Joe Bonamassa Reviews

Tvasc from Greenville, South Carolina

NOT DISAPPOINTED IN GREENVILLE SC

First time I have seen Joe B. From reading previous reviews, I was worried about the sound., and brought my earplugs... I didn't use them! Although the arena was not designed for great sound, the sound at the concert last night was great. I heard every lick that Joe played. The notes were clear and sweet. The second hour had more volume, but still clear and not overpowering. Good job Joe, thanks for coming to Greenville!

Craig collier from chattanooga tn

SAW JOE B IN2013 AT THEFOX AWSOME

his show was as awesome ashis recorded music. we had front row seats handicapped thanks to the fox staff.

L. Storey from Los Angeles, California

JOE BONAMASSA DOLBY THEATRE 12/16/16

One of the best blues/rock players I have ever seen ... and Ive seen just about everybody. Great venue too!

from Memphis, Tennessee

JB AT THE CANNON CENTER IN MEMPHIS, 12-07-2016.

Blues lovers, the guitar man was really feeling it in Memphis. JB was tearing it up. The whole band was on target and tight. My first time at the Cannon Center, seats a few under 2100, and was sold out way ahead of time. Acoustics were off the chart, beautiful place. Gotta say it was amazing, can't wait to see him again!

from Des Moines, Iowa

BONAMASSA NEVER DISAPPOINTS

Playing was perfect. keyboards were best I've heard. Joe explained he almost had to cancel show but powered through. (was in hospital with bronchitis 2 hours before the show) Played nonstop for 2and a half hours. Joe's playing on pretending rivaled Clapton;s. He has expanded his style and remained the best tour for guitar enthusiasts. I will see him whenever I can. Backup singers (2) were fantastic addition to the show. I wonder if they are called the Bona-mommas? theater was great sound quality wonderful. Not a show for the kiddies.

Bert K. from Chicago, Illinois

BETTER EVERY TIME

Another tremendous effort and perhaps best band yet. See him every time he comes to Chicago. And every time it sets a new high. This dude was half dead and gave us 2 1/2 hours of awesomeness. Nobody like him. Keep on doing it Joe B!

K Kingston from Chicago, Illinois

JOE BONAMASSA AMAZING

I saw him last year....great showman, great music. Nice man

Tom from Charlotte, North Carolina

BONAMASA BELK THEATRE FEB 2017

My wife and I are from Spartanburg SC, I'm a huge fan but she is not really, but she had a blast..... That's how good it was!. Not too loud, had ear plugs but didn't need them. I thought the sound was very well mixed, could hear all instruments and vocals, and that is harder to do than most people think. Bass hit really hard if you like that you would have loved it. He played a good variety of stuff I know and some I didn't, and threw in a little " Do you feel like we do"....... Niiiiiice!! He played 2 hours, and then did Hummingbird as an encore.....Only wish he could have played all night!!!

Bill from Toronto, Ontario

SONY CENTER

Amazing . Never heard anything as good. I died and went to heaven

Nick GUASTADISEGNI from Toronto, Ontario

JOE BONAMASSA

After spending almost 2 1/2 hours watching JOE BONAMASSA and his Band perform at the SONY CENTRE on the 16 November 2016 , I can only say this - DO NOT MISS HIS CONCERTS. Mr BONAMASSA and his band never quit, the energy was out of this world, the talent was bar none with some of the biggest names in the industry as his band members. He is truly one of the most talented individuals at his craft and believes in committing to his audience and giving the best performance he can and boy does he deliver. He is blessed with talent, and has a good sense of humour, and knows how to surround himself with great talent. Excellent concert. -Thank-you Mr BONAMASSA and Band.

from Vancouver, British Columbia

JOE BONAMMASSA

Awesome!! Sound was perfect. Joe is amazing!

Carlos from Vancouver, British Columbia

OH JOE

Second time seeing Joe Bonamassa in Vancouver. Preferred commodore style venue. 40$ for two's high balls a bit steep. The reality is we came to see Joe and his band play. Great Canadian representation didn't miss a beat. In short I LOVED how Joe Plays his guitar like it owes him money!:-) ! A true pleasure to watch so much Soul going into his art expressed in the voice of the guitar. Enjoy the suite fire Joe. Well earned rest, until the new year.

Mark W. Stern from Vancouver, British Columbia

BLOW AWAY!

Joe Bonamassa, came to town with a hall of fame band and just blew the audience away with his legendary guitar riffs and Blues/Rock, (think Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton Jeff Beck, Joe Satriani, BB King), you get the picture. Anton Figg,and the bassist were tight and rock steady, all star horns, piano/keys and the two back up singers were just the icing on the cake. Thank you, Mr Bonamassa and your band for an amazing performance! They are here for two more nights in a row and I'm really considering seeing them before their final show Saturday night, which incidentally will be their last show of 2018!!

Dan Shambaugh from Portland, Oregon

AWESOME BIRTHDAY SHOW

GREAT show last night by Joe and the band - the energy never let up, and the individually showcased TALENT level of each and every band member kept sneaker-punching the audience as the show progressed. The SHREDDING skills of Bonamassa were astonishing, and his voice has can TRANSPORT the audience to the sights and sounds of dark, slow- moving backwaters, and the edgy New Orleans "Mystique" of the deep south. Bonamassa's haunting voice just keeps getting better as the years go by... and those songs STAY in your head the next day. After the first couple of songs, either my ears acclimated to the distortedly loud sound levels, or the Sound Engineer leveled the volume off. Whatever the case, it was a GREAT Birthday present (from Angela), and Joe Bonamassa. Will probably try to hit the Vancouver show now while he's on the last leg of his 2018 tour.

