What size was the venue? A buddy was telling me he has a very good management team and does well financially. My friend has worked in entertainment management for many years.

I really like his recent album, Redemption.

It was at Nextstage in Grand Prairie, just outside of Dallas. Holds maybe 5,000 people. It's a great place for a show!! Low price tickets were nearly $85 each.

It's amazing how so many people pay so much money to see him.

And, that's not a dig on Joe. It just strikes me that he has an ability to draw in the casual fan, and I don't quite get what the appeal would be to a casual fan.

I guess it's the whole show -- the slick guy, the lineup of guitars, the super-fast playing; lot's of things that turn so many of us off

I saw Joe recently in Virginia. It was expensive but...it was a very professional show with top notch playing from Joe and his band. People use to say Joe is a Gary Moore clone and when asked in an interview, Joe said yes I borrowed heavily from that playbook.

But today Joe is his own man and one of the very best guitar players around on many levels.

I saw Joe recently in Virginia. It was expensive but...it was a very professional show with top notch playing from Joe and his band. People use to say Joe is a Gary Moore clone and when asked in an interview, Joe said yes I borrowed heavily from that playbook.

But today Joe is his own man and one of the very best guitar players around on many levels.

I agree. He and his management team have also figured out a way to make it in the download era. the guy also has a great work ethic. I think he put out two solo albums and a collaboration with Beth Hart last year.

and I don't quite get what the appeal would be to a casual fan.

I guess it's the whole show -- the slick guy, the lineup of guitars, the super-fast playing; lot's of things that turn so many of us off

I get it. His playing, while technically incredible, just does not speak to me. Seems soulless, reminds me of John Hopper on the harp. Add to that his stage persona and maybe I am missing out.....So many others I would rather hear "live"....

same here
not a knock on him, he's obviously very talented.
just doesn't connect with me

I find the guy boring and would not pay $10 to catch his show. Ones mans treasure is another mans trash

I find the guy boring and would not pay $10 to catch his show. Ones mans treasure is another mans trash

I don’t think that’s fair. And I’m not a fan. But still . . . He’s not anyone’s trash.

He’s the real deal, who, through intention or accident lacks that “feel” that all of us would rather him to have.

But, jeez, he’s no joke.

[Edited on 11/27/2018 by cmgst34]

I love these replies knocking Joe. I get saying I don't care for him, but these terms soulless and trash are just silly. Many of the same people praise Allman and Betts kids who can't hold a candle to Joe and yes I have seen them. You realize it's just an opinion and many do not share it as demonstrated by Joe's large following.

Many of the same people praise Allman and Betts kids who can't hold a candle to Joe and yes I have seen them.

Once again I find myself straddling the fence here and running the risk of pushing someone's buttons. I do find Joe's playing to be rather "hollow" or "soulless" but on the other hand also find the Allman/Betts band to be a couple of incredibly passionate younger players who are capitalizing on their last names. While Duane Betts has made remarkable progress as a player, I agree that he can not "hold a candle" to Joe technically.

My suggestion is for them to change their band name. Perhaps "The Midnight Riders" or "The Sons of Melissa" and let people discover them for their skill set and not the Legacy left behind by their Parents, no matter how hot the torch they yield burns.

Well when it comes to shredding, Joe is faster than Warren Haynes. Yes technically he is better than Warren. Joe is on par with Gary Moore and Joe admits he is following the Gary Moore playbook as Joe calls it. Joe has one Les Paul named Gary Moore. And Gary Moore was faster than Eddie Van Halen. Watch Gary play The Messiah Will Come on YouTube using an old red Strat. Van Halen or anybody I can think of can't match that solo including Joe. Technically hard and the fastest electric playing I've seen/heard. Gary Moore Messiah Will Come on a red Strat. The fastest and most technically advanced solo I've seen from anybody!!!

I can't really compare Joe to Derek Trucks technically because Derek doesn't use a pick and often uses a slide. Technically I imagine Joe is better than anyone who has been in the Allman Brothers probably Derek too. But as I said Derek is a much different kind of player so it wouldn't be fair to compare those two.

