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Globe-trotting blues genius Joe Bonamassa’s gifting Evansville with a show at The Victory on August 18. What’s a show like from a man whose resume already reads like someone decades older than his still-springy 32? Face melting. Jaw-dropping. Bladder busting. Superlative conjuring. Get thee to this show.

Joe took a break from being sick while on tour in Europe to give us bit of time:

So you began playing at the age of four. What sort of guitar were you using then?

A Chiquita guitar.

When did you "graduate" up to a more professional sort of setup - instrument, equipment and amplifier-wise? 

I got a Gibson when I was like 8.

What's your stage set up like? Tell about the guitars, amps, effects, etc., you use. What sort of gear do you like to use in the studio?

I use a Joe Bonamassa Gibson Les Paul, Marshall, Van Weelden, and Dumble amps. Studio same.

Joe, you're scorching up some gigs across the pond in Europe; how are audiences over there different from the US?How are they the same? 

They are about the same, we do a few more standing shows abroad. But in general audiences react very similarly. 

The blues just seem to melt out of you effortlessly; what other music do you get jazzed on?

Nothing is without effort.  I like all music. That's what makes the type of blues I play unique.

What's in the rotation as far as what you're listening to lately?

Traffic at the moment

What's the most rewarding gig you've played? Why?

Royal Albert Hall; Eric Clapton sat in on a track.

Guitar Player magazine readers picked you as 2007's best blues guitarist. What was your reaction to that?

Well I won it 2 years in a row. It’s a fan poll. Those honestly mean the most to me.

How was a fan-driven poll to you - compared to say, a critic-driven poll?

Critics get paid to make you think they are hipper than you. Down deep they are just punters like us all.

When you return to the States, what's the first thing you'll do?

Drink California red wine.

Will it cure any homesickness you might have?

Yeah it will. The wine here is just not the same.

Finally, let's start an argument for people: Who's the most important blues guitarist in history?

I’ll take not gonna answer that Alex for $1000.

Who's the most important vocalist in blues history?