Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Three Kings tour is off and running!

Well, after two months off, I'm back out with the Bonamassa crew! We had 5 days of rehearsals in Nashville and popped the top off of this Three Kings tour.

Rehearsals went pretty good, but it never quite feels like enough so we have to be on high awareness onstage the first few shows. The first show was in Camden, NJ. It was a really good show right out of the gate. But we could tell we had some things to tighten up. The crowd was very much behind us as we tried to do our best to honor these three giants of the blues.

Freddie King is, in my opinion, one of the most stylistically hard singers to cop. A great range and a very relaxed feel. He always had interesting tunes to me. Not your average blues tunes. That always attracted me to his music. And the fact that he had success with instrumental tunes was always a plus as well. Joe is singing his ass off on these tunes.

Albert's tunes are really a change-up. They are stylistically very different vocally and sung in a much lower register and understated. The tunes are brilliantly crafted and funkier than Freddie or B.B.'s tunes. They pose a completely different challenge for Joe. He of course is handling the change and navigating the tunes with ease and each show is getting better and better!

B.B.'s tunes are simple blues tunes for the most part. What set B.B. apart was his powerful voice and straight in your face blues. There is one surprise tune that, I feel, will be the highlight of the show.....I'm gonna keep that secret as to not be a spoiler for all you folks anxiously awaiting the show to come to your town.

At one point, Joe announces the band and states, "this is the best blues band in the world." And I have to agree. The band is just kickin' ass! And we're three shows in and hitting our stride. So it's gonna be a fun few weeks!!

Please come out and experience this incredible night of music if you can! Hope to see you.