Joe Bonamassa at Tanzbrunnen

‚Classic Rocknight Special’ is how ‚Rockpalast’ described it’s concert on Saturday at the Cologne Tanzbrunnen.  If BB King is King of the Blues right now then Top act of the evening Joe Bonamassa might just be considered ‘God of the Blues’.  In short -  I had to be there…

The Tanzbrunnen itself, standing alongside Cologne Trade Fair, is a new venue for me.  I had seen pictures that suggested something Open Air like Bonn’s Museumsplatz.  It instead turned out to be a large entertainment complex with cinema and an aircraft hanger of a concert hall with a lighting rig on the ceiling that looked like a leftover prop from ‘Close Encounters’.

By the time British Band The Brew hit the stage at around 4pm there were just about enough people to create an atmosphere which wasn’t bad since the doors were also opened at that time.     The band centers musically around the guitar skills of Jason Barwick – a 19 year old guitar virtuoso with the appearance of a young Gary Moore.  Why are all these great blues/rock  guitarist whizzkids springing up in the UK right now?

Barwick is good, and 21 year old drummer Kurtis Smith is also a bit special on drums – I had him sign the end of a drumstick he broke during the set and it looks like it’s been through a nuclear holocaust and trodden on by a herd of cattle.  The age of bassist Tim Smith is left off of the bands website – his being the father of Curtis that’s probably no accident.   Between them though they pretty well cover every trick in the Rock Almanac:  Hendrix guitar behind the back, Gallagher duckwalk, Page violin bow guitar playing, Townsend windmill arms, even setting fire to one of the cymbals.  I have to say it was a little too showy for my taste – but they put in the effort and I credit them for that.  Musically they also lean heavily on the Cream/Taste style of Rock Blues.  So there you go: Britain is not short of very talented, very young  blues/rock musicians right now and they need to find something original – the talent is there, I’m looking forward to see what grows out of it.

Texan Lance Lopez has the following quote from BB King on his website:

“Lance Lopez got 3 standing ovations when he opened a show for me and I was among those standing…” Billy Gibbons says he’s carrying on the ‘bad ass’ tradition of Texas Blues.  I have to sayLopez came, he played Texas style Blues and he was okay.  Maybe it was that we had 5pm and Joe Bonamassa was still three hours away.  If you like ZZ Top you’ll like Lance Lopez.

I took a break to chat with the merchandising people for Joe Bonamassa instead.

Joe recently sold out Londons Albert Hall – pretty much unknown for a Bluesman unless your name is Eric Clapton and you’re God.  Except, as I mentioned earlier, Joe IS currently God where Blues is concerned.  This remember only five years after  a London gig in front of 60 people.  How did he do it? I ask.   What’s he got that Ana Popovic hasn’t beside hairier legs?  A lot of hard work, a lot of talent, and even then a LOT of luck is the answer his people tell me.  So, no magic bullet to stardom!  Disappointed about that, I return to the stage to catch Asaf Avidan.

Asid Avidan & The Mojos to be exact.  The name sounds like someone Harry Potter might have to cross magic wands with but Asid is actually pretty successful in his native Israel right now with a CD “The Reckoning” going Gold.  Kicking off with ‘Maybe You Are’ he stands there with acoustic guitar and a harmonica, Dylanesque, on a holder round his neck.  Then he opens his mouth and out comes the high falsetto sound reminiscent of a kettle whistling.  It’s a shock to the system and initially to the ears.  When you get accustomed to it though there is an inventive musician here and a similarly inventive band.

Whilst I didn’t know quite what to expect from the Bluesnacht I certainly didn’t expect a cello solo – but a very pretty and delicate looking lady named Hadas Kleinman produced a similarly pretty and delicate  sound.   It all got rather too religious at times for me and Asaf’s revelations before singing ‘The Devil and Me’ that he had done some bad things in his life, rather than giving me feelings of moral indignation,  just had me curious for more details.   By sets end I was enjoying their rockier numbers  though and I do give them top marks for innovation whilst admitting that I don’t know any other Israeli Rockband to compare them to anyway.

And so to the Main Event of this Rockpalast evening.  I had been squeezed in between video cameras in the photopit all afternoon and now the announcer steps up to announce that Joe Bonamassa has suddenly refused permission for filming him.  Yep, Joe snubbed mighty ‘Rockpalast’ – and only an hour before his people on the merchandise table had said all this about Joe being difficult and unfriendly is nonsense.  The upshot was that the said photopit was emptied of  video cameras and cable wielding assistants.  I even had to ask if it was okay for ME to take pictures.  The security guard let me through though after a phone call and I stood alone for a couple of minutes with only my Nikon  for company.  I rattled of a few pics and sweatily headed back for the pit exit, half expecting Joe to me on my trail with a hellhound.

Whatever might be said about Joe Bonamassa the star it was clear from the opening notes on his cherry red twin necked Gibson that Joe Bonamassa the musician is at the very top of his game right now.  Do you know anyone else who could hold you enthralled for fifteen minutes with an acoustic guitar solo?  Or more accurately an acoustic ‘tour de force’?  With a smattering of new material from ‘Ballad of John Henry’ and older classics like ‘Sloe Gin’ this was one of the best sets I’ve ever heard at a blues concert, particular compliments are due to the sounddesk for an excellent mix.

Whilst many other musicians are looking to craft the blues into a different, more commercial style, Joe is ‘just’ playing the blues.  How does he get to do it AND be so popular?  Like the man said – it’s hard work, luck and a lot of something called talent.  Joe Bonamassa had Eric Clapton onstage as a guest at the Albert Hall.  Could it be that Joe is a secret son of EC?  Only joking- but then the Son of God’s name started with a J too.  Coincidence or what?

More Images from Rocknacht

Footnote:
Following quote from Joe Bonamassa regarding Rockpalast -

Honestly,
I refused the broadcast because of many reasons.. One and the biggest being that Rock Palast wanted us to just throw the gear up and go without a proper sound balance.. I do not work that way, nor should any band. Two there was an under current of money being exchanged between the promoter and the the rock palast people that seemed very suspect to me.. Three thier attitude of arrogance and animosity I found somewhat unproductive. I am very sorry and I shelter all the blame but my integrity still means something and I will not be bullied by thugs who think they are star makers… Yesterday was the most stressful day in recent memory.. I am very disappointed in WDR and rock palast .. A hallowed institution needs a make over in my humble opinion. Give me the job as producer.. I will totally rock!! and do if for free just to make sure the franchise doesent fall into the wrong hands. I would assume that a honored institution would work in a more professional manner.. end of story..
Joe B.

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