Caught Live: Joe Bonamassa, Manchester Academy 1, 17 November 2008

Halfway through this set, Joe Bonamassa is teasing the crowd by playing a short burst on the guitar, waiting for a cheer, then flicking his guitar pick into the crowd. After about five of these 'play a lick, flick a pick' moments, a joker in the audience challenges Bonamassa to chuck his guitar instead of just the plectrum! Playfully, Joe flipped the bird to the audience member, but we all knew what he was thinking: 'in your hands mate, this Les Paul is just a lump of wood with wires on it' (!)

Fortunately for the rest of us, when a genius like Bonamassa has that 'lump of wood' in his hands, he is capable of producing pure magic. He has only recently returned from a bout of illness, one that forced the cancellation of the original date. He told us the story of how he felt quite bad when in Birmingham, only to be 'reassured' by a fan in a Motörhead T-shirt that it was only 'the English Flu' and nothing to worry about. When he couldn't move the next day, he soon saw that it WAS something to worry about! That was about the only time he spoke to us during the show, he and his band spent the majority of the two hours rattling through a cracking set. It was as though they thought that they had a lot to get through, so they'd better get on with it. The main man was in sparkling form with the fingers all night, and considering he was unable even to speak just a few days before, he was singing superbly too, if not quite at the level he was at Liverpool then that was understandable.

The Academy was packed out that night, this was the first time I'd been there since its extensive refurbishment was completed. The entrance has been totally rebuilt, with a brand new and much bigger bar. The venue looks a lot bigger than I remember it being previously, plus they have installed a balcony at the rear of the hall. The sound was very good, and according to the man himself, 2300 of us showed up. Although very much steeped in the blues, Bonamassa is not averse to a touch of Metal in his playing, throwing the horns frequently. He also threw in a touch of Deep Purple's 'Perfect Strangers' in 'Bridge To Better Days', as well as mixing up 'Just Got Paid' with Zeppelin's 'Dazed and Confused' just as he did at Liverpool. There was not as much acoustic as we got in July, although what was played was as dazzling as anything on the electric axe.

When I reviewed the Liverpool gig in the summer, I said he would be back playing larger venues. I still think that, but at this rate it will be arenas very soon. 2009 will be his year, let's hope that the media in his RnB-obsessed homeland don't catch on just yet to how special this guy is, because once they do he will be a superstar. A few more UK and European tours before that happens, please, Joe!

Do not miss this guy when he does come back.