Anyone else sick of Joe Bonamassa and BCC

[monquixote]

Half of the members of this forum are gauging the response of the audience at small gigs (aka Pubs) to determine what and how they play.
It is difficult for me to determine from your comments which group you have the greater disdain for - the musicians or the punters.(This comment does not need a Smilie for emphasis or clarification)

I don't think it's true to say the average punter does like the Bonamassa epic solo in every song approach. One of the bands local to me features a guitarist with a ludicrous amount of technique, but he insists on playing a huge solo in every song he does. The few times I've seen his band the crowd have switched off after two or three numbers. Despite being probably the most musically able band in the county they scrabble around playing shitty little half empty dive venues.

Most pub punters would rather see a reasonably competent band playing You Really Got Me and Sex on Fire than either of the bands you mention.

[Skipped]

I don't think it's true to say the average punter does like the Bonamassa epic solo in every song approach. One of the bands local to me features a guitarist with a ludicrous amount of technique, but he insists on playing a huge solo in every song he does. The few times I've seen his band the crowd have switched off after two or three numbers. Despite being probably the most musically able band in the county they scrabble around playing shitty little half empty dive venues.

Most pub punters would rather see a reasonably competent band playing You Really Got Me and Sex on Fire than either of the bands you mention.

Fair enough.
If the talented guitarist you mention is somehow able to adapt to the subtle or unsubtle vibe from the crowd (perhaps this pub attracts a punter more discerning than those allegedly watching some of out forum members...) maybe he could be the next Bonamassa!
Gilmour was just one example that sprung to mind. Bonamassa uses "white man's blues " to press all the right buttons in a way that is not particularly subtle. That can be done at any gig level and every competent guitarist reading this is aware of that. Many people here will feel that 50 years of recycling this musical form is enough but he is proving there is plenty of life there yet. He can sell out venues much bigger than the Albert Hall. The attraction is not his personality - he barely has one. It is not his voice which is extremely average. It is not the songs which are ordinary.
It is his Guitar Playing + Marketing. That's it.

[DamianP]

I`ve never become "sick of" any artist.

I listen to them just as much as I want to. Some people I listen to often, some rarely, some never.

It`s a simple system that works.

[Skipped]

Damian - Your instruments look wonderful!
You have got me wondering now if you are building guitars at 2am.

[aknow11]

He'd benefit from a front rpw seat at a Brad Paisley concert, and an intimate relationship with a good songwriter.

[DamianP]

Damian - Your instruments look wonderful!
You have got me wondering now if you are building guitars at 2am.

Thank you. Not building guitars but trying to build a new website. Guitar building starts now

[Sorbz62]

Actually while I agree with the comments from others about it always being about the big solo, with no subtlety I don't think that's really the problem I have with JB. After all I love Gary Moore.

No, I think my main problem is shit songs, crap production (it's JB's fault for keeping on hiring Kevin Shirley), BUT most importantly JB's awful bland singing.

He's got the power and passion (ie bugger all) of a Christian rock star. Seriously, if you've ever heard any Christian rock, he has got the lame voice for it.. .

..and he sounds like Kermit the Frog when he speaks. (seriously puts me off him!)

[flanging_fred]

I don't mind a bit of JB but I've got to say I prefer our own Aynsley Lister for that rock/blues/pop type stuff. I saw both in concert within a couple of months of each other and JB was pretty smooth but Lister just rocked it much harder IMO. That man knows what a Marshall JMP is for

[monquixote]

Fair enough.
If the talented guitarist you mention is somehow able to adapt to the subtle or unsubtle vibe from the crowd (perhaps this pub attracts a punter more discerning than those allegedly watching some of out forum members...) maybe he could be the next Bonamassa!
Gilmour was just one example that sprung to mind. Bonamassa uses "white man's blues " to press all the right buttons in a way that is not particularly subtle. That can be done at any gig level and every competent guitarist reading this is aware of that. Many people here will feel that 50 years of recycling this musical form is enough but he is proving there is plenty of life there yet. He can sell out venues much bigger than the Albert Hall. The attraction is not his personality - he barely has one. It is not his voice which is extremely average. It is not the songs which are ordinary.
It is his Guitar Playing + Marketing. That's it.

Would be interesting to know what percentage of punters at a JB gig were guitarists.
I know a few non musicians who have Vai and Satch albums, but I imagine 95% of their crowd at a gig are guitarists taking notes.
I wonder if the same is true of JB?

[DWinstone]

I dont mind Bonamassa, though his recent output has left me disappointed. I've seen him 3 times, the first in a small club playing to about 500 people. This remains the best gig. The other 2 were at the Colston Hall, which were fine performances. I certainly wont be paying the money he's currently asking these days, I just dont think he's worth the expense.
He's a good guitarist but not a great one. His influences are clear to see if you know what you're looking for. He doesn't have a clear style of his own. In terms of white mans blue I much prefer the likes of Michael Landau, Robben Ford or Matt Schofield. They're just much more interesting from a guitar and musical point of view than Bonamassa. That said I certainly don't begrudge him the sucess he has enjoyed. Best of luck to him.