Archive for May, 2012
JOE BONAMASSA-“TIGHT AND FEELING IT” BEACON THEATRE-LIVE IN NEW YORK BLU-RAY-REVIEW JOHN EMMS
Joe Bonamassa’s gorgeous guitar work on Live At The Beacon Theatre New York has the ability to make you feel as much emotion as a great vocalist.
That folks, is rare.
Jeff Beck, Gary Moore, Stevie Ray Vaughan and a short list of others have that same pipeline to the heart of their playing.
And Bonamassa’s band of drummer Tal Bergman, “Mr Groove” bassist Carmine Rojas and keyboard man Rick Melick are “wired” into Joe’s phrasing vocally and from his guitar.
Honestly, it’s hard to believe this is only a four piece band. Their sound is killer without sacrificing depth.
The first 3 tracks, Slow Train, Cradle Rock, and When the Fire Hits The Sea launch the fireworks. However like all great players JB and his band pull subtle and enticing dyanmics out of Gary Moore’s Midnight Blues and JB’s Dust Bowl.
One of the huge highlights of this show are the two songs performed with vocalist Beth Hart.
Look we have a lot of female vocalists these days. Too many in fact.
Beth Hart is simply a tour de force.
Hart can be powerful, sexy, and believe me when she sings the track I’ll Take Care of You few can touch her on this planet.
That combined with the track Sinner’s Prayer bring JB’s guitar solos and the band to top of the mountain in a superb display of musicianship.
John Hiatt nails his own Down Around My Place and Paul Rodgers delivers a gutsy take of Fire and Water.
But JB and his band at almost every turn are compelling and true to the nature of their music.
These guys are feeling it. And at this point it’s important to note Bonamassa’s vocal work is getting better by leaps and bounds.
My wife hates when I put on “guitar shows’ for review. But from the start she seems to just love the tone of Joe’s guitar work. And yes that readers is probably a good sign for Joe’s new opus that drops next week!
JOHN EMMS is a veteran music journalist, an online worldwide radio host http://emms.podbean.com/ and has fun with his own blues band www.theshaftmen.com
Here is the best single songs I’m digging via my heart and head!
John Mayer-Speak For Me-Flawless songcraft via a gorgeous acoustic folk vibe
A melody that sparkles in a 70’s Gordon Lightfoot vein. Wow! From John’s Born And Raised album due out May 22/2012.
Counting Crows-Untilted (Love Song) Think superb alt country in a Jayhawks way and you will have an idea for this beauty. Gorgeously sung by Adam Duritz. Killer guitar work by what sounds like Dan Vickrey. From the new cd Underwater Sunshine.
Alan Doyle-I’ve Seen A Little-Doyle explodes out of the box with this muscular rocker. If your not singing the chorus by the second time through, your tone deaf. Doyle’s album Boy On Bridge may be the surprise hit of the summer.
Garbage-Your Kind of People (title track) The best vocal mix I have heard this year. Honestly Shirley Manson is singing her ass off. Hypnotic and mesmerizing. Killer.
The Beach Boys-That’s Why God Made The Radio. Wow, I’m carrying this song into my summer of 2012.
Tantalizing vocal harmonies still intact, gorgeous bridge and verse chords carry this track deep into your head.
JOHN EMMS is a veteran music journalist, musician www.johnemms.com you can check out John’s worldwide radio show here http://emms.podbean.com/
NO BULLSHIT
I love musicians and what we do
You have to have PASSION for music.
The song choices on this radio show I believe are the key to it’s success.
I personally select every song and it’s placement.
Yep, just like the late 60’s FM DJ’S did.
This radio show has feel and dynamics.
Just like a great rock n’ roll band.
I have a great engineer Doug Young. Old school cat who knows his stuff
MUSIC is the unifying thread that ties EVERYONE ON THE PLANET together.
I’m happy to say this show is listened to in JAPAN, INDIA, THE UK, US, CANADA..VIRTUALLY ALL OVER THE WORLD
This show grows every month
MUSIC FOR MUSIC SAKE ..CHECK THE ARCHIVES..you will love it
BONAMASSA, CELLESTE, CUDDY, RIVAL SONS, SPRINGSTEEN,top “mix tape”..single reviews by john emms
As a journalist and musician I listen a lot of new music.
It also gives you a gauge when your writing your own new material.
I still have the habit of making best of tracks for my vehicle or Gym ipod
Never learned from the mix cassette tape days I guess.
You can download all of these tracks. Here is a small sample of what is in rotation in my vehicle and what I play on my radio show. http://emms.podbean.com/
Joe Bonamassa-Driving Towards The Daylight-Title track of his new album brings tons of tension built around a great lyric and even better vocal by Bonamassa. Short gtr solo. Atmospheric mix!
Celleste-(top photo) Join The Infestation. May sound like a funny sounding title until you hear Celleste and producer Eric Dick lock into the bass guitar/drum whomp. Celleste wails a Katy Perry good time vibe over a vintage beat the Black Keys would be proud of.
Jim Cuddy-Regular Days-From the Skyscraper Soul cd. Cuddy always has a way of making records that sound good the first time through, but killer on repeated listens. Gorgeous lead and harmony vocals, tight focused chord progression. Great relationship number.
See my full review of Jim’s cd in the archive section
Norah Jones-She’s 22-Wow, you won’t believe the trippy turn in the lyric” Does she make you happy” and how Jones has you hanging on every word. The minimal backing is spooky and real. From her latest cd Little Broken Hearts.
Bruce Springsteen-Shackled and Drawn-Easily one the most organic songs by any artist this year. Great story in the lyric, gospel backing. How can you top yourself as The Boss. This is one way for sure.
Peter Karp/Sue Foley-Beyond The Crossroads-Wow, this is an R & B blues based rocker which recalls the pure joy of stuff that Solomon Burke would have put out. Stunning.
Rival Sons-Only One-From the Pressure & Time cd. Honestly this reminds me of a modern day Bad Company track. The rhodes piano and southern fried guitar fills only add fuel to one of the best vocals I have heard in recent memory
JOHN EMMS is a veteran music journalist, radio host and musician. You can check out John’s latest work on Apple i Tunes with The Shaftmen in addition to his solo recordings. Visit John here www.johnemms.com