Kenny Wayne Shepherd

The Capitol Theatre

Port Chester, New York

September 22, 2012

By Robert Putignano

Noah Hunt and Kenny Wayne Shepherd

After you read Bob Putignano’s review of this recent Kenny Wayne Shepherd show, head over to this week’s Photo Page to check out some of Bob’s photographs from the show, plus some shots from Trois-Rivieres en Blue.

Before I write about the Kenny Wayne Shepherd show, I just wanted to take a brief moment to report that the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York, has reopened. It is gloriously restored and it’s a magnificent venue that also offers great sound. Designed by architect Thomas Lamb, this splendid venue opened over eighty years ago in 1926 as a playhouse with great decorative beauty and luxurious comfort.  I’d been there in the early 1970s as they were a reliable alternative for Bill Graham’s legendary Fillmore East as they often booked similar artists passing through the New York area. They briefly reopened their doors in the mid eighties (saw Pat Metheny) and again in the 1990s. By ’97 the venue was transformed into a catering hall. Oh my God! So it’s nice to see this historic site back in business and supporting classic rock and blues just like they did back in the seventies. My only disappointment was that they ripped out the original seats (not sure when that happened) and installed makeshift seating that was uncomfortable. But, long story short: it’s cool to have them back and in the capable hands of The Bowery Presents.

On this particular night there was a double bill presented, fortunately Kenny Wayne Shepherd was co-billed Robert Cray (a brief note about Cray’s performance later). They have been touring together and taking turns playing first and second (thus the “co-billed”). They will be doing some West Coast shows together in November.

The current KWS band includes bassist Tony Franklin, who has appeared on over one hundred and fifty albums, mostly from the rock world. On B3 and pianos is veteran Riley Osbourn, who has appeared on over one hundred recordings. most notably with Lyle Lovett and Willie Nelson. Chris Layton needs no introductions having toured and recorded with Stevie Ray Vaughan and has been a regular touring drummer with KWS since 2006. Noah Hunt has been with Shepherd for nearly fifteen years and is not only an integral piece of the KWS band, but he’s also one of today’s most invigorating vocalist and performer, he’s also a theatrical wild man on stage. Kenny Wayne also needs no preamble and is considered by many to be one of the best younger blues-rock guitarists, though blues fans don’t often give him the blues credit he deserves. That being said about Shepherd, I am happy to report (I’ve seen this band three times in the last three years) that Kenny showed more restraint and offered more space with his guitar playing, and also offered more creativeness with his solos.

Shepherd is still touring on his last release, How I Go, on Roadrunner, from 2011. We checked with Mr. Shepherd’s team and he is hard at work on a new record that we should all see next year.

The band came out ripping, tearing through some of their road-tested classics like “Deja Voodoo,” “Blue On Black,” “Kings Highway,” “Somehow, Somewhere, Some Way,” “Everything is Broken,” and others. Their hair-standing encore lasted nearly thirty minutes as they bombed away with “I’m a King Bee,” Fleetwood Mac’s intense “Oh Well,” and, as expected, Hendrix’ “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” It was a killer set. What’s also enjoyable about this band is how Shepherd and Hunt keep things flowing with excitement by constantly marching around the stage and often joining together for some rather entertaining segments. Shepherd is just thirty-four and Hunt is just thirty-two, but many a blues band could learn a few tricks about how to make their sets more enthralling with similar set-enhancing antics. Bottom line: I loved their set and would definitely see them the next time they came through town.

As for Robert Cray’s set, the only thing I am happy to report is that he came on after KWS, so after just four or five songs I was out the door. Cray’s set was a boring snore. For me it’s been like this with Mr. Cray for several decades now, and I also have similar feelings about his studio work, including his most recent Nothin’ But Love. Sorry.

After you read Bob Putignano’s review of this recent Kenny Wayne Shepherd show, head over to this week’s Photo Page to check out some of Bob’s photographs from the show, plus some shots from Trois-Rivieres en Blue.

Bob Putignano is a senior contributing editor at BluesWax, a contributing writer at Blues Revue, and the heart and soul of Sounds of Blue.      www.SoundsofBlue.com