On Friday evening Guitar supremo Joe Bonamassa was back in the UK as part of his most extensive UK tour since the pandemic. The artist has been touring in Europe over recent weeks. But his latest date at the First Direct Arena marks Bonamassa’s first time in Leeds since 2015.
Of course, a lot of water has passed under the bridge since that time. During his mammoth set the guitar supremo took the opportunity to get reacquainted with his West Yorkshire audience and bring them up to speed during somewhat of a career-spanning setlist.
Joe’s most recent release was the Tales of Time live album, but for those in attendance at the First Direct Arena they got to experience the man himself live and in person.
Four studio albums have passed since Joe’s last show in Leeds. Those being Blues of Desperation, Redemption, Royal Tea and Time Clocks. But unlike most artists, rather than pushing his latest studio album, Bonamassa and his stupendous band walked their fans through a setlist that was peppered with classics as well as a small dose of blues standards from legends of the genre. In fact, only one track from Time Clocks is featured in the setlist, that being the wonderful Heart That Never Waits.
With no support, JB took to the stage at around 8 pm where he opened with an uplifting airing of Evil Mama. The classics continued thick and fast, with both Dust Bowl and a euphoric rendition of Love Aint’ A Love Song featuring at the top of the set.
Joe and the band were on fire. Stage left; keyboard player Reese Wynans is the glue that holds the band together. You would expect nothing less than a musician who played alongside Stevie Ray Vaughn. Second guitarist Josh Smith is a revelation throughout. Whilst Bonamassa’s spellbinding playing transfixes the audience all night long.
Mid-set Joe walks the audience through a small run of covers that includes their take on Double Trouble by the late great Chicago bluesman Otis Rush. Whilst Coco Montoya’s I Want to Shout About It also hits the spot.
The second half of the show features a couple of tracks from the Royal Tea album including both A Conversation with Alice and Lonely Boy. Whilst a wonderful performance of Happier Times is one of the highlights of the show. The latter takes the fans back to Joe’s seminal album The Ballad of John Henry.
The aforementioned album ushered in an era that saw Joe Bonamassa make his first headline appearance at the Royal Albert Hall. And before set closer Mountain Time the gifted guitarist recollected the evening in question at the RAH, and rounded out the show with the same song that he concluded his milestone appearance in the capital that night.
Pandemic aside, it may have taken Joe Bonamassa eight years to return to Leeds, but on the strength of this performance, it was certainly worth the wait.
Words and Photos by Adam Kennedy