Gloria Davis from Arlington, TX

JOE BONAMASSA

Phenomenal guitar playing..outstanding showmanship. Band was solid..female singers were songbirds of unmatched skill.

David from Cincinnati, Ohio

SOUND WAS GREAT IN CINCY

I read a few negative reviews about sound in Indy, (muddy, too loud, etc) so I thought I'd share my thoughts on last night's show at the Taft Theater in Cincinnati. I was just right of center on the floor, about 20 rows back. Sound was excellent. Levels were good. Not sure if the other bad experiences were due to the venue, equipment, proximity/angle to the line arrays, or other. I was really nervous after reading those reviews, but the second Joe started I was relieved and excited. As for the show, you should not expect the Royal Albert Hall setlist. Go to setlist.fm and you'll see what he's going to play. Giving a one-star review because he didn't cover a bunch of stuff when you can see the setlist before buying tickets is not fair to the artist, IMO. The tour is to promote his new album. I thought the show was fantastic, as did my wife who is not a rock/blues fan at all.

Linda and Sean from Toronto, Ontario

UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Joe Bonamassa is the most talented passionate performer ever! Show was awesome! He is the ultimate blues guitarist and vocalist! First show we saw was in May of this year in Clearwater Florida it was so good we immediately bought tickets to his Toronto show November 3 and he did not dissapoint! Whenever he is around we will definately go see him play and .... do yourself a favour do the same you will not regret it

Roberto Patricelli from Ottawa, Ontario

JOE WAS AMAZING

Effortless talent on guitar. Amazing talented band behind him. Big double thumbs up.

Gene from Los Angeles, California

JOE BONAMASSA OUTSTANDING AT THE GREEK THEATRE 8/1/18

First things first. This was my 1st time seeing a concert at the Greek and have to say it's one the great venues I've ever been to. Joe Bonamassa ,being a L.A native put on very balanced and professional show and his fantastic band never missed a beat. Some Be bop,jazz,blues jazz fusion,new original tunes and some of Joe's very hot fan favorites.His crazy good version of Zeps "How Many More Times" was worth the price of admission alone.Playing a vintage Telecaster he did some mind blowing finger picking including playing the pick up on the guitar. The crescendo was something to behold a d witness. Went up on the neck ,pulled all 6 strings down and hit the wah,wah, what a beautiful sound that was!. Do yourself a favor and catch this guitar wizard and go home very happy and feeling ,,,outstanding!!

JOEY GUIDRY from GALLIANO, LA.

JOE BONAMMASSA

HE WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST GUITAR PLAYERS i HAVE EVER SEEN, i'VE BEEN GOING TO CONCERTS SINCE 1974, i HAVE SEEN JIMMY PAGE, ERIC CLAPTON, PETER FRAMPTON, JEFF LYNN, TED NUGENT, & MANY OTHERS. JOE IS SOMETHING ELSE. I WOULD GO SEE HIM AGAIN!!

Karen Brake from Pensacola, Florida

JOE BONAMSSA...A MUST SEE

Saw him many years ago and now have seen him 05/2018 in Pensacola and he is AMAZING. He is a guitar master - there are not enough adjectives to describe his sound/ability. The sound was wonderful and his interaction with the audience was spot on. If you have a chance to see him live GO and do it. You will love it !

Mike Y. from Owego, New York

J.B. FIRST LIVE PERFORMANCE I EXPERIENCED

Had an amazing time. Joe and his band are loaded with talent. I was impressed that they played for so long with a break only long enough to introduce the band members . I was also surprised that he played very little of his most popular tunes. Joe can sing too! If I have any criticism, it would be that he didn't display his voice enough . But the theater was a perfect place to see him. I can't wait to see him again!!

Bk jones from Providence, Rhode Island

A VIRTUOSO

One of the most gifted guitarist of the last 20 years.I always feel amazed and like I am receiving a gift from God. Thanks

Pierre Mercier 66 and still playing from Montreal, Quebec

JOE IN MONTREAL THANK YOU

Had a fantastic night with my old friend Jake and the band and Joe were really solid. Nobody can do it like him as he is not just a great guitarist he is a great showman in a great super well structured show. Also congrats to his team as they are very important to all this. SEE YOU NEXT TIME AND MEANWHILE I WILL KEEP JAMMING WITH HIS TRACKS TILL I GET OLD Pierre 66

Georgene Brown from Fresno , California

LOVE MY JOEB

I've seen 4 of Joe's concerts every single one of then is ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL!! I had front row center at tv's Warfield theatre in San Francisco and he takes my breath away and brought happy tears, I don't get out much so this is how I treat myself. God's blessings upon you my Joe B. Your BIGGEST FAN ❤

Jim from Winnipeg, Manitoba

JOE

best concert best clean sound greatest preformance hear in the peg what more can you say

from Winnipeg, Manitoba

WINNIPEG SHOW SEPT 29, 2017

Here's my review on the Joe Bonamassa concert...or should I call him Joe BonaAWESOME! What a show...what a guitar player/singer...what a band....WOW! Jim R.

