JOE BONAMASSA

“Live at Rockpalast”

DVD

Premiere Artists

Joe Bonamassa leads the pack of young blues guitar prodigies that deliver fire from the fingertips. Already a professional as a teenager (Bonamassa opened for B.B. King at the age of 12), a now seasoned Bonamassa displays the chops of a veteran axeman, despite not yet reaching his 30th birthday. “Live At Rockpalast” captures Bonamassa and bandmates Eric Czar (bass) and Kenny Kramme’s (drums) performance from last year’s first major European tour. “Rockpalast” is actually Bonamassa’s second DVD release, following 2002’s “A New Day Yesterday Live” DVD which was included as bonus material to accompany his sophomore recording effort “So, It's Like That”. The Rockpalast show displays a more musically diverse effort from Bonamassa, captured in a more intimate setting. There are plenty of close up shots of the band and the audience, offered as a crisp recording with DTS and Dolby options. The performance was recorded at the Burg Satzvey in Merchernich, Germany for the legendary German television show Rockpalast. The Satzvey is actually a magnificent 14th-century castle which presents one of the most unique concert settings you will see.

Bonamassa and the boys waste no time is displaying their chops with a terrific introductory jam leading up to "Takin' the Hit" that closes with recognizable ZZ Top and Peter Frampton riffs. As the band next breaks into a blazing cover of Jethro Tull’s “A New Day Yesterday", it is evident that you’re witnessing something much greater than a run of the mill blues band. The DVD contains only 11 tracks, but most carry about 7 to 10 minutes each and display some terrific jams from all three musicians. The set list is diverse, including a number of tracks from Bonamassa’s 2003 “Blues Deluxe” disc including the title track (originally penned by Rod Stewart with the Jeff Beck Group), B.B. King’s “You Upset Me Baby”, and John Lee Hooker’s “Burning Hell”. Bonamassa has also found his niche as a seasoned blues vocalist, sounding years ahead of his time.

Blind Faith’s “Had To Cry Today” and a fantastic rendition of the “Heart of The Sunrise” intro followed by the closing half of “Starship Trooper”, show that Bonamassa and the band are capable of making even progressive rock sound like their very own (it also takes some guts to cover Yes material, and the band does an outstanding job). A quiet version of “Mountain Time” also works perfectly and changes gears quite nicely amidst nearly 90 minutes of blazing guitar solos. Bonamassa also introduces some outstanding slide guitar work midway through the set that completes a diverse musical offering.

Comparing the two Bonamassa DVD’s will demonstrate the band’s increased comfort level and introduces an even greater variety of musical chops. Bonamassa has also matured as a singer-songwriter, and has displayed the knack to effectively transition cover material to become his own work. Bassist Eric Czar is also extremely musically talented and creative, and Kenny Kramme’s percussion work is outstanding from start to finish. While Bonamassa has since moved on to record with new bandmates, the Rockpalast show is a valued snapshot of how tight this power trio had become.

Besides the slightly short set list, the only disappointment was the lack of any special features or literature accompanying the DVD. But with terrific sound quality and an outstanding performance from the band, these extras were hardly missed. It’s refreshing to see young musicians paying tribute to the great rock and blues music of the past, and few are worthy company for Bonamassa. “Live At Rockpalast” effectively captures the raw energy and extreme talent of Joe Bonamassa and the band and will make a fine addition to your musical library.

- Don Sikorski

****1/2