08/08/24
Topeka Performing Arts Center, Topeka, KS
Joe Bonamassa is more than a legend. He’s practically THE legend when it comes to the Blues. His tour this summer, titled the “Blues Deluxe Summer Tour” kicked off mid-July and runs across the country until September. This stop in Topeka was the first in nearly a decade for him. The limestone exterior of the Topeka Performing Arts Center felt ominous upon entering. Looking more like a western Kansas courthouse than a theatre, I entered through the doors and up the stairs into the auditorium. Even though the building was nearly sold out, I still felt like I could breathe, which was good as I was about to have my breath taken away from me.
There’s something about musicians that I will always appreciate, but never understand the ability; and that is their ability to perform a solo in the middle of a song. How much is improvisation, how much is routine and part of the song? Only the artist truly knows (and probably everyone else more knowledgeable in the musical arts than I). Joe came out dressed in a slick suit jacket, looking slick and suave as ever, opening the show with “Hope You Realize It (Goodbye Again)”, followed by a couple covers, B.B. King’s “You Upset Me Baby”, Bobby Bland’s “Twenty Four Hour Blues”, and Guitar Slim’s “Well, I Done Got Over It”. It wasn’t until he hit “Self-Inflicted Wounds” when I really felt the emotion of the lyrics and guitar. With purple lights accented by the music’s purple blues, the finale of the song brought the audience to their feet for the first of many times that evening.
A cover of Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters “I Want to Shout About It” featured a solo from Keyboardist Reese Wynans, handling both the keyboards and the organ, sometimes both at the same time, something he made a feature of during the cover of Muddy Water’s “Tiger In Your Tank”. Following with a cover of Jeff Beck’s “Blues Deluxe”, which had moments of quiet tension as Joe picked at the strings of his guitar, creating a level of suspense and pain that few can elicit with an instrument. The quiet of the song brought emotions from the crowd as there were hollers, cheers, and signals of appreciation throughout the song. Another standing ovation got even louder than the one before it. A cover of Ann Peebles “I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody’s Home Tonight” was followed by “The Heart That Never Waits”. At a point in the song, I felt like I was no longer hearing a guitar, as he created new sounds with the instrument I never thought possible. I could of sworn he was playing a Theremin from time to time.
As Bonamassa reached the end of his set, nearly an hour and a half in, with three more songs to go, I felt for this man’s fingertips and how they were making my fingers hurt. Each song felt like has this slow build to an epic, grand climax. You’ve been through an experience after each song, leaving you gasping for air, but giving it all back in cheers and applause. He dove into “Is It Safe To Go Home”, followed by Freddie King’s “See See Baby”, giving off the most Big Band Jazz feel of all of the songs that evening. The brass section was highlighted and given an exciting opus to close out the evening. Finally closing the main show with Leon Russell’s “Hummingbird”. As Joe and his band left the stage, I watched people leaving as though the show was over with. Reminiscent of people leaving before the end-credit sequence of a movie. The break wasn’t very long as everyone returned to the stage to close out the evening.
An encore comprised of Bobby Parker’s “It’s Hard But It’s Fair” and “Mountain Time” sent the audience home cheering and elated. There aren’t that many performers like Joe Bonamassa, and after 2 hours with the legend, it’s not hard to see why. I get why people venture to see him again and again when he comes to their area, he’s truly worth experiencing.