Scott from Winnipeg, Manitoba

JUST SAW JOE TONIGHT

Absolutely amazing. All of the best musicians and awesome performers. Highly recommend seeing this band. It is an experience. Music, is back! (Pantages however, is not the best venue for good sound. Not to mention the overkill of amplifiers hanging from the ceiling blocks a huge part of the stage)

Vincent Galante from New York, New York

WESTBURY NY EXCELLENT SHOW!

Joe was great and so was the band! Great set of songs enjoyed it very much! Good job Joey!

from Hartford, Connecticut

EVERYTHING YOU HOPE FOR AND MORE

It is a great day when you can catch a live performance of a rare talent. Joe and his band gave a goosebumps level performance at a venue (Hartford Bushnell Theater) that has luckily very good acoustics which is really important. SLo Gin, Self Inflicted Wounds, and the rest of the playlist were just performed to perfection. Count on seeing me in the audience again next time you are in our area. Turning my family into Joe B fans.

DonnaTarasovich from Albany, New York

JOE BONAMASSA

I still have chills from last night being up close & watching him perform At SPAC . He is right up there with all the greatest guitarists ever. It was such an amazing experience listening to him with his incredible band . 2 hours of non stop music . Can’t get enough ! He was a 12year old kid warming up BBKing ! The thrill is NOT gone 🔥Welcome back Joe to your roots 😍 Thank you for a great night

from Denver, Colorado

JOE AT RED ROCKS AUG 12, 2019

Joe and his top notch band put on an excellent show last night. A two hour show that only let up to introduce the band members. Joe is one of the best guitarist of our time and each member got a chance to show their talents of which they are one of the best bands you'll see. The sound was tight all night, the moon was full, and the weather was perfect. Great show that Ihighly recommend.

Dr. Douglas O. Brady from Edmond, Oklahoma

CONCERT

Best Blues Guitar player around now. Have seen several concerts and I am a Senior Citizen. Joe is the best. If you can see him live please do so. Fingers move so fast hard to see him play. Jumped right in on time and played straight except for introducing his band members and back up singers. Guy is phenomenal. Lucky to have seen him.

Al Ferraante from Middle Village N.Y.

MASTER OF THE GUITAR

My son and I saw him at the beacon theater on November 14 2019, great venue to showcase his phenomenal talent. No matter how old your are, you can not miss the man. If you know guitars, his collection is of the utmost. These vintage instrument's together with his god given ability to play, give you what the blues is about. Oh!, did I mention his band, well they are an outstanding set of musician's and singers.

Michele from New York, New York

OH JOE! BRILLINAT- COULDA BEEN A BIT LONGER

This was the first time Id seen Joe and Id been waiting 2 years to finally see him. Every second was spot on- a virtuoso backed up with 2 amazing singers, a fabulous crowd- showing love for Joe- terrific orchestra seats- only issue- after waiting so long to see him- I missed first 3 songs- he goes on at 8 sharp- wished the gig was longer than was.

Kurt from Greenville, South Carolina

GREAT SHOW

Just what I expected. Joe and the band were awesome. Sound was great too.

David from Phoenix, Arizona

A LOT BETTER!

Phoenix - Joe B was tremendous. Started on time, played approx 2 hours, newer songs, classics, changed guitars, band incredible - everyone loves Reese, even the “fill in drummer” for Anton Fig was excellent. Amazing evening. Saw him just after Gary Clark Jr - these two are carrying the blues mantle. GCJ was top notch - go see him! Back to Joe - this was a power packed show that was one of the hi-lites of my fall concerts. BUT I am going to share that I also traveled to see Joe B in San Diego at Humphries 18 months ago - he said he was injecting some country greats into that tour. Well it wasn’t some it was almost all and it was not enjoyable at all. Some people actually walked out and after the show there were a lot of shaking heads - this October show at Comerica was Redemption for Joe B and for me. His 2nd to last song in the encore on acoustic guitar was stunning - reminded me of a guitar player from the UK years ago - John Martin - one guy on an acoustic guitar opening for Yes.

John S. from Columbia, South Carolina

AWESOME SHOW!

We drove down from the mountains of NC to hear Joe Banamassa and his band mates for the first time live. The Township Auditorium has great acoustics with excellent seating. The musicianship was nearly non-stop hypnosis. The guitar is my favorite instrument to hear and Banamassa is one of the great masters of our time. And the band was hanging right there with him. Pure entertainment; more than worth the drive!

Ted Mikkelsen from Columbia, South Carolina

AMAZING PERFORMANCE!!

First time I’ve seen Joe love and he did not disappoint!! I enjoyed everything about the show including the way the stage was set, the location of the band was great!! Joe is TOP SHELF!! If you have not had an opportunity to see him live, GO!!

Kath Bates from San Diego, California

DELIVERS!

Saw JB in San Diego at Civic Center Theater last night. Indescribable talent!! Still surfing the rock-blues high the morning after. ♥️

David from Salt Lake City, Utah

SORRY CLAPTON, BUT BONAMASSA IS GOD

I've wanted to attend a Joe Bonamassa concert for years and finally made it. AMAZING. I sat there for 2+ hours (punctual start, single set of more than a dozen songs, fun repartee) and smiled like I just got the toy I wanted for Christmas as a five-year old. Man, this guy is talented!

