Some artists must be experienced live. Regardless of how great their studio output is, they become something bigger than the studio could capture when they step on stage. Kenny Wayne Shepherd is one of those artists. Shepherd is still putting out fantastic records nearly 30 years after his debut, but it is the live stage where he excels. Kenny Wayne Shepherd and his top-notch band brought their Dirt On My Diamonds, Vol. 1 tour to a capacity crowd at Foxwoods Casino and once again showed that the blues are alive and well. Please scroll through for my Kenny Wayne Shepherd photos and review.
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Kenny Wayne Shepherd live many times over the years, including an earlier stop on this tour in Austin, TX. His core live band, Noah Hunt on vocals and guitar, Chris “Whipper” Layton on drums, Kevin McCormick on bass, and Joe Krown on keys has been augmented by a horn section featuring Doug Woolverton on trumpet and Charlie DiPuma on saxophone, that adds depth to his songs.
The setlist for this tour has remained fairly static since the February show I attended. It remains a good mix of classics (“Deja Voodoo”, “Blue on Black”, “Heat of the Sun”), covers (“Talk To Me Baby”, “You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now”, and the explosive “Voodoo Child”), and newer tracks from recent releases like Dirt On My Diamonds, Vol. 1, Lay It On Down, and The Traveler. Shepherd mentioned the upcoming release of Dirt On My Diamonds, Vol 2, but did not play either of the singles already released from that record.
Shepherd addresses the crowd during each performance talking about how the blues is the heart of everything they do, even if it isn’t “traditional” blues. Shepherd’s live performance has always showcased his love of the blues, even if his recorded output lands in more of the blues-rock genre. Watching him lose himself in a fluid, seemingly effortless solo during deep blues tracks like “Heat of the Sun” or “You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now” is always a highlight of the night.
Shepherd has also become more comfortable as a frontman. Noah Hunt is one of the great contemporary blues vocalists and in years past, he handled the majority of the live vocals. This tour sees Shepherd spending more time at the mic. Having two very good vocalists brings diversity to the set and allows the band to play virtually any of their recorded output or covers.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd has been a champion of the blues for his entire career. He has mentored younger, up-and-coming artists and advocated for older bluesmen in danger of being lost to history. Seeing him and his band live is a transformative experience, a modern take on a legendary art form. Shepherd mentioned a new tour will begin when Vol. 2 is released. If you appreciate stunning musicianship and the emotion and power of the blues, you owe it to yourself to grab a ticket when the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band is near you.
