Joe Bonamassa knows how to rock. His form of rock is pure and genuine, without all the hybrid descriptions like alternative-rock or punk-rock. No way. This guy creates unadulterated rock and roll – the music our fathers were raised on.

I walked into the colossal Spreckels and found it to be packed. There are four levels of seating, plus opera-seating for smaller, private groups on the side, all of which were filled with 30, 40, 50-somethings. Bonamassa has been around for a decade, but he seemingly hadn’t picked up a younger fan base along the way. That is – until I witnessed one of his shows.

In a black suit, with slicked back hair and dark sunglasses, Bonamassa came on stage looking like he just left the Matrix. He started warming up the crowd by using a slider to produce low, rumbling sounds. Afterward he switched from the slow, smoothing intro to a fast-paced, all-American rock ballad. The speed of the rhythm allowed Bonamassa to exhibit his ingenious playing. His fingers stripe the guitar with incredible speed and agility. He would make the instrument scream and throb, plucking and licking it with such complexity – it froze the crowd. Instead of bobbing their heads or clapping, the crowd instead was straining their eyes trying to follow his vibrating fingers and keep up with his chords. Bonamassa is a guitar mastermind – he’s amazing! And his talent just gets more pronounced throughout the show. At points he plays Americana classics, others he morphs his chords into eerie whispers, producing mesmerizing, meditative sounds. Bonamassa is the cowboy version of Sting, a young Santanna. With the bassist, pianist, and drummer backing up his electric lead, his show provided a range of sounds. The pianist would be pounding the keys with one hand, playing the tambourine with the other, all the way backing up Bonamassas’ vocals.

It was great show. Bonamassa plays the guitar like a man’s man, he brings you back to the beginnings of classic rock, and plays to your heart’s every emotion. Bonamassa is a great musician, but live – he’s even better. I highly recommend a night with Joe Bonamassa.