevin Shirley where they visit the area that Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters came from. For me while it showed their love of the blues and their knowledge it would have been nice to integrate it into something that told us a lot more about Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters for those fans who don’t know that much about them – this film tended to assume people knew a lot.
Finally there’s a short collection of archive footage.
It’s a great release that pays tribute to two blues greats, introduces more people to their work, is full of great songs played superbly and it raises money for a good cause – what more could you ask for?
Track listing:
Muddy Waters set:
Intro – Mississippi heartbeat
1. Tiger in your tank
2. I can’t be satisfied
3. You shook me
4. Stuff you gotta watch
5. Double trouble
6. Real love
7. My home is on the delta
8. All aboard
Howlin’ Wolf set:
1. How many more years
2. Shake for me
3. Hidden charms
i. Band and introductions
ii. Spoonful
iii. Killing floor
iv. Evil (is going on)
v. All night boogie (all night long)
Joe Bonamassa set:
1. Hey baby (New rising sun)
2. Oh beautiful!
3. Love ain’t a love song
4. Sloe gin
5. Ballad of John Henry
6. Muddy wolf credits
Extras:
1. Joe and Kevin’s excellent adventure….to the crossroads
2. Behind the rocks – an exclusive view behind the scenes
3. The originals – historic footage from Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf
4. Rockagram gallery
