Ahead of the release on Friday 19th June of 'The Spirit Of Rory Live From Cork', a powerful live album and film capturing his deeply personal tribute to Irish Blues guitar legend Rory Gallagher, recorded during a series of sold-out performances in Gallagher’s hometown of Cork last Summer, celebrated Blues-Rock guitarist and singer-songwriterJoe Bonamassa played the first of two consecutive nights on Wednesday at London's Royal Albert Hall.

Climbing the steps at the rear of this magnificent venue, memories came flooding back of Joe's debut here almost exactly 17 years ago to the day, when a certain Eric Clapton duly joined in with Joe on May the 4th be with you, accompanying him on Bobby "Blue" Bland's 'Farther Up The Road'. Although some of us present tonight could also recall with fondness, Joe's initial forage to these shores in 2005, playing intimate venues such as Poole's Mr. Kyps and Tooting's Jack Beards Blues, as well as London's Shepherd's Bush Empire in February 2008. Indeed, the last time we saw Joe in London was at this very same venue in April two years ago, with this prolific artist having released a further three albums since then.

Perched precariously in the Gods, seated stage left, at the front of the circle, after a piece of indistinguishable intro music, Bonamassa's fabulous septet suddenly appeared out of the Albert Hall darkness, kicking off with the funky 'Hope You Realize It (Goodbye Again)', taken from 2023's 'Blues Deluxe Vol. 2'. With Joe hidden behind a particularly fierce spotlight, our eyes were immediately drawn to his visions in red, namely the familiar vocal and choreographed talents of backing singers Danniella De Andrea and Jade McRae. All a bit different though to Mr. Kyps!

Indeed, it was all pretty much as you were, with the welcome return of his accomplished band also featuring Carl Lamar Carter on drums, the capped Calvin Turner on bass, Josh Smith on guitar, not forgetting Joe on lead vocals and guitar. However the one big exception, was the absence of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble legend Reece Wynans on keys. Albeit, the good news was that his replacement was the brilliant Aussie Lachy Doly, once dubbed the Jimi Hendrix of the Hammond organ, who we not only saw headlining London's The 100 Club back in August 2017, but we also came across him playing on Glenn Hughes' awesome CD 'Resonate'.

Suffice to say the permanently standing Doley immediately impressed with a solo on the opener, as did of course the traditional shades wearing, blue suited and booted Bonamassa, stepping out from the behind that spotlight, with his first and by no means last, exquisite guitar solo. Talking of which, cue Joe's mind blowing intro to the title track from 'Dust Bowl', accentuated by Carter's pounding drum beat as Bonamassa topped and tailed this classic (was it really fifteen years ago?) with another amazing solo.

Armed with a bountiful rack of guitars, Joe duly swapped over again for 'Love Ain't A Love Song', taken from 2014's 'Different Shades Of Blue', for another outstanding solo, deliciously complemented by both lead and backing vocals from De Andrea and McRae. Not to be outdone, the animated Doley more than equalled his previous solo on the slower 'Driving Towards the Daylight', although Joe's perfect vocal and solo on his blood red guitar, on the 2012 title track from his tenth studio album, also raised a massive, deserved cheer from this evening's ecstatic punters.

With the capped Turner permanently standing on the drum riser, playing as tight as ever, the first lump in my throat moment tonight was Bonamassa's instantly recognisable guitar intro to 'Drive by the Exit Sign'. Complemented by some cool backing vocals again from De Andrea and McRae, the album it was taken from, last year's 'Breakthrough', was very sadly released the day my dear Dad passed away. Although Joe's extended solo did make me smile, recalling the time that my Dad and I both saw Joe here in April 2019, when Dad unsuccessfully tried to phone my Mum on his mobile to make sure she was ok, slap bang during a trademark JB solo!

The first cover of the evening was Bill Bronzy's 'Double Trouble', that saw Bonamassa prowling around the stage delivering a Bluestastic intro and outro solo, fuelled by Doley's incendiary keys, while the pounding beat of 'The Heart That Never Waits', from 2021's 'Time Clocks', gave way to an amazing, intricate JB solo, resulting in another huge cheer from the packed out audience, before its tumultuous climax.

A man of few words, Joe eventually took off his shades, not only poignantly sharing with the audience his love for this historic venue (indeed, tomorrow night would be his 14th performance here and his last as a 48 year-old, given his birthday the following day), but also his love for his Mum, Dad and his "beautiful girlfriend" who were also in the audience. It was also an opportunity for band introductions, as well as to-die-for solos on a cover of Delaney & Bonnie's 'Well, Well', from Doley, the cowboy-hatted Smith (a brilliant guitarist in his own right), as well as Carter, and of course the "don't mind if I do" Bonamassa himself.

This then segued straight into an unbelievable slide guitar intro from Joe on a cover of Bobby Parker's 'It's Hard But It's Fair', one of my stand outs from the set, with its glorious pounding riff. And on the subject of stand out's, what more can be said about 'So, It's Like That's 'Mountain Time'? Unbelievably, released 24 years ago, this Bonamassa classic never ages, and once again we were taken on this emotional rollercoaster, right from its quiet sequences to its climactic ending. Absolutely amazing and well deserving of my vertigo defying, standing ovation up in the Gods!

We were also in the realm of the Gods when the band deservedly returned back to the stage out of the darkness, following understandable demands from the delighted audience for an encore. Quoting his friend David Coverdale, Joe raised a glass to the delighted crowd toasting 'Cheers!! To This Evening!!!", before launching into, as he put it, "a special Royal Albert Hall song", and a cover of Robert Johnson's 'Crossroads'. Duly completing the holy trinity, Bonamassa very movingly thanked the family of the much missed Bernie Marsden for loaning Bernie's guitar to Joe to play the final epic number of the night, Tim Curry's incredible 'Sloe Gin'.

Leaving the stage to the strains of Ethel Meman's 'There's No Business Like Showbusiness', Coverdale's ex-Whitesnake mucker would no doubt have been looking down tonight and would have been proud of every single one of them. With a welcome early start, there was also still plenty of time to chew the cud down the pub afterwards, and it was refreshing to come across so many Bonamassa virgins, which still speaks volumes for this gifted, prolific, extremely contemporary performer.

And despite no covers from his forthcoming live album, the Bonamassa juggernaut now rolls on to Europe next. Indeed, after tonight's spectacular showing from this band of world class musicians, just make sure you don't miss them. And when we return to this splendid venue in two years time to witness Joe deliver a another musical masterclass, it will be difficult to believe that this former child prodigy would be in his fifties! But as my Dad would often say: "That's showbiz!"

Review: AJ
Photos and video: Denise Lester