JOE JOE JENKS, USA from Tulsa, Oklahoma

TOP NOTCH

about 150 minutes of musical performance. Top notch band. A course in Guitar Doctorate. Multiple Genre's executed faithfully. Room for the entire band to shine. No arrogance or criticism to our Town, the crowd or other artists. Genuine. A vintage guitar lover's guitarist. A big acknowledgement of the past with a lazer-focus on the present and future of performance. The light show was complimentary but not dominating. Entertaining and inspiring. The Encore began with Joe B performing solo acoustic. This was totally different than the rest of the show. A show within the show. Closed with Sloe Gin. Glad I finally went.

Steve Spaulding from Indianapolis, Indiana

JOE BONAMASSA INDIANAPOLIS OCT. 30, 2021 CONCERT

Joe is an all time great guitarist! He showed up with a great band and singers. Show was high energy and sometimes loud! This much talent on one stage is seldom seen in Indiana!

Alt from St. Louis, Missouri

UNBELIEVABLE BAND

Joe's band is incredible. Everyone in the band is an incredible musician and the back up vocals were very pure. Joe's is an awesome guitarist and he brought down the house at Stifel. He is an incredible showman.

Mike Mckean from Columbus, Ohio

EXCELLENT

First time I seen Joe perform and Wow! Tremendous guitarist and band and backup singers were a great addition to Joe’s mind blowing performance.

Lou from Baltimore, Maryland

AWESOME SHOW!

Joe, you are truly one of a kind! My wife and I had a wonderful time, thank you!!

Lee W from Greenville, South Carolina

WIDE OPEN…NON STOP

Joe Bonamassa and his talented band were full throttle at the Peace Center last night….the contrast from soulful blues to full on rock was powerful. This guy never disappoints…always delivers! We missed a few old favorites ( lookin at you Athens to Athens)….but Wow! Just Wow!

Paul from Cleveland, Ohio

BONAMASSA IN FINE FORM

Drove in from Cleveland to see the Spring Tour show in Toledo after driving from Cleveland to Youngstown to see the Fall version. Never disappointed. Subtle differences between the two shows but once again I found myself mesmerized by both the loud and the soft stuff as well. Was amazed at the quiet in the theater as Joe came to the front of the stage and methodically picked some barely audible (by design) high notes. Remarkable talent backed by a truly remarkable band. And I came within four feet of meeting Jade Macrae. She was in the lobby before the show with some patrons and I did a doubletake. Too shy to try and greet her (just like High School) (geez) but it was cool to see her up close. Great voice and her solo during the show was awesome. Only wonder why the crowd was so senior. Of course, I am too. But Joe's music should appeal to a greater cross-section of age groups. I took my thirty year old heavy metal guitarist son with me and he truly appreciated not only the music but the level of skill that Joe is blessed with. I'm a relatively recent fan but I'll listen as long as he plays - and I can hear.

Gary R. Tallis from Enfield, CT

MORTENSEN HALL - BUSHNELL THEATRE 2022 SPRING TOUR

As usual, spectacular and the choice of venue was great for the blues.

Walter D. Keck from Toledo, Ohio

GREAT SHOW

Not disappointed and got memories that will last a lifetime form the master of guitar himself. Loved the songs and wit about lynard skynard story and his comments. Will see again should he come anywhere near Michigan. A must see show.

Brigget from Nashville, Tennessee

RYMAN IN NASHVILLE

You can feel his music in every cell of your body!

Dan Grimmer from Appleton Wi.

AWESOME

We saw Joe and his band last nite. Holy Christ can he play. 2 hours straight with an encore. Such an awesome talent looking forward to seeing him again soon.

Marian letellier from Phoenix, Arizona

MS

Fantastic. I’m 76 and I wish music didn’t have to be so loud, but that’s the way things are now. But not Much would keep me from attending joe’s concert in my city—phoenix. Voice and guitar just riveting. I was very, very sad about the breakup.

David sterling from Reno, Nevada

BEST CONCERT EVER

Just seen joe bonamassa in reno Nevada and I have to say it was the best concert I've ever seen. Joe is flawless on the guitar and vocals and add in the whole band playing like a well oiled machine made it an awesome thing to watch. Joe bonamassa is the best band to see live bar none it's unreal how well he plays guitar. I mean it says alot when someone playing guitar can make you feel that emotional about what he's trying to tell. I can't wait till he returns and I was in the last row and paid 150.00 and was worth it,next show I won't have any problem paying 300.00 to see him perform.

JR Reynolds from Seattle, Washington

FREAKIN AWESOME!!

Joe didnt disappoint. His band was top-notch and the sound in the Paramount was perfect- we sat right under the sound board. Joe is great at engaging his band mates and all performed great. Reece Wymans was worth the entire cost of the ticket. Joe is supremely smart in having Reece with him. Just a great show.

Rod Mcvey from Davenport, Iowa

BEST 55 DOLLARS I EVER SPENT.I HEARD SOUNDS FROM HIS GUITAR I'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE. LOVED WHEN HE MADE HIS GUITAR WHISPER SWEAT SOUNDS.

Must see 2 22 23

The Ghost of Taj Mahal from Charlotte, North Carolina

BONAMASSA OVENS AUDITORIUM, CHARLOTTE, NC MARCH 3RD

Outstanding! Great venue, top 2 concerts of my life.

