Scary Pockets Transform "Back in Black" with Joanna Jones & Joe Bonamassa

When a classic like AC/DC’s “Back in Black” collides with fearless funk energy, you can expect sparks. Scary Pockets, the band known for their playful soul and groove-filled covers, decided to take this arena anthem and turn it inside-out with the help of powerhouse singer Joanna Jones and guitar legend Joe Bonamassa. Their video bursts with raw musicianship and the kind of joy you can only get from great players locking in, live and unfiltered. It’s not just another cover. It’s a reinvention, a wild, infectious party, right from a legendary Los Angeles studio, that breathes new life into a song everyone thought they knew.

Imagine the thunderous riffs of “Back in Black,” but instead of Angus Young in his schoolboy suit, you get a band in deep pocket mode, hitting every beat with heart and sweat. Scary Pockets took AC/DC’s timeless anthem and spun it into something funky, danceable, and surprising. This isn’t karaoke. It’s a fearless reimagining, with each musician stepping into the groove but never losing that rebellious AC/DC flavor.

Joanna Jones commands the mic with a vocal tone that’s equal parts honey and grit, making the song her own without losing the attitude. Joe Bonamassa’s guitar lines snake through the track, bending the familiar riff into something bluesier, almost conversational. Ryan Lerman adds another layer, weaving chords that hold everything together. The result? A live performance brimming with spirit, captured in the hallowed halls of EastWest Studios, where ghosts of classic sessions linger.

This lineup brings different genres and histories together. Joanna, known for velvet vocals spanning Broadway and jazz, shapes “Back in Black” in ways you won’t hear anywhere else. Joe’s guitar speaks rock and blues fluently. The rhythm section, with Calvin and Dan, digs in and gives the track its swagger. Jack’s keys float above, coloring the mood.

Scary Pockets has built a reputation for spinning songs on their head, always with respect for the original and a curiosity for the unknown. Listen to how they handled other funk covers for more musical surprises.

Great grooves need a great room, and EastWest Studios offers sacred ground. The same walls that heard the Beach Boys carve “Pet Sounds” now vibrate with Scary Pockets’ funk. Capturing that magic live, with no do-overs, means trusting both talent and technology.

With cameras swirling and lights glowing, the video plants you right in the room. You don’t just hear the song, you feel the sweat, see the nods and grins, sense the shared risk. Every detail, from lighting to audio mix, reflects a team locked in together, refusing to settle.

AC/DC’s “Back in Black” was built on crunch and roar, all sharp guitars and Brian Johnson’s seismic vocals. But what if you swap the punch for a rolling bounce? Here’s what stands out in this cover:

Live, this funk version wakes the song up. The applause mid-song is real, not canned. Listeners can sense the thrill of musicians pushing each other harder. The differences aren’t just stylistic. They burn new emotion into lyrics and notes etched in the brain.

If you want even more genre clashes, there are stories about unexpected cover performances that shift a song’s entire mood.

Keeping music like this alive takes more than applause. Scary Pockets and their guest artists thrive because fans step up. You can fuel more funk experiments and help independent musicians by:

Buying concert tickets: The energy in the room lifts everyone, not just the band. For tickets, visit the official Scary Pockets site.
Shopping the merch store: Pick up unique shirts, vinyl, and more from their Scary Pockets Store.
Backing the band on Patreon: Get exclusive behind-the-scenes content through their Patreon page.
Streaming on Spotify: Every listen on Spotify helps the band keep grooving.
Tipping the band: Help keep more videos coming with a gift through the Scary Pockets Tip Jar.
Joining the community: Chat, share, and feast on funk with the band and fans on Instagram, Facebook, and Discord.

Supporting musicians in these ways means more bold covers and unexpected collaborations down the road.

It’s a feast for the ears, but the eyes have plenty to take in too. Every frame is alive with character and connection.

Even a casual watcher can spot the trust and fun between these musicians. Small moments, a wink, a grin, a hush when voices drop, remind us: live music is a conversation, and this one’s worth hearing more than once.

If you like seeing music reimagined with heart, discover more viral performance stories and inspiring live sessions.