Search - Joe Bonamassa Live from the Royal Albert Hall on DVD

Our Proudest Moment

dknight16 | 10/07/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Watching this DVD, the same feeling kept washing over me, song after song. It was a feeling of intense pride. I've been witness to the ever expanding vision and hard work Joe Bonamassa has put into his music. No artist over the last decade has captivated me quite like Joe has. Each new release adds yet another layer. And he never makes us wait too long for the next chapter. I've been fortunate to see Joe perform live several times in a variety of venues. Then came RAH.



It's the biggest show of Joe's life and he most certainly is up for the occasion. The venue is magnificent. The crowd is completely engaged. The band is as tight as Bogie's snare. And Joe is on fire. Having everything come together after 20 years has obvious special meaning to Joe. But watching this document of what he has accomplished in my 6+ years as a Joe Bonamassa fan holds special meaning to me as well. I've been an avid record collector and concert goer for over 30 years. In that time, I've never felt more proud to be a fan than I felt while watching this DVD.



For the technical minded, you have the choice of 3 audio streams, Dolby stereo, Dolby 5.1 surround, Dolby DTS surround. The intro sequence really builds up and sets the stage for the show. Camera work is great and features not only well chosen shots of the artists, but within the context of an historic venue. Edits/cuts/changes are appropriately restrained. What may be most surprising of all is that they chose to not overly compress the video and cram it all on one disc. 230 minutes are spread across two discs. This is how a music DVD should be!



After having watched this DVD a few times now, I'd like to add a little more about the performance itself:



- Joe translates live far, far better than most artists. In my opinion, Joe is a brilliant live artist who happens to make great studio records too. I can't decide if Joe's greatest strength is his phenomenal guitar playing or his amazing voice. Both are simply incredible on this DVD.



- I love what Carmine has added to the band over the last couple of years. He brings a flowing musicality that perfectly complements rather than competes with Joe. He is a talented veteran and it shows. The Buddah statue is kinda cool too.



- I was a little nervous when Joe made keyboards a permanent part of the band. I listen to guitar based music to hear . . . the guitar. But Rick is one crafty son of a gun. He doubles Joe's guitar harmonies, adds mood and texture to the background, and does some very nice vocal harmonies on several songs. He steps out here and there with some tasty piano parts that are quite enjoyable. Rick has been a GREAT addition to the band.



- Anyone who thinks the 2 drummer concept is gimicky needs to see this DVD. Watching Bogie and Anton synchronize with each other was quite interesting. It made me pay more attention to the drumming than I usually do, and gave me new found respect for the power and complexity that the drums add to Joe's music.



- Oops. I almost forgot about the horn section. It reminded me how much I enjoyed the early 90's Gary Moore tours that included the Midnight Horns. Here they are used with restraint so as not to crowd the songs which were generally not written with horn parts. The sax solo during Asking Around For You is expecially nice.



Great music DVDs need to complement the music with compelling visuals. There are probably few scenes in the 200+ music DVDs I own that are as dramatic as when Joe climbs up on stage equipment and hoists the Flying V over his head at the conclusion of Just Got Paid with the camera shooting from behind him at floor level. It gives me goose bumps every time I see it."

Joe Bonamassa at his PRIME

Brian | 10/06/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been following Joe Bonamassa since Bloodline. Everyone has his own preference in music, but after over 40 years of being totally enthralled with what music can do for you, Bonamassa is the one who hits the resonance with me. In this performance, he hits his prime. I feel this is an exceptional DVD, his best work yet. Every time Bonamassa puts out a piece of work, I think it is better than the last. This is no exception. A fine piece of work. Thank you Joe.



PS



I had to add, ALL the players in this concert, Rick Melick (keyboards, background vocals, & tambourine), Carmine Rojas (bass), Bogie Bowles & Anton Fig (drums - check out High Water Everywhere), Lee Thornburg (trumpet), Sean Freeman (saxophone - check out Asking Around for You) and last, but not least, Mike Feltham (trombone) all put in absolutely fantastic performances."

Tha Avalon to The Royal Albert Hall

J. Moody | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma United States | 10/25/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was first introduced to Joe Bonamassa via a promotional clip off his first at the time VHS video now DVD A New Day Yesterday Live. Two songs was all it took for me to seek out the opportunity to see him live for myself. It was a few months later and I got my chance just 90 miles away at a no longer in existence blues festival. That experience took me on a road of discovery of just how far this young guitarist could go.



Evidently all the way to the Royal Albert Hall. I traveled considerably longer to be a part of that historical moment but I just had to be there. You can too. Order this DVD today. This DVD captured the moment just like you were there. From the 12 camera shots that capture every angle of the unique setting. The room itself is a supporting player in this what will become a historical document as important as Creams Farewell concert.



The short interviews leading up to the show itself set the scene that to Joe this just isn't another gig it is a huge moment in his career with the grand entrance on the stage playing the searing notes to his instrumental arrangement tribute to Django Rhinhardt. The big band he assembled for this show which included Anton Fig on second drums and Lee Thornburg on trumpet, Sean Freeman Sax and Mike Feltham on Trombone just added to the arrangements in a tasteful way.



For those of you that may be new to Joe Bonamassa may I suggest this be your entry point. Absorb this performance and watch his tour schedule. See him for yourself live. Take the time to explore his back catalogue and get caught up to speed so you can move forward with Joe as his career continues to expand and grow to legendary status. To close get this DVD and find that Avalon theatre in your town or a town near you and have that moment of discovery because this is one ride you don't want to miss. I don't know what is next for Joe. The Royal Albert Hall is a pretty good gig to aspire to. I have a feeling he is going to keep going up from there.





Just a quick note to packaging. So often music DVDs lack any real effort to make the package something special. This issue has a book insert with photos and credits and a special note from Joe."

Music doesn`t get better than this

Andreas Emmert | Tromso | 09/28/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This music/ performance touches your heart and soul. This DVD is some extremely fine amazing piece of art.

Musicians like Joe Bonamassa don`t grow on trees. Joe Bonamassa is an artist of a caliber one only finds very few times throughout music history.

What can i say if you love good music go and buy this DVD. I have played guitar through almost half a century and have collected all kinds of music through these years and i can promise you it won`t get better than this. I would pay 100 times the price to get this DVD if that was necessary to get it. So buy it and spread the "virus"."