Straight-up, hard rocking blues...
Having been compared to the likes of Eddie Van Halen and Stevie Ray Vaughn, 'A New Day Yesterday, Live' sees the growing recognition of blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa going from strength to strength.
From the first track, 'Jam Intro', it becomes crystal clear what this album is going to be about: straight-up, hard rocking, driving blues. The album varies nicely between blistering instrumental tracks, such as 'Steppin Out/Rice Pudding', which Bonamassa manages to make sound effortless despite its mind-blowing intricacies, and the equally impressive vocal tracks like 'Cradle Rock' and 'A New Day Yesterday' that show off Bonamassa's gritty blues voice.
Although firmly rooted in the blues-rock genre, Bonamassa plays with different variations and styles; from the funky blues style that begins 'Steppin Out/Rice Pudding' and the heavier, darker rock sound it descends into, to the real blues feel of 'A New Day Yesterday', which combines wailing electric guitar with Bonamassa's powerful, gravely and emotive voice. 'Miss You, Hate You' has a different sound again, taking the form of a more mainstream rock ballad, complete with radio-friendly riffs. However, even here the guitar solo is a work of art, a genuinely fantastic example of guitar playing that stops the song from simply becoming a Bon Jovi-esque radio rock song.
Throughout this live performance, recorded in December 2001 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, as the final show of a sixty-date tour, Bonamassa and his band manage to capture the vitality of a live performance with all the precision of a studio recording. As can often happen with any album of this kind, in which every track is focused around the guitar, there is a danger that it will loose its ability to impress. Not so here. Whereas some music can just wash over you and become background music without you realising it, this performance is totally engaging, and it seems almost impossible to ignore the skill of the man behind the guitar. It's hard to pick out the standout tracks on this recording, as wherever you start every track highlights Joe Bonamassa's talent and passion for the music he plays. Despite being a live recording, this album is a great place to start if you're never listened to Bonamassa before, as the noise from the crowd is enough to capture the excitement and electricity of the performance but doesn't detract from or obscuring the songs themselves. Whether you're a fan of this particular genre, have an appreciation of fine musicianship or are simply looking for a new guitar hero, 'A New Day Yesterday, Live' is well worth a listen.