The kids toured as Devon Allman project with Duane Betts. Then they were asked to put a band together as equals. If they mention their names with Berry Oakley, Jr under the name Allman Betts Band then I'm cool with it. The record is being recorded at Muscle Shoals with Chuck Leavell on piano.

Personally the guitars that get me off the most are Duane Allman, Dickey Betts and Berry Oakley on Fillmore East, Eat A Peach etc. I'd rather hear them play many days than Joe, Gary, Van Halen, Clapton or anyone who played in the ABB including Derek Trucks. While technically not the best I've heard there is just something about Duane Allmans energy, style, Dickey's unique style and tone and Berry's wild approach to playing bass that when you mix it all together with Butch, Gregg and Jaimoe, it's the most moving and satisfying music I've ever heard. Duane Allman hits a note on slide in his solo on Statesboro on Fillmore East that is so good and grabs me in my soul that it's like sex. Been hearing it for over 40 years and it still makes me want to jump up and shake my head.

I get a lot of joy out of many players including Jack, Warren and Derek. But the best sound I've ever heard from a guitar band is the original lineup of the ABB. That's Allman BROTHERS not Allman Betts

Many of the same people praise Allman and Betts kids who can't hold a candle to Joe and yes I have seen them.

Once again I find myself straddling the fence here and running the risk of pushing someone's buttons. I do find Joe's playing to be rather "hollow" or "soulless" but on the other hand also find the Allman/Betts band to be a couple of incredibly passionate younger players who are capitalizing on their last names. While Duane Betts has made remarkable progress as a player, I agree that he can not "hold a candle" to Joe technically.

My suggestion is for them to change their band name. Perhaps "The Midnight Riders" or "The Sons of Melissa" and let people discover them for their skill set and not the Legacy left behind by their Parents, no matter how hot the torch they yield burns.

So Duane Betts and Devon Allman are incredibly passionate young players as opposed to Joe? Young players? They are both older than Joe Bonamassa. Lets be serious here and again I like both them and wish them success but if they were not named Betts and Allman they would be playing in bars. Well actually they are named Betts and Allman and have spent most of their career playing in bars except when Duane was playing in slightly bigger venues playing in his Dad's band. People discover them for their skill set? Go ahead and tell me all the rock bands that broke starting in their mid 40s. Cmon now.

I like Joe and I think he kicks ass. Keep 'em coming Joe!

Joe is very talented and proficient. I recently re-listened to the first Black Country Communion album. While few of the songs stuck with me - I don't think they are great songs per se - the playing was very cool. It was somewhat faceless - I don't think Joe has as signature a style as some of the people he emulates - but he sure is a beast. You could hear his Clapton here, his Blackmore there, and his Eric Johnson in a lot of his soloing, but shit, I'd kill to play as well as that dude.

It would not be wise to compare him to Derek Trucks, because Derek IS a very distinctive player. But Joe can burn, and clearly knows his instrument well, and gets interesting tones.

I can certainly see the Gary Moore comparison. Gary was a very good player who I think also sometimes lapsed too far into the "guitar lesson" playing, but he was a beast. I remember seeing a video of Gary Moore with Albert King and laughing my butt off. Albert King was being Albert King - playing soulful stuff. Gary Moore wass making insane guitar hero faces and shredding like a chipmunk on meth. I remember shouting, "Oh shit! Call security! Gary Moore is going to start eating Albert King!" Admittedly, I may have been overserved.

74Jer. Sorry but there isn't a guitar player including Herb Ellis or Jack Pearson or Jummy Herring that I've seen who could match what Gary Moore does on The Messiah Will Come playing an old red Stratocaster on YouTube. It's an audience tape but you can hear it very well and see Gary's hands. Its technically the most advanced electric guitar playing I've seen from anyone. And toward the end the fastest guitar playing I've seen using a pick un the right hand and all four fingers on the left. Blazing fast shredding.

