|
|||||
| concert reviews | cd reviews | interviews | features | ticket swap | music news |
 Bryan Lee |
 Kenny Wayne Shepherd |
 Kenny Wayne Shepherd |
|
Story and photos by Matt Schwenke Touring in support of his CD/DVD documentary release Days Out: Blues from the Backroads, Kenny Wayne Shepherd has searched out the scattered roots of blues and brought what he learned back to the stage, along with some of the lesser-known masters he called upon.While Shepherd and his band opened strongly with the muddy strut of "Somehow, Somewhere, Someway," the handful of tunes they played alone, save for "Deja Voodoo" from the 1995 release Ledbetter Heights, would quickly be overshadowed as they welcomed four guest musicians-- one at time and all together to end the set. Clips from the DVD officially opened the set and effectively segued between guests, but before welcoming the first guest, Shepherd's own rant went a bit too far in promoting his recent work. Once the extended commercial break was over, Shepherd welcomed fellow Shreveport guitarist Buddy Flett for a run of songs that ended with the acoustic "Honky Tonk," which the pair had performed at Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter's grave for the DVD. And, the show only got better from there. A touching tribute to the late Etta Baker and her Piedmont blues style led to welcoming Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, who played in Muddy Waters' band and brought his Chicago blues stylings behind harmonica to the mix. Energizing the crowd, the 71-year-old Smith got the crowd fired up by trading licks with Shepherd in the double-time, toe-tapping "Got My Mojo Workin'." With a New Orleans howl a la Dr. John, guitarist Bryan Lee was the next musician to take the stage. Lee, who was born in Two Rivers, Wis., received much applause for his roots alone and then for his fiery singing and playing. As Lee had invited Shepherd to the stage when he was only 13, Lee's guest appearance in Shepherd's show proves how far the guitar prodigy has come, and Lee's intensity on the classic "The Things That I Used To Do" and "Tina Marie" set the stage for Shepherd to show off his chops, of which he has plenty and was rather selective in using throughout the night. The final guest to take the stage was guitarist Hubert Sumlin, who played with the great Howlin Wolf. His trademark grin while playing was amplified into an outright smile during the back and forth of "Sittin' on Top of the World," and after all the musicians came back to the stage, the 75-year-old Sumlin was as animated as the 29-year-old Shepherd. With the talented cast producing compelling blues, any encore without the guests seemed difficult to pull off, but Shepherd and his band didn't disappoint with a rollicking version of "Voodoo Child." |
 Hubert Sumlin |
 Buddy Flett |
 Kenny Wayne Shepherd |
 Kenny Wayne Shepherd |
 Willie "Big Eyes" Smith |