Reed B from Atlanta, Georgia

JOE BONAMASSA

I have seen him 5 times and he never disappoints. One of the world's best and most versatile guitar players

Jason S. from Indianapolis, Indiana

JOE B. WAS AWESOME... SOUND QUALITY WAS HORRIBLE.

Went to see the show in Indianapolis last night. The sound was terrible. The instrument mics were too loud, and the vocal mics were too quiet. The sound was overpowering the room to the point where it was better for us to put our fingers in our ears to try to kill off the reverb. It was really disappointing to have spent all that money to see one of the few concerts I was really excited to see, and end up walking out wishing we had stayed home. Joe is one of the greatest guitarists I've ever seen. His vocals are outstanding. His stage presence was commanding. His set list was excelent (I wish he would have played "Driving towards the daylight" but you can't have then all I guess). Everything about the show was awesome... too bad the sound engineers screwed it all up.

from Tucson, Arizona

JOE IS FABULOUS-SOUND BOYS STINK

5th time i've seen Joe and will always go if he's within 2 hours drive. This concert was at Tucson Music Hall--the best venue he's played in Tucson. IMO he's the best guitar player in the world--see his acoustic performances sometime if you think Satriani or SRV were better--no comparison. Biggest issue was hearing both his and backup vocals--the sound level of the bass was way too high and even overpowered some of Joe's licks--the vocal mics had to be ramped up so high to carry with the instruments that Joe's lyrics were incomprehensible. The sound boys need to take off their headphones and hear what the audience is hearing. Loud is cool; too loud is not-- the level would have been fine outdoors in a stadium but not in a 2500 seat venue. Unlike others i liked that Joe played mostly new stuff. I don't need to hear him play all the same old songs we've heard before although i must admit i would have liked to hear Drive--never get tired of that. Joe is always "don't miss" !

Brian from Tucson, Arizona

AMAZING SHOW!

I have a been playing guitar for over 36 years, so I am fairly picky when I see live shows. I have seen many of the "best" blues and rock bands that have come along, and Joe was absolutely the best show I have seen. One, I like he plays relatively small venues. Unlike many on this forum, I thought the sound at the Tucson, AZ's Music Hall was fantastic. No ear plugs, and after 2 hours my hearing was fine with no ringing! I have never had that! The sound was crisp where I was sitting (20 rows back on bottom floor). DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW if you have an opportunity. Even if he did have questionable sound engineers, he will still sound better than most other acts. He was AMAZING. Only issue I had was he didn't play hardly anything old. I am all for new material, but no Who Killed J. Henry, Dust Bowl, Slow Gin, anything. I feel he should touch the older catalog to a minor degree. Plus, he didn't play Drive off the new album. I found that odd. GREAT SHOW

Linda from Kankakee

AWESOME IN CHICAGO

First time seeing Joe Bonamassa. It was a great evening at the historic Chicago Theatre! Even though he was struggling with bronchitiis, it was an awesome 2 1/2 hour show non stop. I will definitely see him again!

Steve Ko from Fort Myers, Florida

JOE AT BARBARA MANN

I saw the friday nite show from row 3 orch. I was a little on the right side. Joe played a lot of Rock & r in the first part of the show. Even though there was no break, it still had a rock and roll feel. The more Bluesy stuff came toward the later part. I have seen him 3 times and i missed the slow " midnight blues "stuff. He played "how many more times " from Led Zep. in the beginning, well done, everyone was pounding on anything. Excellent. $ stars. s.m.k.

Paul Hunter from Kitchener, Ontario

BONAMASSA

Great show. First four songs did not overly impress and it took them a while to clean up the sound. Great rendition of LED Zep and Jeff Beck going down. Overall a great show. Joes guitar playing does not rate at the top with Beck, Steve Vai , Satriani or even Buddy Guy for me who also have been at The Center in The Square. Good show and glad I saw him.

from Kitchener, Ontario

THE MAN CAN PLAY!!

Wow, he is amazing. Loud show, but very good. Band is top notch. Sometimes songs went on a bit too long, he was in his own world. Wish he would include DRIVE, love that song.

Bert from Toronto, Ontario

BONAMASSA IS THE REAL DEAL

Great show in Toronto at the Sony Centre. This is one of my favourite venues because it's not too big but not too small that it can't attract great musicians. There were no complaints in the sound system there as were noted in other venues for his shows. Bonamassa is an outstanding blues player. He has all the licks that the legendary Blues players had before him. Think SRV with his keyboard player, horns and female backup vocalists and that's what you get with his current tour. He plays fast, loud, slow, soft - all with great emotion. In an era where so many pop and hip hop stars entertain you without playing any musical instruments, it's so refreshing to watch someone perform who has mastered an instrument and music genre and takes his whole expression to another level. Without the help of promotion or radio play, this guy is selling out tours everywhere. He gives me a lot of faith that rock is still alive and still matters in this world

Spence from Vancouver, British Columbia

JOE BONAMASSA QUEEN E. THEATRE

Joe was fantastic, slick, focused and charismatic but unfortunately the sound tech needed to tweak the board and failed to do so. Could'nt hear his vocals very well and sometimes lost the guitar. The players on stage were amazing and the back up singers great. Overall the show was well worth seeing and I will go again. Keep on rockin it Joe !

