Tony Joe White

Phenomenal show from a singer-songwriter bluesman who's only, oh I don't know, in his MID-SEVENTIES!!! As I watched Tony Joe White slowly drag himself to the well-lit chair set center stage, I thought, "This could go poorly." Total con. The man sat down, put on his guitar and harmonica, and began to play a fine sounding but low-key country blues number. About three minutes into this he stops, puts on his solid black shades, and says, "Let's funk it up y'all." And that's exactly what he did. The lights went dark and a keyboardist and drummer enter stage. I'd heard As A Crow Flies before but this version was extended, slowed down, sexed up, and mind-blowing. His uber deep vocals (think Nick Cave or any other bass vocalist for that matter) suit this style of psyched-up swamp blues perfectly.