I went to go see this show at Antones with Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Double Trouble (SRV's rhythm section), and guests Bryan Lee, Hubert Sumlin and Pinetop Perkins.
I probably should have gotten tickets in advance since there was quite a line outside of Antones, forcing me to miss most of the opening act, Carolyn Wonderland. Fortunately, I was able to get in when someone on will-call had an extra ticket.
The show started with them running a trailer for a documentary film, 10 Days Out - Blues from the Backroads. KWS and DT went driving around the South looking up various Blues legends and jamming with them. An interesting concept, and I will try and catch it.
General observations:
Layton and Shannon are tight. (Nothing has changed since seeing them with SRV over 20 years ago). They are always in the pocket.
KWS and his band don't seem to have any new material. They're still playing material from Trouble Is, which is now 10 years old. It may just be me, but I don't think you should be doing a Greatest Hits/State Fair tour if you only have one legit album. Everything was performed well, but you like to see an artist progress over time.
Bryan Lee and Hubert Sumlin did a great job, but they exclusively did Blues "standards." Lee had a strong Cajun twist to his music; understandable since he is from New Orleans. Hubert had played with Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf.
It was also great to see Pinetop. He's over 90, not quite as lucid as Eubie Blake was at that age, but still able to perform. Unfortunately, none of the younger musicians could figure out how to accompany him without stepping all over his toes.
Good show, not awe inspiring.
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