Joe Bonamassa
The Paramount Theater, Cedar Rapids, Iowa • November 12, 2023
by Jeremy Glazier
It’s not often that blues and rock royalty rolls through Iowa, but when it happens, there is no better host than than the equally royal and regal Paramount Theatre. And when that guitar playing royalty is the multi dimensional Joe Bonamassa, you do not want to miss a minute of the show. From the “curtain drop” to the last notes, Joe and the band give everything they have to serve these songs and honor the history and legacy they are not only a part of but also helped create.
In a manner mirroring Joe’s meticulous crafting of his stage presence, from his attire to the instruments he chooses, his set list follows suit. He kicks the doors open with three tracks from the new album Blues Deluxe Vol. 2. Performing half of the new album throughout the evening, the opening numbers include “Hope You Realize It,” “24 Hour Blues,” and “Well I Done Got Over.” Later in the setlist, he also pulls out “Is It Safe To Go Home” and “Lazy Poker Blues.”
Eastern Iowa has consistently proven itself as a dedicated blues audience, with the crowd’s volume nearly rivaling that of the music emanating from the stage. Undeterred, Joe continues with “Self-Inflicted Wounds,” “Shout About It,” and “Last Matador of Bayonne.” Following “Breaking Up Someone’s Home,” the tune brought to life by Albert King, Joe pauses to spotlight the exceptional band that help tell his story each and every night. On drums is Lemar Carter, Calvin Turner on bass, Josh Smith on guitar, the legendary and ever-tasteful Reese Wynans on keys, and Jade McCray and Danielle De Andrea complete the ensemble with their backup vocals.
Rolling back into the setlist, Joe and company perform “Heart That Never Waits” from his 2021 album Time Clocks and a tune that Joe has truly made his own, the 1972 Billy Gibbons and Bill Ham classic “Just Got Paid,” before the lights dim. The encore is what I consider Joe’s masterpiece, “Mountain Time,” from his 2002 album So It’s Like That, which debuted at number two on the US Billboard Top Blues Album and remains a fan favorite.
Catch Joe on tour, and swing by his website to get the latest music news and grab the new album Blues Deluxe Vol. 2. ◼