Eric from Toronto, Ontario

AWSOME SHOW IN TORONTO NOV 3 2018

First time seeing Joe for me and my brothet. Only complaint is wish he'd played a bit more to his left on stage and a drum solo would have beern nice. Just discovered him this year but will definitely see him again. Just a 5 minute walk from the train station in heart of Toronto.

Bob N from Los Angeles, California

AUG 1 AT THE GREEK

All was good except ugly, BRIGHT lights that kept shining into my eyes (the audience) just as I'm trying to concentrate on Joe playing great solos - bad, avoidable distractions - yuck

Ann C from Dallas, TX

JOE WAS GREAT....BUT

We drove down from Dallas to see Joe in concert May 25. Joe, the band and singers were terrific. The sound was meh. Not sure this is a great venue for big amps. The quality of the sound was lacking. Then there was the heat. It was absolutely sweltering in the Moody. They finally turned the air on toward the end of the concert.

Michelle Lane from Detroit, Michigan

WOULD HAVE GIVEN 5 STARS, BUT MISSED FIRST 15 MINUTES

Joe B is phenomenal. No questions asked. But we were so disappointed having missed the first 15 minutes because of his production company's rules regarding admittance into the FOX theater and promptly starting at 8:00 p.m. Attendees could get no further than the lobby because JB production company disallowed admittance into the main theater until a set time. Consequently there was a human traffic jam that couldn't budge because the doors remained closed until minutes before the concert. Lines outside were down the block on both sides of the FOX. The production company should have realized it was a sold out show and made accommodations to permit earlier entry. What harm is there to permit ticket holders to find their seats an hour or more before the show starts. Thank goodness the weather was nice even though it was November in Michigan. Otherwise, having to wait 45 minutes outside would have been a major bummer.

Bill Turner from Cleveland, Ohio

MORE VOCALS

While Joe is a truly gifted guitarist, he underutilizes his equally gifted voice. The guitar riffs seemed to run togather and after a while sounded alike. More vocals, less instrumentals, please

Joan Jones from Rancho Mirage, California

JOE BONAMASSA CONCERT AT RANCHO MIRAGE, CA.

I just saw Joe Bonamassa in concert at the Aqua Caliente theater. Beautiful theater, I loved my seat! And Joe is awesome, everyone on stage is so talented! I love him, I love his music, but I must express two things. First, I really think the sound was way too loud! Their voices and his quitars sounded distorted, not to mention my hearing! 2nd, I love when he plays his acoustic guitars, I think he should divide his concerts, half electric and half acoustic, that way we get to see his talent on both! I still love him, just way too loud!!

Linda from Seattle, Washington

AMAZING SHOW

Saw him on Thursday, 12th and loved the show. But disappointed that the huge speakers blocked the band and him at times. Didn’t need all that sound in the small Moore. Too loud.

Tom H. from Hershey, Pennsylvania

BONAMASSA HERSHEY 3/12

Joe and the band played flawlessly last night and really put on a great show. They are truely talented. We sat in the mezzanine and could see the show very well. Only 4 stars because of the crazing white lights that would come on and blind the audience at times. Would have loved some more older material but that's personal preference and not the band's fault. Great job guys and thanks for coming to Hershey!

Cam from Seattle, Wa.

JOE BONAMASSA IN OAKLAND,CA.

Flew to Oakland just for this show. First time seeing Joe. While I enjoyed the show, I was disappointed in the set list. Only a couple songs from Redemption (only one of my favorites). Wish he'd play more of his blues songs like, Midnight Blues, I 'll play the blues for you etc. I have tickets for the Seattle show March 2020. Hopefully it will be a different set list.

Stan Cunningham from Nashville, Tennessee

INCREDIBLE GUITARIST

I love blues/rock. I've seen Bonamassa before and looked forward to seeing him again at the Ryman. As soon as he started it was high gear and the sound quality was terrible. I sat thru the first several songs wondering if I'd make it to the end. And then.... When Joe introduced Kenny Wayne Shepherd, everything clicked. Sadly, KWS only joined in on one song, which was amazing, but the audio team finally figured it out and all the songs after that were much better quality. I am amazed at the talent of Joe B. He's on a level all by himself. But, for me, I'll take the raw energy of KWS anyday!! Great show though. I'd do it again.

Jason Overman from San Antonio, TX

SAN ANTONIO BLUES...A BIT MUDDY (BUT NO WATER).

Joe ALWAYS puts on a great show. His guitar work is peerless, and the band he brings is always top-notch. Missed Anton Figg on drums this time, but the replacement drummer was decent. The back-up "doo-wop" singers were outstanding, and a mid-set "solo" by one of them simply crushed it. I was a bit disappointed that only 4 of his older hits made it into the set list. They bracketed about 6 songs that were off his last 2 albums. I'm not quite as fond of his new album. To me it feels like a well-worn path that gets a bit boring, and the lyrics (to me) are a bit basic, repetitive (you'll know the song) and uninspired. That said, his solos in each of the songs were delicious. One problem that really needs fixing (last 3 concerts I've seen of his) the bass was overdriven, and the mix in general too loud for the venue. I wish they cranked down the amps so each part of the band could be enjoyed. I truly loved the acoustic sets he does, because you can relish the details, unlike most of his concerts.

