FANZEYEVIEW
Joe Bonamassa + Sandi Thom 29th May 2010 - Magna Centre Rotherham (Review by Jon Seymour)
Saturday May 29th will be remembered as one of the best gigs I have attended. I was at the Magna Centre in Rotherham, which could be a great venue if only some more thought went into the organization. The venue holds around 3500 people, and the doors opened at 7pm for a 7.30 start. This presented a problem, as many people were still queuing to get in while Sandi Thom was on stage. Also, there was absolutely no provision for people at the back to see the stage properly. It’s a shame, because the venue its self had excellent acoustics and the sound quality was phenomenal. Through a series of fortunate circumstances, I and my 2 friends were able to get in early, and so had the opportunity to be right at the front.
Sandi Thom’s set was over far too quickly. She played half a dozen songs from her excellent Merchants and Thieves album, and opened her set with Belly Of The Blues, a perfect song choice. She also played Maggie McCall, Show No Concern, Runaway Train, Gold Dust and an absolutely blistering version of This Ol’ Worldwith Randall taking Joe’s place on guitar and vocals admirably. When Sandi announced the news that they were to play the last song, a huge groan came from the crowd, as they would all have loved her to continue. Sandi has announced another UK tour in September, and if I get even half a chance to go see her at a headline gig, I’m going to take it. Merchants and Thieves is a phenomenal album, and a million miles from her earlier, more pop orientated material. She’s worth checking out, especially as she was able to win over a crowd of pretty peed off people who had been waiting in the rain for ages with no food, drinks or toilets, and some of whom missed about half of her set.
Sandi Thom’s set was over far too quickly. She played half a dozen songs from her excellent Merchants and Thieves album, and opened her set with Belly Of The Blues, a perfect song choice. She also played Maggie McCall, Show No Concern, Runaway Train, Gold Dust and an absolutely blistering version of This Ol’ Worldwith Randall taking Joe’s place on guitar and vocals admirably. When Sandi announced the news that they were to play the last song, a huge groan came from the crowd, as they would all have loved her to continue. Sandi has announced another UK tour in September, and if I get even half a chance to go see her at a headline gig, I’m going to take it. Merchants and Thieves is a phenomenal album, and a million miles from her earlier, more pop orientated material. She’s worth checking out, especially as she was able to win over a crowd of pretty peed off people who had been waiting in the rain for ages with no food, drinks or toilets, and some of whom missed about half of her set.
On to Joe.....
What can I say? Arguably one of the greatest guitarists alive today.
Opening with The Ballad Of John Henry to an expectant crowd, and was instantly greeted by a massive cheer. All of the crowd pleasers were in there, and Bogie’s drumming on Happier Times was absolutely amazing. Sloe Gin is a live track that gets better and better every time I hear it. A huge cheer from the crowd as soon as Rick played the opening bars was instantly silenced as Joe went to work, the crowd hanging on every note. A stonking cover of The Who’s Young Man’s Blues is another welcome addition to the set.
Only 3 tracks from Black Rock were in the set, but that’s testament to the fact that Joe has so much great material to work with. Blue and Evil went down a storm, and provided us rockers with a chance to headbang until our necks were sore. Three Times a Fool is another great live track, and Bird on a Wire opened up the encore set, and it’s such a beautiful song, a definite “lighter moment.” Woke Up Dreaming gets longer every time I hear it, but it’s never boring. Just watching Joe’s fingers dance over his guitar strings is mesmerising to say the least.
Another change came in the form or replacing the tried and tested India with Django as the intro to Mountain Time, and the noise from the crowd was proof that everyone there approved. Blues Deluxe also had some changes, with Rick laying down some piano instead of Joe’s guitar taking centre stage for the whole song, and it really worked well.
All in all, I had an absolutely amazing time, and both Sandi and Joe were even better than the last time I saw them, and I loved them then. The time passed far too quickly, but I enjoyed every second of it. Roll on the next Joe gig, that’s all I can say.
What can I say? Arguably one of the greatest guitarists alive today.
Opening with The Ballad Of John Henry to an expectant crowd, and was instantly greeted by a massive cheer. All of the crowd pleasers were in there, and Bogie’s drumming on Happier Times was absolutely amazing. Sloe Gin is a live track that gets better and better every time I hear it. A huge cheer from the crowd as soon as Rick played the opening bars was instantly silenced as Joe went to work, the crowd hanging on every note. A stonking cover of The Who’s Young Man’s Blues is another welcome addition to the set.
Only 3 tracks from Black Rock were in the set, but that’s testament to the fact that Joe has so much great material to work with. Blue and Evil went down a storm, and provided us rockers with a chance to headbang until our necks were sore. Three Times a Fool is another great live track, and Bird on a Wire opened up the encore set, and it’s such a beautiful song, a definite “lighter moment.” Woke Up Dreaming gets longer every time I hear it, but it’s never boring. Just watching Joe’s fingers dance over his guitar strings is mesmerising to say the least.
Another change came in the form or replacing the tried and tested India with Django as the intro to Mountain Time, and the noise from the crowd was proof that everyone there approved. Blues Deluxe also had some changes, with Rick laying down some piano instead of Joe’s guitar taking centre stage for the whole song, and it really worked well.
All in all, I had an absolutely amazing time, and both Sandi and Joe were even better than the last time I saw them, and I loved them then. The time passed far too quickly, but I enjoyed every second of it. Roll on the next Joe gig, that’s all I can say.
Here's the set list from the show.
The Ballad Of John Henry/Last Kiss/So Many Roads/So It's Like That/If Heartaches Were Nickels/Further On Up The Road/Sloe Gin/Lonesome Road Blues/Happier Times/Blue & Evil/Three Times A Fool/Blues Deluxe/Young Man's Blues/Woke Up Dreaming/Django/Mountain Time
Encore:
Bird On A Wire/Just Got Paid
The Ballad Of John Henry/Last Kiss/So Many Roads/So It's Like That/If Heartaches Were Nickels/Further On Up The Road/Sloe Gin/Lonesome Road Blues/Happier Times/Blue & Evil/Three Times A Fool/Blues Deluxe/Young Man's Blues/Woke Up Dreaming/Django/Mountain Time
Encore:
Bird On A Wire/Just Got Paid
