Sunday, November 3, 2024

Bucket Record! Purple Rocks with Joe Bonamassa August sixth, 2023 ~ Live performance Pictures Journal

 By Michael Yanko 

Rock Legends Photographers

     Having been a live performance photographer for the reason that 70s and capturing hundreds of live shows, tons of of festivals, and 9 music cruises, Purple Rocks has been on my bucket checklist for a few years. Once I received an e mail from Gov’t Mule stating that they have been enjoying there, it piqued my curiosity. Once I discovered that Jason Bonham was opening and that Joe Bonamassa was enjoying the night time earlier than, I noticed it was time to make a visit to Colorado and cross this one off my checklist!


     Purple Rocks is situated in Morrison, Colorado, a few half hour outdoors Denver. It is surrounded by stunning surroundings, which made for an exquisite drive. We parked on the onsite museum, after which made the one-mile trek downhill to the field workplace to get our photograph passes. The thrill within the air was already beginning to construct and we met some nice individuals on the field workplace. One of many individuals we met was Joe Bonamassa’s driver, and he was greater than useful with suggestions concerning the venue. One of the best tip of all was that there was a shuttle to take me as much as the highest the place the venue is. The shuttle dropped me off on the backstage entrance, giving me a possibility to seize the beautiful photograph on the subsequent web page.

 It takes two 18-wheelers to convey Joe Bonamassa’s gear to a venue close to you!

    I’ve seen Joe Bonamassa carry out a number of instances, however seeing and listening to him at Purple Rocks was an expertise by no means to be forgotten. It rained nearly your complete present, however the sold-out crowd got here ready with raincoats and ponchos. Photographing was troublesome within the rain, however I did handle to get a couple of good pictures!



     The rising anticipation for the beginning of the present was climaxed with Tom Petty’s “The Ready,” adopted by the band’s entrance to thunderous applause! 

     Opening the present with “Evil Mama,” the band adopted up with songs from Bonamassa’s large catalogue of albums together with: “Mud Bowl,” “Love Ain’t a Love Track,” “Self-Inflicted Wounds,” “I Wish to Shout About it” from the forthcoming album, and “Final Matador of Bayonne.” 




     To the delight of the gang the subsequent track featured particular visitor Warren Haynes (Gov’t Mule, Allman Brothers Band) who was scheduled the subsequent night time. Bonamassa launched him by saying “Some individuals immediately requested me, ‘you going tomorrow, is he coming right here?’ I stated ‘nicely I can’t make it tomorrow however I’m certain it’s gonna be f-cking implausible.’ My good friend Jason Bonham is right here tonight. I don’t give this man sufficient credit score as a result of over the course of the primary hour of this present he’s in all probability written down 20 issues that I’ve f-cking stolen from him on the guitar, together with this model of this track by Albert King referred to as ‘Breaking Up Somebody’s Dwelling’ and we’re gonna convey out Warren Haynes proper now to play it.” The guitar duo jam throughout this track was astonishing!

     Bonamassa channeled his internal Buddy Man a number of instances all through the night time, dropping “F” bombs at random. Following the track with Haynes, Bonamassa launched his band consisting of:  Josh Smith (guitar), Calvin Turner (bass, changing the late Michael Rhodes), Lemar Carter (drums), Rock & Roll Corridor of Famer Reese Wynans (keys), and Dannielle DeAndrea and Jade MacRae (backing vocals). 



      After introductions the efficiency continued with “Curtain Name,” adopted by a artistic cowl of Barbra Streisand’s “Prisoner” (Love Theme from Eyes of Laura Mars). Subsequent up was “The Coronary heart That By no means Waits.”  Following a tremendous blues solo, Bonamassa provided up a touch of  “Trigger We’ve Ended as Lovers,” giving a quick salute to the late nice Jeff Beck! After delighting the sold-out crowd with that tidbit, the band adopted up with “Lonely Boy,” adopted by ZZ High’s “Simply Obtained Paid,” which morphed into Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed and Confused” earlier than morphing again into “Simply Obtained Paid.” The set ended with a five-minute drum solo after which the band cleared the stage. The gang was loud and hungry for extra. The band returned for the the anticipated encore, “Mountain Time.”  Bonamassa advised the gang that somebody posted on Twitter, “Man, I actually hope you play ‘Mountain Time’ on the mountain!” He shared that he didn’t plan it, however that it simply makes f-cking sense. It was an important ending to a memorable efficiency!







     Joe Bonamassa is likely one of the biggest residing guitar gamers and his performances are at all times extraordinary. Whether or not you’re a blues fan, rock fan, or each, make sure you put Bonamassa in your should see live performance checklist!

For extra photographs from this present https://www.abetterdj.internet/ROCK-LEGENDS-PHOTOGRAPHERS-CONCERT-PHOTOS/BLUES-CONCERT-PHOTOS-1/JOE-BONAMASSA-Purple-Rocks-8-6-23/

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