Joe Bonamassa is one of the biggest names in the blues genre today, well known for opening for B.B. King at the age of 12. Joe has cemented his name up there as one of the greatest blues guitarists of all time. With his technical riffs and guitar solos, seeing him live is more than just another singer songwriter performance. It’s a whole experience.
On Wednesday evening, February 25, Joe Bonamassa and his band played at the Overture Center for the Arts in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. It was his first show back in town since February of 2023, this time in a larger capacity theater that holds over 2,200 and appeared to be close to, if not completely, sold out. Joe Bonamassa’s shows bring in people of all ages and look a bit different than most concerts I go to. Well over half of the fans were dressed up for the evening, as Joe himself always takes the stage in a tailored suit and dark sunglasses.
At 8 p.m. sharp, the theater lights dropped and, with the stage still dark, music began playing. Shortly after, I could see the silhouettes of the band taking their places on stage. Then Joe walked out and the lights came on as the audience cheered. Standing there in his suit and sunglasses, likely holding a vintage Fender Stratocaster, the band kicked off the show with “Breakthrough,” the first song off his latest album, also titled Breakthrough. He then went into another new track, “Trigger Finger.” Later in the set, Joe played “Drive Past The Exit Sign,” making those the only three songs from the latest album. The rest of the night featured a great mix from his catalog, including a couple of my favorites to hear live, “Self Inflicted Wounds” and “Mountain Time.”…