Young bands change face of blues music
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Chris Pickard/Chief Photographer GOT THE BLUES: Noah Hunt, lead vocalist for the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, sings the blues Wednesday night in Loeb Playhouse. |
If Wednesday night's concert was any indication of the face of blues music, one thing's for sure - there are fewer wrinkles.
The headliner, the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, highlights the guitar genius of a 23-year-old, and the opening act, The Clayton Miller Band, has three members under 20 years old.
Shepherd, who only sings background vocals, was the focal point of the stage, even though he shared the spotlight with lead vocalist Noah Hunt. Hunt sounded like an old blues singer who lived a life that earned him the right to sing the blues.
The crowd reflected the generation gap from the older blues guitarists to the younger musicians. They played their air guitars and stood for nearly every song, singing along.
Although Shepherd was the highlight of the evening, playing his Grammy-nominated songs, a close second was L.D., the littlest member of The Clayton Miller Band.
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Chris Pickard/Chief Photographer ALL IN THE FAMILY: L.D. Miller from The Clayton Miller Band, pictured center, plays harmonica while his dad and brothers accompany him Wednesday night. The Clayton Miller Band was the opening act for the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band at Loeb Playhouse. |
The crowd loved L.D. When he came onto the stage wearing a kid-sized black cowboy hat, they cheered. And when he started to play the harmonica like some of the finest musicians around, they were in awe.
Don Seybold from Purdue Convocations introduced the Battle Ground, Ind., family band, The Clayton Miller Band, saying, "It ain't the Osmonds, baby."
Clayton Miller, lead guitar, and Cole Miller, drums, took turns on lead vocals. They sounded like they had matured as singers and as a band together since their days of playing gigs in front of whoever happened to be there.
Shepherd's music was authentic; he followed his guitar's lead, and seemed almost surprised by whatever sound came out. It was like he was just holding the guitar as the music went through his veins to his fingers, onto the strings.
Hunt even said to Shepherd at one point, "Hey Kenny, make (the guitar) talk one time."
One of the band's most popular songs, "Blue on Black," was dedicated to the bass player from the band Government Mule who died recently. The crowd sang along as Shepherd and Hunt sang an emotional tribute.
During the encore, Hunt removed Shepherd's hat and the two head-banged metal style.
