Review: Joe Bonamassa – Live At The Hollywood Bowl

 J&R Adventures (June 21^st, 2024)

Reviewer: Peter Scallan

I can already hear the groans and the cry of, ‘Not another Bonamassa live album!’ Over the last decade or more the pattern that has emerged is one of new studio album, followed by a live album. I must admit that since first getting into Joe Bonamassa with 2010’s ‘Black Rock‘, I have been selective about the live albums I have purchased. These have been those that offer something different such as the ‘Red Rocks‘ album and the ‘British Blues Explosion‘ live albums, with my only other purchase being the ‘Tales of Time‘ live album. This album falls into that offering something different category for me, with it being a live recording with an orchestra! Coming in the two-disc format with a live CD and film either on DVD or Blu-ray, both with the same track listing.

The show opens with a symphonic overture version of ‘When One Door Opens‘ from his ‘Royal Tea‘ album before transitioning into ‘Curtain Call‘ from ‘Time Clocks‘. This was already quite a Zeppelin-inspired number, with being a slow rocker with some Arabic themes running through it. However, the addition of the orchestra, and particularly the string arrangements making it even more Zeppelinesque, which is just fine by me. We the delve into some serious blues playing with ‘Self-inflicted Wounds‘ from 2018’s ‘Redemption‘ album. The original studio version was for me a pure slow blues rock number but this orchestral version makes it sound more rhythm’n’blues and soulful and is a great version. ‘No Good Place for the Lonely‘ is another blues number delving slightly deeper into the back catalogue from ‘Blues of Desperation‘. Joe gives it some serious blues licks in this number in terms of soloing and the song comes in at almost eight-and-a-half minutes! But would you expect, and want, anything else if you were sitting in the audience? Nah! We go even deeper into the back catalogue with ‘Ball Peen Hammer‘ from ‘Sloe Gin‘. In its original guise, it sounded like a bit of edgy country blues. This version is obviously more refined with the orchestra and the wind section almost giving it a big-band swing – very different but great none-the-less. The next number opens with some superb trumpet playing and its only when the song starts proper, I recognise it as ‘The Last Matador of Bayonne‘! The orchestral arrangement of this one gives it an almost jazz-blues feel and you could imagine yourself sitting in some dark, smoke-filled club chilling to this – with Louis Balfour proclaiming ‘Grrrrrreat!’ in his black polo neck! If you know, you know!

‘Prisoner‘ moves us back into blues rock territory with the orchestra adding a lush layer from the first chorus and providing that soulful feel again – another great alternative version of this song from ‘Dust Bowl‘. We go all the way back to ‘A New Day Yesterday‘ for ‘If Heartaches Were Nickles‘. The opening verse to this light-weight blues is orchestrated beautifully and compliments Jo’s playing and singing. It also includes some delightful string section plucking which sounds almost percussive. The song slowly builds to a peak and then drops back down into that soulful blues groove to close, including some spectacular Joplin-style female lead vocals from the backing vocalists. Fan favourite ‘The Ballad of John Henry‘ is next to get the orchestral treatment. This is a Bonamassa riffing rocker and the orchestra really getting in among it and rocking out with Joe at those heavy section and bring colour and texture at the lighter parts. The ‘single’ from the album was ‘Twenty-four Hour Blues‘, which continues in a soulful R’n’B groove and for me isn’t that different in terms of arrangement from the original on the ‘Blues Deluxe Vol. 2‘ album. It’s just much smoother and silkier in feel. The last song is another Bonamassa crowd-pleaser in the shape of ‘Sloe Gin‘ from the album of the same name. Coming in at well over nine minutes, as another laid back number it takes full advantage of the finesse and lushness the orchestra adds to it on the quieter sections, with the horn section adding some power were required when it builds For me, this is an excellent version of this number – love, love, love!

So what, who cares? Another Bonamassa live album with some of the live staples orchestrated. I love it and will definitely add it to the collection. However, with so many Bonamassa live albums being released, this one may not have the impact it deserves just because it is another Bonamassa live album. I doubt it well win over many new fans, but if you are a fan, this one is well worth the money for the audio-video bundle, with video element being a great accompaniment, even if you are a little jaded with the live album releases. Did I mention this is another Joe Bonamassa live album?

CD Track Listing:

1. When One Door Opens Overture
2. Curtain Call
3. Self-Inflicted Wounds
4. No Good Place For The Lonely
5. Ball Peen Hammer
6. The Last Matador Of Bayonne
7. Prisoner
8. If Heartaches Were Nickels
9. The Ballad Of John Henry
10. Twenty-Four Hour Blues
11. Sloe Gin

Blu-ray Track Listing:

1. Running (Intro)
2. When One Door Opens Overture
3. Curtain Call
4. Self-Inflicted Wounds
5. No Good Place For The Lonely
6. Ball Peen Hammer
7. The Last Matador Of Bayonne
8. Prisoner
9. If Heartaches Were Nickels
10. The Ballad Of John Henry
11. Twenty-Four Hour Blues
12. Sloe Gin
13. Grecian Urn (Credits)

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