The Pickup Radio

Inspired by a trip to San Francisco, Joe and Matt sit down to talk about the best psychedelic blues from the 60s and beyond. The music got trippy in those days – adding new sounds, new lyrics and new forms to stretch the meaning of the blues. Some of that exploration was inspired by drugs – Mike Bloomfield wrote “East West” after an acid trip – and Joe reveals the extent of his own experimentation.

What are the greatest live albums? The records that capture a road-tested band and recreate the experience of seeing them live – warts and all. Recently Rolling Stone magazine put together a list of its Top 50 live albums and it got Joe and Matt thinking about the albums on the list and debating some of the best live recordings of all time.

Joe Bonamassa’s new project is a tour celebrating the Three Kings of the Blues: B.B. King, Albert King and Freddie King. On this episode of the Pickup, Joe tells Matt why he wanted to put this tour together, previews some of the rare tracks that he’s pulled out of the Kings’ catalogs and explains why singing those songs may be an even bigger challenge than the guitar parts!

It’s hard to believe but Eric Clapton just turned 70! To celebrate this milestone birthday, Joe and Matt look back on Clapton’s guitar milestones. In this episode, Joe picks out five of Clapton’s greatest solos and explains how he was able to reinvent his style in almost every decade.

Before heading back into the studio this week, Joe and Matt asked their Facebook fans whether they had any questions or topics for the Pickup podcast. One question that came up a lot: could Joe comment on any guitars other than Gibsons and Fenders? After verifying that such guitars did, in fact, exist, Joe and Matt listened back to five other brands and debated the merits of each one, from the Mosrite to the Music Man and beyond.

B.B. King has been in and out of the hospital recently and the boys of the Pickup want to send him a heartfelt get well. So on this episode, Joe and Matt celebrate B.B.’s life and music with tracks from each decade of his recording career. You’ll hear how his style evolved, about the ups and downs of his life on the road and the ways his talent has always allowed him to remain the undisputed King of the Blues.

There’s lots of down time for a touring musician, but for Joe Bonamassa that’s when the adventures begin! On days off between gigs, Joe goes on “guitar safari” searching vintage stores, pawn shops and even going into private homes. His prize? Rare instruments and gear, and each with a great story. On this episode of the Pickup, Joe shares five of his greatest guitar safari finds.

You probably know Joe Bonamassa as a solo act, but he has done enough guest appearances to stuff a 2-CD set. Today Matt and Joe talk about his life as a sideman making cameos on other artists’ albums. You’ll hear which recent session was the most fun, learn how technology has changed guest appearances and an invitation to record that made Joe feel honored. Joe says sometimes he prefers being a sideman and after you hear these five tracks, you’ll know why!

Duane Allman was a shooting star. His recording career lasted only seven years, but that short burst of energy illuminated a whole new world. The raw energy, improvisatory derring-do and melodic brilliance have made Duane Allman’s sound a favorite among guitar fans and a staple of rock radio for decades. On today’s episode of the Pickup, Joe reveals his top five Duane Allman tracks and one of them is also Eric Clapton’s all-time favorite guitar solo!

The blues have traveled just about everywhere in the world – something that JoeBonamassa and his carry-on bag know first hand. On today’s episode of the Pickup, Joe and Matt consider some of the more unusual and far-flung places the blues have gone. You’ll hear music from halls built for operas and orchestras, tracks recorded in clubs that only exist in the imagination, concerts performed in prisons and even a blues-rooted track that made its way into outer space!

Usually on the Pickup, Joe and Matt focus on the links between the blues and rock as mapped out by the giants of the guitar. But seeing as Joe was just in the studio with a funk band called Rock Candy Funk Party, it seemed like high time to recognize this other member of the musical family. Funk music has been part of the blues scene since waaaaaay back and on this episode Joe highlights some of his favorite funk blues tracks.

The Thanksgiving story tells us that great things happen when unlikely allies come together in the spirit of sharing. That’s the inspiration for this week’s episode of The Pickup, when Matt and Joe talk about the studio magic that happens with some outstanding guest guitarists. May your Thanksgiving guests this year be as memorable!HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

There are lots of concert videos out there, but not as many films where blues takes a leading role. For this week’s edition of the Pickup, Joe and Matt put their heads together to come up with their top five blues films – where the music is a major part of the plot.

The recent passing of bassist Jack Bruce was a real loss for those of us who love blues and rock. Bruce was best known for his work in the power trio Cream. The band was only together for a short time, but in that brief span was able to chart a new course for combining blues, rock and psychedelia into a potent and loud mix. Today on the Pickup, Joe picks his favorite five Cream tracks, recalls playing a gig with Jack Bruce and explains how the band continues to influence his career as a musician.

One of Joe Bonamassa’s favorite musicians isn’t a guitarist at all, but a singer: Paul Rodgers. Paul Rodgers is most famous for the classic-rock radio staple “All Right Now” with Free and a slew of major hits with Bad Company.  Joe first got truly acquainted with his music when he auditioned for UFO and was asked to learn some old Free tunes off a cassette.  Since then, he’s been a huge fan of Rodgers as a singer, a songwriter and even tambourine player.  Today on the Pickup, Joe talks about Paul Rodgers’s blues soul and what he’s learned from watching him in action.