Tab Benoit has been bringing his brand of Bayou Blues to audiences since the mid-90s. In 2024, after more than a decade without a studio album, Benoit roared back with I Hear Thunder. As part of his tour in support of the record, Tab Benoit made his return to Northampton, MA and brought the Academy of Music audience to its feet.
Please scroll down for exclusive Tab Benoit live photos and review.
The night began with the phenom that is Ghalia Volt. I have to say I wasn’t familiar with Ghalia when she hit the stage, but I was fan by the time she left. Volt is a literal one-woman band. She sings, plays an amazing slide guitar, and handles drums with her feet. The majority of her set consists of original music that shows a depth of songwriting beyond just being a vehicle to showcase her guitar skills. Her unique voice is the perfect complement to her slide playing. If you haven’t discovered Ghalia Volt yet, you owe it to yourself to check her out!
Tab Benoit roared to the stage with his 2011 hit “Medicine” and his trusty Thinline Telecaster. It was clear from the opening that Benoit was in the zone. His bayou-tinged voice was strong, and his playing was beyond compare. Benoit approached every song as if it were the centerpiece of the night, his solos soared while is band, led by long time bassist Cory Duplechin was more than up to the task of keeping up with him.
The majority of Benoit’s set relies on his own material, a departure from a lot of his blues contemporaries who tend to split their sets between classic covers and original material. Benoit also stands out by playing the entire show on one guitar. Most players change instruments frequently throughout the show for different tones or tunings, Benoit has mastered his Telecaster and only needs the one guitar to take his audience on a trip through his setlist.
The few covers he does play, “New Orleans Ladies” by LeRoux and “Nothing Takes The Place of You” by Toussaint McCall, slot seamlessly in with newer tracks like the funky “The Ghost of Gatemouth Brown” and the beautiful “Still Gray”. Benoit is a master at weaving traditional Louisiana blues with a modern sound.
Benoit has a wonderful stage presence. He keeps an ongoing dialogue with the audience through the show that shows off a sharp Cajun sense of humor. Once he steps away from the mic for a solo, he seems to lose himself in the music. From an audience perspective, you are transfixed watching him play as his being becomes an extension of his instrument.
The blues has always had a strong foothold in New England as many artists have seen success in the region. Tab Benoit has toured this area for many years and with the success of I Hear Thunder it’s great to see him start playing larger rooms and get the recognition he so rightly deserves.