David S from Phoenix, Arizona

STFU

Joe starts on time, always has great band - this time including Reese Wynans on the keyboards, who is a master and Joe delivers an electric blues set that few can match. Always on my radar for his new music and when he comes to town. New drummer and bass really added a different solid rhythm. Could I ask a favor - when Joe gets intimate and is showing his guitar skills - could the crazies in the audience STFU, so the rest of us can enjoy his mastery of the guitar. No need to call out. Was waiting for these idiots to yell out Whipping Post or FreeBird (I know they are not Joe’s songs). That includes the irresponsible dad two rows behind me (row 9) with his son and friend - either it was the kids first night out in two years, their first concert but it looked more like their first beers. Their ignorance ruined some extremely passionate and exceedingly difficult guitar work. Please respect the artist and the rest of us and enjoy the show!

Russell "the love muscle"hart from Tucson, Arizona

HAPPY AS....

well, the worst part of the show was not necessarily the show. the seats i had were expensive and my nose began bleeding. but after the big tucson hubbub,which i believe didnt even sell out,had me sitting on tickets on my phone that i did not know would for sure let me attend. then,the big security measure i went thru,had me wishing i brought more goodies in my pockets.the stairs were fun,like the parking was blessed with construction that nobody attending had a clue about. i guess the events leading up to the event,pretty much sucked all the old time rock n rollsy blues outta me. any other city i believe than tucson,would be a maximum however-many stars event. the guy can play.

PK from Milwaukee, Wisconsin

GREAT PERFORMANCE - TOO LOUD!

Another great performance by Joe, his band, and backup singers. However, it was EXCESSIVELY LOUD! Other friends at the concert all agreed. We watched people leave 1/2-way through. It was difficult to enjoy because of the sound blaring of the speakers. Small venues that hold 2500 people need volume adjustments to safe levels. The sound team should be professional and know their job. The balcony levels at the Riverside had to have been 95° which didn't help. People were removing clothing! I remember Tom Petty being concerned about sound levels when he performed. He knew the damage it could do to his band and fans. I would think JB reads his reviews. They seem to carry a common thread...TOO LOUD! I will definitely consider seeing him on his next tour, but will read reviews prior to buying tickets. It's not worth having eardrums blown.

Kevin from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

JOE BONAMASSA

No one will say it, but I did not understand any lyrics other than a few words here and there. The sound level could have been lower which might have helped. I was there for the instrumentals. Other than that Joe and the band commanded the 2 hour concert with no delays. They gave 1000% to the performance.

Fran from Buffalo, New York

LOOKING FOR A MORE CRISP SOUND

Joe was dead on script . Sound could have been a lot better to understand him. Joes getting a bit bow legged . I thought the reception of him being from Utica was uninspiring .

R. Griswold from Charlotte, North Carolina

NOT THE BEST SOUND MIXING

I love Joe Bonamassa and went to his concert at Ovens Auditorium in Charlotte, NC on Nov 12, 2013. Joe and the band played their hearts out for two hours. However, the folks in the mixing booth were terrible. Many of the songs were way too loud. I could hardly hear most of Joe's vocals. The mixing people need to go back to school or someone needs to fire them.

Don Schuepbach from San Antonio, Texas

SHAME

R. Griswold Wrote the perfect review in November 2013. The San Antonio show last night started off great. The first hour was well done and we could hear and enjoy. Then the show ramped up during the electronic portion power, power, power and a muddled sound really taking away from the enjoyment of the experience.....Sound board help IS DRASTICALLY needed. I mean anyone who has knowledge of sound knows that loudness and volume are two separate animals. I would never fault a show where a performer pours his heart out for two and half hours but there was a problem with the production and it seems to to ongoing. DON'T STAY AWAY FROM THIS SHOW JOE B. IS WORTH THE MONEY TO SEE HIM!

John from Toronto, Ontario

SAW JOE AT SONY CTR TORONTO WED NOV 16

This is the 3rd time I've seen Joe. This was the least entertaining. First the acoustics were off. You could barely here the backup singers, bass guitar, or brass over Joe playing his guitar. Then throughput the show the volume got louder to the point it was almost painful. The guitar work was still outstanding and a pleasure to listen too. I also wish he would have played some of his earlier work. This would have made the show more palatable. To me the worst was the Zeppelin cover. He has more than a dozen albums it was dumb to play a Zeppelin cover for your closing song before the encore. I came to hear Joe not Zep.

Dana from Vancouver, British Columbia

VERY POOR SOUND CONTROL

Expected a better sound. Too loud and could not hear vocals. Guitars and band - very good performance!

Billy Bob from Vancouver, British Columbia

JOE BONAMASSA QE THEATRE VANCOUVER NOV29, 2018

Sadly, this highly anticipated show was mediocre at best. The band, smoking hot players. Joe, a technical genius with great, soulful vocals. The sound, well, stunk and I was right behind the mixing board. I thought I had a problem with my ears and they needed a song or two to adjust. Nope. My main issue was that the bass player was way too loud for about 70% of the concert. Also, during certain songs the show was just too loud. (This theatre holds about 3000). During many songs there seemed to be a sonic fight between the Hammond organ, the bass player and Joe's guitars. Joe lost every time except during solo's which were excellent. As usual, the back up singers were excellent but you couldn't hear them for about 50% of the show. I was also disappointed by the lack of on stage chemistry between the band. This made it seem to me like a Vegas show that musicians play night after night just focusing on playing their part. For a $130 ticket, the sound needs to be much better than that

Rich Jazdzewski from Carmel, Californina

LOUD ≠ GOOD

11/23/18 Long Beach: The person/s responsible for the sound must have turned the volume nob to 11 and left for the evening. What a disservice to Joe and his talented, veteran band, not to mention the audience. Joe's lyrics were nearly impossible to hear, or understand. A six-hour drive, both ways, and two nights in a hotel for our first Bonamassa concert left our expectations unfulfilled. The music ( did I mention LOUD,?) we heard at the concert wasn't even close to that on Joe's well-mixed DVDs such as "Live at the Greek Theater", or Amsterdam. Joe is the most talented guitarist on the planet and we intend to attend more of his concerts - we'll just limit them to outdoor venues. In the meantime we'll continue buying and listening to Joe's CDs and DVDs.

