BLUES-rocker Joe Bonamassa enthralled a sell-out crowd at the Sage this week on his current European tour, writes Dave Lawrence.

Backed by his stellar band, Michael Rhodes (bass), Anton Fig (drums) and Reese Wynans (keyboards) together with a horn section and backing vocalists, the suited and shaded Bonamassa delivered a set so self-assured he began the evening with four new, unreleased songs.

‘King Bee Shakedown’, ‘Evil Mama’, ‘Just Cause You Can’ and ‘Self Inflicted Wounds’ had been previewed recently during the annual Keeping The Blues Alive at Sea cruise, but to this audience they were mint fresh and a teasing appetiser for his next release.

He may hail from the USA but Bonamassa’s love of British blues-rock is no secret and the influences of the likes of John Mayall, Free and Rory Gallagher run through both his songs and playing.

Bonamassa is an avid guitar collector and worked his way through an array of instruments in his set. ‘No Good Place for the Lonely’ and ‘How Deep This River Runs’ featured extended jams and exquisite, melodic soloing. His superb playing and the hall’s acoustics proved a perfect marriage.

Covers included Albert King’s ‘I Get Evil’ and ‘Breaking Up Somebody’s Home’ plus a brace of Led Zeppelin tunes, a joyful ‘Boogie With Stu’ and a marathon version of ‘How Many More Times’ either side of Bonamassa’s ‘Last Kiss’. The evening closed with Leon Russell’s ‘Hummingbird’.

It may only be March, but Bonamassa has already set the bar high for best show of the year.