Joe Bonamassa review: The musican pays homage to Rory Gallagher while showcasing his own abilities
Live at the Marquee
★★★★★
Playing successful albums in their entirety is a wheeze popular with acts needing reasons to tour to pay their way when the record industry no longer works for most artists.
Playing other people's albums in their entirety is a first.
Rory Gallagher
's live album Irish Tour '74 inspired generations of guitarists with a passion which matched his technical ability.
Among them was the American blues guitarist
Joe Bonamassa
(48), who wasn't even born when Gallagher was touring around Ireland doing his thing, but he was inspired by this record that he played to death as a guitar-mad kid.
Bonamassa recalled that when he was asked by promoter Peter Aiken to play the Marquee, he responded 'f**k yeah', when he was asked if he would like to play an entire set of Rory Gallagher covers in Gallagher's hometown of Cork, he responded 'f*** yeah' but when he thought about what he had let himself in for he added a four letter expletive that begins with the word S.
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Bonamassa's sartorial style is a world and a generation apart from Gallagher's check shirt and jeans – a blue collar uniform for a blue collar guy. Bonamassa neat attire with a waistcoat and matching shirt and trousers was like a waiter at a very expensive wedding, but appearance isn't everything.
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Bluesman Joe Bonamassa buys Fender guitar in same Cork shop his hero Rory Gallagher bought his
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Joe Bonamassa plays the music of Rory Gallagher. Photograph: Ronan McGreevy
Joe Bonamassa plays the music of Rory Gallagher. Photograph: Ronan McGreevy
Bonamassa's admiration for Gallagher is genuine as his passion as is their mutual love for the Fender Stratocaster. 'Where's the f***ing Stratocaster?' Bonamassa teased the audience.
He is referring to Gallagher's battered and chipped 1961 Stratocaster, which
sold for €1 million plus change last year and has been donated to the State
. It will be in the National Museum of Ireland, but it was not with him on stage.
Weeks of rehearsals paid off for Bonamassa as his band, with a couple of Irish musicians, were as tight as a submarine door.
The set list from Gallagher's 74 tour live dominated beginning with Cradle Rock followed by Walk on Hot Coals and Tatto'd Lady, a song which exemplifies that Gallagher was much more than just a blues guitar player. He could write exceptional songs and lyrics.
A fan favourite was the appearance of Gallagher's long-term bassist and friend Gerry McAvoy who bounded on stage with a blue bass that, like Gallagher's famous Stratocaster, was chipped and peeled and could tell many stories if it could talk.
McAvoy looked so glad to be there and many of those with fading memories of Gallagher's heady days were glad to see him.
The concerts were organised to mark 30 years since Gallagher's premature passing at the age of 47 in 1995. Had he lived, he would be 77 today, not young certainly, but Neil Young is 79 and he headlined Glastonbury.
Like all musicians who died young, there will always be thoughts of what might have been, but Gallagher gave everything to his craft on and offstage and his legacy is secure.
Bonamassa paid him due homage while also showcasing his own abilities. Truly imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.
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