Joe Bonamassa Blazes Through an Acoustic "Woke Up Dreaming"

Sure, Joe Bonamassa is an ace electric blues player. Every little schoolboy knows that.

It starts off with blinding Spanish-accented runs that show off Bonamassa's acoustic dexterity; soon, he works in a quick taste of Cream's version of Skip James' "I'm So Glad," which, at 4:04, suddenly morphs into a lengthy showcase for his blazing, Clarence White-style bluegrass picking. It's easy to see why this tune, which originally appeared on Bonamassa's 2003 Blues Deluxe album, has become a highlight of his live shows.

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Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.

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