BTW my favorite players are Duane Allman and Dickey Betts. Nothing moves MY soul like the playing they do on Eat A Peach and At Fillmore East. Jack Pearson, Derek and Warren know the licks and emulate Duane and Dickey rather well in the old stuff but they don't match Duane and Dickey.

This is the video I was thinking of:

Gary Moore goes full Nigel Tufnel. Pure Spinal Tap. Albert King offers a lesson on tasteful playing that Gary enthusiastically ignores.

That should be Gary Moore playing a red Strat on The Messiah Will Come. The fastest shredding I've seen. I'm not sure how to link on the phone. If that doesn't work can someone link it for me.

Jim I've seen that video before. Gary Moore loved the blues and played with Albert Collins, Albert King and BB King. With all 3 men Gary played over the top for the blues. Gary fell back on his hard rock shredding style. Gary was one of the best at that and to me better than Eddie Van Halen.

Obviously Albert King, BB and Albert Collins can't play guitar with high octane licks like that. They didn't have the chops for that and neither does Warren Haynes or Eric Clapton. But that kind of high energy shredding is out of place for the blues. Emotion and taste and feeling is what is called for in that style.

Lets be serious here and again I like both them and wish them success but if they were not named Betts and Allman they would be playing in bars.

Why do you think this is?

Okay the second above link seems to connect to Gary Moore playing The Messiah Will Come on an ild red Stratocaster.

I don't know of an electric guitar player who could play this solo note for note with Gary. It's too fast and too technical. Also not one mistake. Gary Moore technically may be the best electric guitar player we've had. He is not my favorite. This kind of playing is dazzling but doesn't move my soul like Dickey and Duane do on One Way Out on Eat A Peach.

Joe Bonamassa admits he uses the Gary Moore playbook. But the technical level Gary Moore displays here is above what Joe can do...and Hendrix, Clapton, Jack Pearson, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, Eddie Van Halen and all the others.

Joe is very talented and proficient. I recently re-listened to the first Black Country Communion album. While few of the songs stuck with me - I don't think they are great songs per se - the playing was very cool. It was somewhat faceless - I don't think Joe has as signature a style as some of the people he emulates - but he sure is a beast. You could hear his Clapton here, his Blackmore there, and his Eric Johnson in a lot of his soloing, but shit, I'd kill to play as well as that dude.

Well put.
I prefer my Gary Moore.....metal and hard rock.

Murder in the skies

Emerald

This one is sweet
Johnny Boy

Well when it comes to shredding, Joe is faster than Warren Haynes. Yes technically he is better than Warren. Joe is on par with Gary Moore and Joe admits he is following the Gary Moore playbook as Joe calls it. Joe has one Les Paul named Gary Moore. And Gary Moore was faster than Eddie Van Halen. Watch Gary play The Messiah Will Come on YouTube using an old red Strat. Van Halen or anybody I can think of can't match that solo including Joe. Technically hard and the fastest electric playing I've seen/heard. Gary Moore Messiah Will Come on a red Strat. The fastest and most technically advanced solo I've seen from anybody!!!

Obviously you have not seen this guy

😛 😉

Wow. I must admit that is faster electric guitar playing than Gary Moore. And he is so fast he put on his guitar then took it off so quickly I couldn't see it. Was it a Strat, Les Paul or something souped up those heavy metal guys often play such as Ibanez or Hamer or Charvel?

Gary Moore trying to be T. Bone Walker or The Allman Brothers. The Irish accent on a black blues song makes me laugh but the guitar is hot. Gary said Albert King told him when playing the blues he was too frantic. To slow down and let your emotion and feeling come through the guitar. Gary seems to be trying that here but he is still fast in places but the energy is fantastic.

I must be doing something wrong. This video IS on You Tube.

Scars feat. Gary Moore-live Stuttgart 2002 - Underground Live TV recording

If you want to hear this Irish version of Stormy Monday, go to YouTune and type in the above. It comes up for me but the link says video not available.

FAST without soul, taste and feel, is nowhere.

re: John Popper