Blue On Black

Kenny Wayne Shepherd released his second album, “Trouble Is,” twenty five years ago. Probably the album that broke him and it contained the classic track “Blue on Black”.
He’s been touring the States with the band, promoting the anniversary and now it’s the turn of the U.K.
Only a handful of dates and my friend Stuart and I went to see him for the first of those dates at Warrington’s Parr Hall. Not a venue I’ve ever been to, though Stuart has actually performed there in a previous life.
I think the band had originally been booked to appear in 2020, but after Covid had put the kibosh on that, the concert was rescheduled for this year to tie in with “Trouble Is…25” world tour. I only bought our tickets a few weeks ago but still managed to bag a couple of seats on the front row of the circle.
There was no support act and we got the album played in its entirety for the first half of the concert. Some tracks played as they are on the album, others got the extended solo treatment. After a very short break, we were then treated to a further hour of tunes drawn from the last twenty five years of KWS’s career.
Great playing from all members of the band, but Kenny Wayne’s guitar work was absolutely sublime. This is the third time I’ve seen the band and they just seem to get better each time.
A superb evening of electric blues and I hope they’ll be touring the U.K. again in the not too distant future.