Bonamassa Brings 3 Kings Tour to Bangor
Grammy-nominated, blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa has been quoted before as saying, "I give 100% of whatever I have to give on that day." On Wednesday evening, August 12, 2015, Bonamassa was invested 110%, from the very moment he stepped onto the stage at the Darling's Waterfront Pavilion, Bangor, Maine.
For over two hours, Bonamassa and the hand-picked, 10-piece ensemble of world-class musicians and singers (aka *Three Kings Blues Band) paid homage to their blues heroes: Freddie, B.B., and Albert King. The 3 Kings Tour 2015 tribute show is more than just playing well select covers from three of America's beloved musicians: The high-energy, power-walk down memory lane is about keeping the blues alive.
The 3 Kings Tour 2015 is a limited summer production with stops at 15 amphitheaters across the USA, a first for Bonamassa who customarily plays to crowds of 3000 - 5000 people.
Similarly to the 2014 tribute concert to the music of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf (Muddy Wolf at Red Rocks), a portion of ticket proceeds will be donated to Bonamassa's non-profit organization, Keeping the Blues Alive. The foundation is committed to funding youth music programs that would otherwise suffer without assistance. KTBA is "passing the torch to the next generation of music listeners and putting music back in the classroom."
Download a free song from Joe Bonamassa – Muddy Wolf at Red Rocks here: http://jbonamassa.com/albums/2015/red-rocks/red-rocks-free-song.php
Show Highlights: I've never witnessed Bonamassa more alive and in the moment. His attack of the six-strings is ferocious; bending and sustaining every note to perfection. Each extended soloing drew more cheers, whistles and the crowd to their feet. What's more, Bonamassa's vocal ability has developed over the last five years. It is sounding more and more soulful and complimentary of the blues. Adding three backup singers to the arrangements carried extra punch, too.
Bonamassa's renditions of Freddie King's "Going Down" and "You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling", Albert King's "Angel of Mercy" and "Born Under a Bad Sign" and B.B. King's "Hummingbird" and "Only My Mother Loves Me" were over-the-top and off-the-chart good! Click on playlist to watch the full-length performance from August 8, 2015, at PNC Banks Art Center, Holmdel, NJ. (Many, many thanks to Natasha (Youtube Channel: 1AnitrasDance) for filming these high-grade videos for the world to see.)
The 3 Kings Tour 2015 continues through August 29th. Tickets are available but limited. Below is a complete listing of tour dates and venues. For complete details please visit Joe Bonamassa's official website.
The closing performance at The Greek Theatre will be filmed for DVD. Release date is unknown as of this write up.
- Fri Aug 07 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center
- Sat Aug 08 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
- Mon Aug 10 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center
- Tues Aug 11 Hyannis, MA, Cape Cod Melody Tent
- Wed Aug 12 Bangor, ME Darlings Waterfront Park
- Fri Aug 14 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
- Sat Aug 15 Dayton, OH Fraze Pavilion
- Mon Aug 17 Denver, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
- Thu Aug 20 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatr
- Sat Aug 22 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatr
- Mon Aug 24 Paso Robles, CA Vina Robles Amphitheatre
- Tue Aug 25 Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara Bowl
- Wed Aug 26 San Diego, CA Humphreys by the Bay
- Fri Aug 28 San Diego, CA Humphreys by the Bay
- Sat Aug 29 Los Angeles, CA The Greek Theatre
Whether you're fortunate enough to attend one of the remaining shows or choose to wait for the DVD, I suggest you GRAB YOUR BLUES HELMET AND BUCKLE UP. The 3 Kings Tour 2015 is one fast ride to all things BLUES!
Yours in music,
DebFromMaine Hebert
Video playlist courtesy of Natasha (YouTube: 1AnitrasDance). *Three Kings Blues Band: Anton Fig (drums), Michael Rhodes (bass), Reese Wynans (piano, Hammond organ), Lee Thornburg (trumpet, horn arrangements), Paulie Cerra (saxophone), and Nick Lane (trombone). *Source courtesy of www.jbonamassa.com. Photo courtesy of Deb & Lee Hebert. All rights reserved 2015.