Booker T Jones

[bitflipper]

Yesterday was my birthday, so my oldest friend in the world treated me to dinner and a show - Booker T Jones at the Mount Baker Theater in Bellingham, WA. 

As we're all aware, you never know what you're going to get with nostalgia acts. I am actually a little fearful of going to see the heroes of my youth, lest they disappoint me. I'd rather remember them as they were at their peak than as somebody just continuing to do it because they've got bills to pay and can't do anything else.

So I didn't know what to expect going in. How do you stretch Green Onions into a 2-hour show?  I was afraid it might just be another legacy act getting a patter of applause from polite boomers. Of all the scenarios I anticipated, what I did not expect was a frickin' transcendent experience.

My first clue that the show wouldn't be anything I'd expected was the intro to the first song, before Booker came on stage. The band was frickin' amazing - just bass, drums and guitar, no backing singers, no horn section, and most notably, no damn backing tracks. And the guitarist was truly phenomenal. Not just technically - he did have some impressive chops - but he had dynamics and soulful inflection to rival David Gilmour. The whole band had lift-you-outa-your-seat dynamics, but it was the guitar picker who stole the show. I wondered "who is this guy, and why ain't he famous already?" 

Then he steps to the mic and introduces Booker as "my dad, Booker T. Jones". I realized that this guy, whose name is Ted Jones, probably grew up sitting in the recording studio watching his dad produce hundreds of artists and soaking up decades of wisdom. Every song of the night was an absolute treat. At one point, father and son did a duo, both on guitars for a cover of Purple Rain. Holy guacamole, it was so good, and I don't even like that song.

I don't know what to call their style. Progressive Blues, if that's a thing. Imagine if Pink Floyd became a blues band and stripped down the show to its essence.  

Whatever it is, I came away from the experience absolutely chuffed to be a musician. After all, Booker is way older than me and if he can still do it, I've got no excuses. Then again, I doubt he helped carry in his B3.

 

[Notes_Norton]

That's great to hear. Thanks for sharing.

[Bapu]

Happy belated BD BD (Big Dave)