Local band to open for sold-out concert
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Photo courtesy of Purdue Convocations The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band will be performing at 8:00 p.m. at Loeb Hall. All tickets to the concert have been sold. |
A 22-year-old blues musician who was called "pure talent" by B.B. King will perform to a sold-out audience tonight at Purdue.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd and the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band was nominated for a Grammy in 1999, has had three consecutive No. 1 blues albums and won two 1998 Billboard Music awards.
Laura Clavio from Purdue Convocations said she is excited to bring the band to Purdue’s Loeb Playhouse, a small venue.
But what might be even more exciting is the opening act, a local band of three brothers and a dad called The Clayton Miller Band.
"It gives us a nice, local angle," Clavio said.
Clavio said the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band asked the convocations department to find a good local band, and they found the Clayton Miller Band.
"I think I’m more excited than they are," said Tammy Miller, mother of three of the band’s members. "I just got goosebumps."
Clayton Miller of the Clayton Miller Band said he’s excited to meet Kenny and open for the show. "I was real happy because Kenny is one of my bigger influences right now," he said. "I really started liking blues when he came on the program. I’ve watched him go higher and higher."
Watching Kenny Wayne Shepherd rise to such a high level of success at such a young age has given Clayton confidence that he can achieve fame. Clayton is 18, only a few years younger than Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
Larry Miller, the father of the Miller family from Battle Ground, Ind., was excited to find out the band was going to open for the show. "We just found out a few days ago," he said. "We heard it might happen."
Larry said the band’s sound is similar to the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band’s sound. "The boys are really excited," he said. "They respect him as an artist."
Clayton says he’s not too nervous about the concert, even though it will be the biggest audience for the band. "I want to make sure I do good," he said.
The band performed at Saturday’s Riverfront Jazz and Blues Festival to a welcoming crowd.
Larry said they’re not practicing any more than usual, but they are talking more about what they’re going to do. "We’re more aware that we need to really be tight," he said.
The Clayton Miller Band - which consists of brothers Clayton, Cole and L.D. and father Larry — has been performing for about two years. They practice one or two hours a day in their house, which has been modified so there is a room with a stage.
Performing additional horns with the Clayton Miller Band will be Matt Seybold and Renaissance Luttrell.
• The concert will be at 8 tonight in Loeb Playhouse. As of Tuesday evening, there were only three tickets available.
