Out now is Live At The Hollywood Bowl With Orchestra by Joe Bonamassa, as well as a new single from it, ‘If Heartaches Were Nickels’.
Bonamassa’s original rendition of ‘If Heartaches Were Nickels’ received critical acclaim and helped establish his reputation as a formidable talent in the blues genre. Originally written by Warren Haynes and covered by Kenny Neal, the song remains a standout track in Bonamassa’s discography, often praised for its emotional depth and technical brilliance.
This single is available digitally here and you can check out the video here at RAMzine. It follows previous single, ‘Ball Peen Hammer‘ and before that ‘The Last Matador Of Bayonne’.
Live At The Hollywood Bowl is released on 17th May through J&R Adventures, and captures the guitarist’s first performance at the iconic Stateside venue in August 2023, where he was accompanied by an impressive ensemble of 40 orchestra members.
It’s said to showcases Bonamassa’s virtuosic blend of blues and rock while elevating fan-favourite tracks with grandiose orchestral arrangements by some of Hollywood’s finest – David Campbell, Trevor Rabin, and Jeff Bova. And what evidence has been heard so far, that’s not off the mark.
“Very few gigs represent my journey in music more than the Hollywood Bowl. I moved to Los Angeles in 2003 in search of opportunity and cheaper rent than New York City. My first gig at The Mint was attended by five of my friends and that’s all. We have played The Greek Theatre many times since, but the Bowl has always been a dream. The orchestra and the sheer scale of the event and venue is something I will never forget. I am so grateful that we filmed this special event in my life,” reminisced Bonamassa.
Previous single ‘The Last Matador Of Bayonne’, proved a poignant number. Following a lengthy sensuous trumpet solo the string section of the orchestra begin to take flight, Bonamassa’s guitar caught in the slipstream. Vocally, Bonamassa offers a world weary tale, members of the orchestra accentuating most appropriately along the musical journey, as they continue to do on a most powerful guitar solo, that features a certain BB King bite to its fretwork frenzy while swearing off any showbiz razamataz.
‘The Last Matador Of Bayonne’, as with other Bonamassa singles, is available on all streaming platforms from here and you can check out the video here at RAMzine.
Available as CD/DVD, CD/Blu Ray, 2 LP vinyl (180-gramme), in and digital formats, Bonamassa has also released a riveting live rendition of Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland’s classic ‘Twenty-Four Hour Blues’, as heard on his latest studio album Blues Deluxe Volume 2, as his latest single, and you can check out the video here at RAMzine.
“With a master practitioner like Joe Bonamassa on guitar, studio ingredients become magic live,” said Kevin Shirley, the project’s producer. “Embracing the challenge of surpassing previous concerts, we aimed high for the Hollywood Bowl, incorporating orchestral maestros like David Campbell and Trevor Rabin. The result is a cinematic celebration of Joe’s music, a testament to his unparalleled standing in the blues-rock realm.”
Live At The Hollywood Bowl With Orchestra can be ordered in the UK & Europe here and in North America here.
