A young Louisiana blues guitarist with a string of awards and a big reputation. Who also turned out to be a lot of fun.
But first the band. Drums, bass, keyboards, sax and trumpet. On they came, announcing they were going to warm us up. Two foot tapping instrumentals, nothing flashy, but jazzy and mellow, and a chance to show off some of the musicianship to come. The trumpet solo especially.
Out comes D K, a big presence in all senses. The vocals are strong, the playing excellent. He doesn't say much. To begin with. But once that man is warmed up... Funny, and able to improvise in response to his audience. Stories behind the songs, stories behind his career.
For all that the guitarist's virtuosity and vocals are the focal point of the show, this is a real band performance, both in terms of the integrated sound, the interactions with D K, and the solos they bring. Trumpet, sax and keys all had moments to shine, the bass solo was decent, and drummer excellent. D K's playing is smart, a man who isn't afraid of the simple approach at times, with no need to always be showing off. Sometimes basic is best. There's also a playful quality, almost whimsical at times. The guitar suddenly playing a few bars of Jingle Bells, the trumpet giving is Happy Birthday. There's a slo a passion, and not just in the music itself. A short speech on women's rights was an unexpected bonus, and the piss-take impression of the Mandarin Moron gave us a good laugh.
Great music. But that fun factor really makes it an occasion.
