Joe Bonamassa
March 1st, 2025
Foxwoods Premier Theater
Mashatucket, CT
Joe Bonamassa gave the packed house at the Foxwoods Premire Theater a show to remember. Bonamassa has been a leading blues musician since he started his career at the young age of 12 playing with B.B. King. His young age did not deter him from continuing to learn and play with the greats. He has since become one of the leading blues guitarists in the world.
Most dates Bonamassa play are sold out and he shows at each concert his ability to play year after year some of the most complex and memorable blues and blues-rock you will see. Truly one of the greats.
He released the album “Live at the Hollywood Bowl With Orchestra” in the fall of 2024. This album was a milestone for him after a string of great releases and is well worth the listen. He played the Hollywood Bowl with the backing of a 40 piece orchestra and this had been a dream of his for a while. Now with that being his accomplishment he can go on to other dream venues to play.
A great showman in his own right Bonamassa surrounds himself with fantastic artists to back him up. He has the long time accompanyment of Josh Smith on guitar, Calvin Turner on bass guitar and drummer Larmar Carter. He completes the instrumental back up with Reese Wynans on keyboard. Together with singers Jade MacRae and Danni D’Andrea the band is a tight group of amazing talent, and they all complement Bonamassa’s with incredible vocals and musical artistry.
Bonamassa’s rich, expressive vocals and intricate guitar playing backed by his world class band and singers gave the audience a night to remember. By industry standards Bonamassa is still young and has already hit his stride. He looks comfortable and at ease playing complex guitar solos many would love to be able to accomplish, yet he makes it seem effortless. A true professional blues man he makes you feel each note either when its screaming at you or done with the lightest of touch, he is a master at his craft. I see many more years of great music coming from this man.
If you have not had the chance to see a Joe Bonamassa show do take the time to do it. You will be blown away by his prowess on a guitar and his ability to make you really feel his music down in your soul. These are qualities only a real blues man is able to accomplish. Bonamassa is one of those few who makes the complex look so darn easy and give a class act of a show.
For more information on Joe Bonamassa and his upcoming tour schedule visit Joe Bonnamassa
Review by Donna Erichsen
Photos by George Bekris
Setlist:
Hope You Realize It (Goodbye Again)
Dust Bowl
Twenty‐Four Hour Blues (Bobby “Blue” Bland cover)
Well, I Done Got Over It (Guitar Slim cover)
Self Inflicted Wounds
I Want to Shout About It (Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters cover)
The Last Matador of Bayonne
Pack It Up (Freddie King cover)
The Heart That Never Waits
Driving Towards the Daylight
It’s Hard But It’s Fair (Bobby Parker cover)
How Many More Times (Led Zeppelin cover)
Encore:
Mountain Time
.