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Joe Bonamassa

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Critic's Pick

There’s something reassuring about the mild success of still-young wunderkind Joe Bonamassa. The notion that the dorky earnestness of Clapton followers has not totally fallen on deaf ears in this age of Black Keys, Buffalo Killers and White Stripes – groups that have refashioned Delta voodoo into modern verisimilitude – lets us know that the blues are still universal and free enough to make room for yacht-rockers. Bonamassa is a marvel mimic on guitar; less so with his pseudo-gravelly voice and snoozy songwriting, but that’s OK. (Anyone who claims you have to play the notes and know why they need to be played, as George Carlin once advised, was clearly not paying attention to the blues in the ’80s.) Bonamassa’s chops have scored him stage shares with Clapton himself, Buddy Guy and many others, and his straight-laced style is effective enough. If it’s edginess you seek, keep looking, but there’s something to be said for good boys. (8 p.m. at Plaza Theatre; $36-$45; 407-228-1220; www.theplazatheatre.com) (Staff)