Joe Bonamassa - Hammersmith Apollo

A beautiful day to take in the sounds and sights of the capital on an early Spring day. Enough of all that and back to the business in hand. That business being Joe Bonamassa 'The Guitar Event of the Year' 4 consecutive shows at the Hammersmith Apollo. I suspected that there would be a lot of songs from his latest album '"Different Shades of Blue" as well as some from the Muddy Wolf at Red Rocks release expected shortly. Tonight he is surrounded by a very tight 8 piece band including a horn section, he and his band lock in seamlessly in perfect harmony. The set started with a Jimi Hendrix cover 'Hey Baby' (New Rising Sun). If there’s downside to tonight’s show it’s simply that for all the great playing, pristine arrangements, and jammed out spark, it’s light on memorable songs. There are some songs that the fans always expect to hear from Joe Bonamassa, so it’s no surprise that at the end of the set “Sloe gin” and “Ballad of John Henry” make an appearance to end the show. Plenty of cheering ensured that the band came back out to do one final song – “All aboard” with special guest Bernie Marsden before the night was sadly over.

 Full Set List

•  Hey Baby (New Rising Sun) Jimi Hendrix cover
• Oh Beautiful
• Never Give All your Heart
• Hidden Charms (Howlin Wolf cover)
• Living On The Moon
• Trouble Town
• Double Trouble (Otis Rush cover)
• I Gave Up Everything For You, 'Cept The Blues
• Look Over Yonders Wall (Freddie King Cover)
• One Less Cross To Bear
• All night Boogie (All Night Long) Howlin Wolf cover
• Someday After A While (Freddie King cover)
• Love Aint A Song
• Sloe Gin (Tim Curry cover)
• The Ballad Of John Henry)

Encore

•  All Aboard (Muddy Waters cover) with Bernie Marsden.

Lonely The Brave - Leicester Academy (The Scholar)

The Scholar is actually the third music place at the O2 Academy Leicester. It is an intimate venue with a capacity of 250 with a small stage not ideal for great viewing if not close up. It was good to see LTB again after watching them support Deaf Havana at Coventry before Christmas. I actually thought LTB were the best band on the night by far. So it was good to see them doing a much more extensive set list as headliners. Hailing from Cambridge LTB are a five piece band and have released the album 'The Days War'. Judging on tonight's performance the band are going from strength to strength and destined for bigger things. Hard to pigeon hole their style, I notice that their Facebook page has them down as 'Doom Pop'. Really good atmosphere at Leicester which didn't go unnoticed by the band who stated it was one of their top gigs. Most of the talking is left to guitarist Paul Trotter who you will see me photographed with later. The actual ;Lead Singer 'Paul Jakes' is something of a mystery man. Happy to assume a role out of the limelight towards the rear of stage side on to the crowd. It doesn't matter though and gives him that air of mystique. He has the voice to back it up as well with comparisons to Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam obvious.