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ALBUM REVIEW IRISH

Royal Tea: EXAMINER

Joe Bonamassa |

October
By Jonathan Bowen Royal Tea is the perfect mix ately needs now. Fender and 28th,
ew York’s favorite guitar of Blues, Rock and American Gibson have announced record
god has finally hit the Folk Music. The surprise song sales of their guitars this year 2020
NJackpot. Joe Bonamassa from the album is the last track and with the sad news that
hasalwaysbeenanedgyblues gui- called Savannah. I know this Guitar Center’s maybe be clos-
tarist and has been building a rep- sounds odd but when listening ing across America soon we
utation fornotonlyhis extraordi- to the album, I recommend you need an artist to revitalize Rock
nary guitar playing talents but also start by listening to this track and Blues and with this album I
for his collection of rare vintage first. I love the mix of both think Joe just might have
guitarsandamplifiers.Hehaspro- blues and American folk music achieved this.
duced many good albums as well fused into the track. The song’s In closing I also want to say
as playing gigs at venues such as lyrics and music really bring to the readers of this newspaper
Carnegie Hall as well as others you to Savannah, Georgia in New York I am so proud of
around the world, but he has been whereas you can really imagine the way you continue to deal
missing a piece of the puzzle that seeing the swamp grass and with the Covid-19 crisis. You
takes him from an edgy blues gui- reeds down in Savannah marsh are an inspiration to the rest of
tarist tobonafidecommercial suc- lands. us around the world. You are
cess. Well, I think he may have The two hit songs off the proving to the world that even
finally found the right recipe with album are Royal Tea and A during these tough times how
this album to make that step to Conversation with Alice. It was much good there is still in the
worldwidesuccess. claimed that Royal Tea was world. Keep up the 7pm sup-
I got to know of Joe’s music written about the breakdown in port of your local medical
when he played a famous gig at the relationship between Prince workers, just remember there
the Royal Albert Hall in Harry and Prince William. The are so many Irish doctors and
London back in 2011. That song title is a master stroke in nurse working in hospitals and
night the most famous guitar in work play Royal Tea equals communities within New York.
Irish history made a very rare Royalty. The song highlights I also wanted to remind you
appearance. Joe was given per- the divisions in the old English that if you need help or are feel-
mission to play Rory class system. A conversation ing isolated and cut off from the
Gallagher’s famous No. 1 with Alice is a great pop song Irish community within the
Fender Stratocaster live on with a very catchy rift. The rift New York please touch base
stage (for those who read my alone suggests the song is a hit either us at the Irish Examiner
article a couple of months ago, in the making. The drums are USA or Solas House or the New
Rory’s Fender Stratocaster was powerful and drive the heart of York Irish Centre. The trick is,
purchased from Crowley’s the song. for those that can, to support
Music Store in Cork City and The way I look at this album those that need and for those in
was previously owned by Jim is Joe is making a statement. He need don’t be proud that you
Conlan of The Royal wants to become the Guitar feel you can’t reach out for
Showband). Rory’s guitar had Hero which the world desper- help. C
not been played live until that
point since Rory’s sad passing.
Joe is a huge fan of Rory’s and
the two of them have a lot in
common when it comes to
their individual music careers.
With Joe’s new album Royal
Tea, I believe he will do some-
thing Rory struggled to do
which is achieve commercial
success. Joe has teamed with
some of the best songwriters
and lyricists such as Bernie
Marsden (Whitesnake), Pete
Brown (Cream lyricists) Dave
Stewart (Eurythmics) to write
and produce some of his best
music to date. The album was
recorded in the world-famous
Abbey Road Studios and repre-
sents a tribute to the British
blues music scene of the 1960s
and 70s.