Pat Lindgren from Los Angeles, California

JOE AT LONG BEACH

we have gone to see Joe 5 previous times>every show was fantastic, until last night.the first 3 songs were way to load and no balance between instruments and singing.after that balance was restored but still to load for a inside venue.just turned down about 10 % would have been prefect.

Jack from Portland, Oregon

THE PA BASS RUINED THE SHOW

The bass was set so loud by the sound guys that I was unable to clearly hear the lyrics, the horns, the drums... yes the drums and the back-up singers. The bass got louder as the night progressed. I had in ear plugs which muffled most of the high end sound, thus ruining the music. Paid a premium for tickets and the sound techs ruined the performance. All of those in my group had the same complaint. It was a horrible experience over all. Joe was fantastic as were all the band members. But the sound techs were crap. We could only imagine what a decent mix would have been like.

Mark from Buffalo, New York

SOUND

Was way too loud couldn't understand the lyrics, disappointing

Gilbert from Buffalo, New York

JOE BONEMASSA

The only person to truly enjoy this truly wonderful band was the man paid to be there , the sound man sitting under his headphones . The fans who paid to go to shea's got tortured. I have traveled from Welland ON to Beverly Hills to hear Buddy Guy. Would I travel 18 miles to see him at Shea's? Probably not because I want pleasant memories of Buddy and Joe

FR Weidman from Austin, Texas

REALLY JOE

I have been looking forward to seeing this guitar legend for weeks.. We had great seats and it started well...WOW that guy can sure play !! I was not sure if it was just me, but after the 4th or 5th song, I'm dripping with sweat and sticking to my seat. A brief reprieve to the bar was small conciliation. Dang it was hot and we retreated to the confines of a cooler venue. This was really disappointing and out of character for the Moody. The curious part is several ushers and management told myself and others, The artist requested this temperature setting.

from Houston, Texas

SOUND SYSTEM SUCKED

Been to 100s of concerts and as much as I love JB the sound system at this show was a great big disappointment. The show was good but for theirs prices the sound should be clear and crisp. Enjoyed show but not as much as much as others I have seen. Playing loud alone does not do it for me anymore. When I was young and stoned maybe. Today not.

Mike Warshauer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin

MIKE FROM MILWAUKEE, WI.

I saw the August 27th show at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee. Poor mixing at the sound board and way over the top with sound level. I paid to hear the subtlety of this world class bluesman and his voice. He was drowned out too many times by the other musicians. Didn't care for the 3 backup vocalists. Their noise did not fit well at all with Joe's musical style. lastly, needed to hear some of his great early stuff. No doubt the greatness is there, but it appears he is trying to do too much. Still would highly recommend seeing him

from Fort Lauderdale, Florida

JOE IS AWESOME. TOO BAD SOUND ENGINEERS ARE DEAF.

Joe always puts on an awesome performance, but the sound engineers need to fix the levels so that the audience can hear comfortably. The sound was too loud for this theater. I could hardly hear Joe's vocals. My wife had to keep her fingers in her ears to be comfortable. This level may be good for a larger venue or outdoors, but not in this size auditorium. I'm glad I got a chance to see him, but did not enjoy the concert too much,

Randy Hunt from Louisville, Kentucky

SOUND WAS DIFFICULT

First, I am a huge fan. Joe is amazing. However, and I understand part of the problem could be location, but what were they listening to on the mixer board? The bass was so overwhelming. At times is was just a gut wrenching roar. There were only a few times the backup vocals were even mildly audible. Same for Joe--impossible to follow the lyrics and I know several of the songs. I recorded video and using my own controls was able to improve the mix.

Tom Mis from Louisville, Kentucky

LOUISVILLE PALACE

Way, way too loud. We follow Joe around the country and the last three shows have been loud to the point of painful. He sounds so much better when you can hear everyone, not just the bass and distortion. He's the best. We had trouble understanding songs that we have memorized. Please Joe....turn it down from 10 to about 7 or 8.

M from Hershey Pa from Hershey Pa

MOMENTS OF BRILLIANCE BUT LACKING ANY FEEL AT ALL

Joe ALWAYS is a great performer...the 'band' sans Reese on keyboards is mediocre at best...Anton Fig on drums was a blessing , Michael Rhodes is was a much needed muse to Joes' guitar work. The new band members are very good in their own space but so far not a cohesive touring unit from what my ears were telling me. The sound mixing team should all be FIRED, totally over done and not focusing on venue specific sound quality. Cmon Joe you can do way way better...stop focusing on new marketing items to SELL and focus on what you do best playing those amazing vintage guitars and putting on a killer show.

Page:12345678910111213141516171819All