JOE BONAMASSA / JJ GREY & MOFRO – THE AMP
By Ralph Beauchamp
Joe Bonamassa brings his hi-energy tour to the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Bridgeport with JJ Grey & Mofro for direct support.
It was a cloudy evening when my photographer, Jason Dube’ and I hit The Amp to catch Joe Bonamassa and JJ Grey & Mofro. You could feel the excitement in the air as the venue began to fill up. Bonamassa has a avid fan base and the crowd was ready for a glorious night of blues and rock.
JJ Grey & Mofro was up first and truly set the pace for the evening’s festivities. The band delivers a wonderful blend of funk, Southern rock and soul. They opened with “Higher You Climb” and the swampy groove set the tone for the band’s entire eleven song set. “War”, “Top of the World” and “Olustee” came next. By now the audience was feeling their divine ambiance. JJ Grey & Mofro had them standing and swaying to their sublime rhythms.
“Lochloosa” followed and the house just melted to the smooth vibrations. JJ Grey & Mofro closed out with a flourish. The funky “Rooster” led into “Slow, Hot & Sweaty” and “On Fire”. The ensemble ended with a soulful rendition of “The Sun Is Shining Down”.
JJ Grey & Mofro is comprised of JJ Grey {Guitar/Vocals), Eric Brigmond (Guitar), Marcus Parsley (Trumpet), Dennis Marion (Horns), Craig Barnette (Drums), Pete Winders (Keys) Todd Smallie (Bass) and Katie Duston (Backing Vocals}. These musicians were outstanding. Every note meshed and the band was tight as hell. JJ Grey & Mofro was the perfect opener for Joe Bonamassa.
As soon as Bonamassa hit the stage, the venue went electric. There isn’t much to say about Joe Bonamassa outside of the fact that he is one of the greatest blues guitarists around. His tone and style is unmatched. His music just fills his listeners with pure excitement and heavenly intonations.
The eleven song set began with “Breakthrough”, the title track from his 2025 album Breakthrough. Bonamassa‘s guitar filled the house with illustrious inflections. The audience stood immediately and never sat again. Joe‘s band showcased their incredible chops. “Trigger Finger”, another from Breakthrough, had everyone swaying and feeling the rousing groove. The Bobby Blue Bland cover, “Twenty-Four Hours Blues” continued the aural fete.
After Bonamassa played Eric Clapton’s “Mainline Florida” and “I Fall Apart” by Rory Gallagher, the crowd was ready for more fireworks and Bonamassa definitely obliged. “Drive by the Exit Sign”, “Happier Times” and “Last Kiss” blew The Amp away. The band closed out strong. Delaney & Bonnie’s “Well, Well” flowed into “Stratus” by Billy Cobham and the crowd felt satisfied. The last song of the night, “Mountain Time”, filled the open air venue with atmospheric ecstasy.
Joe Bonamassa‘s band was simply exceptional. Each musician is a true master. The group is made up of Josh Smith (Second Guitar), Calvin Turner (Bass), Lemar Carter (Drums), Jade MacRae and Danielle DeAndrea (Backing Vocals}. Long time keyboardist, Reese Wynans who decided not to participate in the current tour was replaced by Lachy Doley who killed it.
Both JJ Grey & Mofro and Joe Bonamassa gave The AMP an evening of pure musical bliss. Everyone left with pleasant smiles and a fistful of memories.
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