by Marlee Walker
B.B. KING BLUES FEST 2002 FEAT. B.B. KING, GEORGE THOROGOOD &
THE DESTROYERS, THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS & JOE BONAMASSA - 8/4
@ Gorge Amphitheatre, George, 4pm.
Tickets for this 4x4 blues line-up just went down to $10 each and
that's a steal just for B.B. King alone. He's the most well known
bluesman around the world, and one of the hardest working as well.
He's an ambassador of the blues for the world and from his native
Mississippi, to hosting live radio at WDIA in Memphis, to leading
one of the most decorated blues bands in the world for decades, his
legacy is well documented. The Fabulous Thunderbirds' new LIVE CD
has just been released.
Joe Bonamassa: New Day Yesterday - Medalist Entertainment
I met Joe Bonamassa backstage prior to his opening for Buddy Guy in
Bellingham,WA in the spring of 2002. By all reports he is still healthy,
energetic, and opening for ' those big name' national acts that criss
cross the country. Joe is a nice guy, does a reasonable interview,
polite, and self assured. His music is high octane blues rock [fans
of Seattle's "Smokin Gun" may already have this disc]. With
Cream, Jeff Beck, & Eric Johnson a few of Joe's mentors you quickly
get an ear canal reading on this young turk of a steel, string shredder.
He travels with a 3 piece band, and handles all the lead guitar and
vocal chores. "New Day Yesterday" burns hot from the opening
cut, "Cradle Rock" [R.Gallager], "Walk in My Shadows"
& "A New Day Yesterday"[I. Anderson], A modest slow
down with funk accents on cut # 4 "I Know Where I Belong".
A ballad of lost love with "Miss You Hate You", is slow
and word smithed so you can tell quickly the young man [23 yrs.] is
to be listened to as years go by. "Color & Shape" has
hints of Led Zeppelin, nice guitar work does not obscure the lyrics.
Nice goin Joe. "Trouble Waiting" is a salute to Albert Collins
both instrumentally and vocally-- thick with funk, & sassy, self,
deprecating lyrics. If you like nimble, yet fat guitar licks, check
out this disc, or catch him opening for BB King at the Gorge on 8/4,
or any number of fine blues big names. He may be one himself in the
not too distant future. This disc is meant to be played at 7 or higher.
Enjoy! - Clancy Dunigan
2002