Weekend Entertainment | Bonamassa Is Back
Blues icon Joe Bonamassa is returning to Youngstown with a new album that salutes his past.
The Grammy-nominated artist released “Blues Deluxe Vol. 2,” his 16th solo studio album, in October.
The new release celebrates the 20th anniversary of his “Blues Deluxe” album. It features eight covers of tunes by some of the genre’s biggest names and also two new original songs.
Fans who need a midwinter fix of Bonamassa’s distinctive blues-rock and sublime guitar solos can catch him at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Covelli Centre. The artist has played Youngstown many times, but this will be his first local show in three years.
In a news release, Bonamassa described his new album as a return to his roots and a way to breathe new life into the classic tracks that have been important to his artistry.
“If you had told me 20 years ago my career would last long enough to see the 20th anniversary of this little record called ‘Blues Deluxe,’ I’m sure I would have laughed,” Bonamassa said. “‘Blues Deluxe’ was my last shot after being dropped by two major record labels and my booking agent. It was then that my manager, Roy Weisman, had his first ‘all in’ moment. We would go back into the studio and record a record that would hopefully define the direction of whatever future career I might have.”
For “Blues Deluxe Vol. 2,” Bonamassa asked his friend Josh Smith to produce a record to be a companion to the anniversary edition of the first album, “and hopefully demonstrate a bit of how I have progressed over the last 20 years,” Bonamassa added. “The contrast between a cocky 26-year-old and an established 46-year-old is considerable. Does the fire still burn like it did? Am I still playing hungry? Am I even good enough to pay tribute to my heroes all over again? The answer lies somewhere in this album.”
Judging by “Twenty-Four Hour Blues,” a blistering reinterpretation of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s classic track, the answer is definitely yes.
“Part of my approach to these new recordings was that I wanted to see if I had matured musically over the years, and if I had gotten better as a player,” Bonamassa said. “I’m happy to say that I am a much better singer than I was 20 years ago – though I still don’t really consider myself to be a legit ‘singer.’ I can now carry a tune a little better than I could back then.”
The album’s lead single was “I Want to Shout About It.”
Bonamassa isn’t the only hard-hitting animal in town in the next few days.
The Pro Bull Riders tour will return to Covelli this weekend, with shows at 8 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday. Don’t worry – all of the dirt will be cleaned up and trucked away in time for Bonamassa.
Also, In the Heartland, a Michael Stanley Band tribute concert featuring former MSB members Danny Powers, Michael Gismondi and Gary Markasky, will rock and roll into the Robins Theatre at 8 p.m. Saturday.
For ticket information on the above shows and everything else going on in the Mahoning Valley, check out The List.
Pictured at top: Joe Bonamassa will play Covelli Centre on Wednesday, Feb. 21.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
