When putting together a list of the greatest blues guitarists of all time, one name that shows up is, Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Although some may argue where he belongs, I’m guessing the crowd that gathered in Lockport, NY to watch his performance, would put him right near the top.
It seems odd that KWS is only 34, when it feels like he’s been dazzling audiences for so long. Watching him play is always entertaining, and awe inspiring. To say that he has raw, natural talent, is an understatement. Knowing that he is self taught, and never learned to read music, validates the point.
Joined by Noah Hunt, who’s powerful voice complements Shepherd’s hard-driving, finger blurring guitar playing, the duo wasted no time leading the band, and powering into “Never Lookin’ Back,” a track from his lastest release “How I Go.”
Shepherd played through his lengthy set, where at one point I heard his tour manager say, “Once he gets going, we have to drag him off the stage,” he touched on a bunch of his hits, including his first hit single “Deja Voodoo.” Even though that was 16 years ago, the song felt and sounded as fresh and alive as of any others he played. When finishing up with, “While We Cry,” he waved to his fans, and exited the stage.
When KWS returned for his encore, the crowd roared. Knowing that he hadn’t played one his most popular covers, I anxiously anticipated him closing his show with it. When he struck the first few notes of Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child,” the already frantic crowd, went into hysteria. Shepherd paused, and looked at the crowd, smiling he continued. Watching KWS play the Hendrix classic, is nothing short of spectacular. He even ups the ante, and plays a portion of the song with his guitar behind his head.
Judging by what I heard of the new tracks from “How I Go,” KWS seems to be leaning towards the “rock” end of the “rock/ blues” genre of music. The blues are still there, they’re just driven a little harder. One thing is certain, he’s still at the top of the heap. And from what I could tell, he’s at the top of his game.
Setlist:
Never Lookin’ Back
Somehow
Butterfly
Come on Over
Yer Blues (The Beatles cover)
Show Me The Way Back Home
Deja Voodoo
Born With A Broken Heart
Shame, Shame, Shame
Dark Side Of Love
King’s Highway
True Lies
Shotgun Blues
While We Cry
Encore:
Blue On Black
I’m A King Bee (Slim Harpo cover)
Oh Well (Fleetwood Mac cover) Voodoo Child (Jimi Hendrix cover)
We would like to thank LaBatt Concert Series Organizer Kathy Paradowksi for credentials to cover the 2012 season.
