Joanne Shaw Taylor has been a rising force in the blues for nearly 20 years. Discovered by Dave Stewart of Eurythmics and mentored by Joe Bonamassa, Taylor released her first solo record in 2009 and hasn’t stopped since. Her latest release, Black & Gold, was released in 2025 and her upcoming record, The Trouble With Love, will be out later this year. Her summer tour kicked off in front of a packed house at The Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center (The Kate) and left everyone wanting more.
Please scroll below for the MisplacedStraws Joanne Shaw Taylor live photos and review –
The show kicked off with the fitting “In The Mood” from her 2019 release Reckless Heart. Joanne Shaw Taylor was backed by a fantastic band consisting of guitarist Shane Saunders, Chris Alexander on bass, Jackson Dyson on keyboards and drummer Katelynn Corll. As always, Taylor had her trusted Fender Esquire slung over her shoulder giving her a guitar tone that is totally unique and instantly recognizable.
Taylor is one of the few artists in the genre that is not only a great guitar player but an amazing singer. During parts of the show, like the track “Hell of a Good Time”, she leaves the majority of the guitar playing to the highly capable Saunders while she clutches the mic stand, letting her full, soulful voice fill the room. Those periods don’t last too long though; a fiery guitar solo is never far from her fingertips.
Shane Saunders is the perfect foil to Taylor on guitar. The two weave in and out of songs and he backs her with perfect rhythm when she solos. Alexander is also a top-notch bassist, adding brilliant little flourishes when needed. The two standouts in the band, however, are keyboardist Jackson Dyson and drummer Katelynn Corll. Dyson’s tasteful playing brightened every track, and his musical interludes were just beautiful. While he used the traditional Hammond B3 sound, his playing wasn’t what you’d expect from a traditional blues player and put an interesting spin on many songs. Corll was the secret weapon of the night. Her drumming was on par with some of the greats in the genre, but her backing vocals stole the show as the perfect complement to Taylor’s emotive voice.
Most of the 15-song set touches on her various solo records, but a few choice covers are sprinkled in. First up was Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain”. There are many live covers of this song, but the combination of Taylor, Corll, and Saunders on vocals came the closest to recreating the vocal dynamics of the original. The bass breakdown in the middle served as a fuse to ignite one of Taylor’s best solos of the night, bringing the crowd to its feet. The second cover was Gershwin’s “Summertime”, a song Taylor was hesitant to record originally, but her distinct voice created a beautiful version of the classic. A few of the other standouts of the night included a song she wrote for her late mother called “Fade Away” which featured a stripped-down lineup of Saunders on slide guitar and Corll on backing vocals, and the encore of “Watch ‘Em Burn”, a fitting title as her guitar playing nearly burned the place down.
Joanne Shaw Taylor has earned her place among the leading names in blues rock. Having performed alongside many of the genre’s legends, she continues to tour relentlessly and release high-quality records that elevate both her own stature and the genre itself. Taylor performs with an infectious joy that leaves you smiling as the last notes fade. She will be on the road all summer and is well worth the trip when she’s in your area.
