Last week Mister and I went to see Booker T. Jones. Actually, we went to see Black Joe Lewis, who was opening for Booker T. Jones.
We’d seen Black Joe Lewis, back when he was still fronting The Honey Bears, years ago. The kid is great, I tell ya. And though he and the band were nearly swallowed by the massive stage at UCLA’s Royce Hall, the kid is still great.
Now – Booker T. Jones’ music is well-known to us. But we’ve never thought to seek him out in a live performance. That’s just the truth. But the greater truth is that this man is phenomenal! Even when the songs weren’t at all familiar, the music was amazing. And Mr. Jones has been around long enough to have a clue. He possessed a quiet confidence and yet he could still put the stank on it when he wanted to. I was so moved and entertained – it was shocking. And beautiful.
By the time the show was done, Mister and I were spent. We had been on quite the emotional high during the concert and were left tired in the most appealing way. On the way home we talked about the maturity and fun we witnessed on stage. The musicianship. The camaraderie. Honestly – it may have been the best show we’ve seen this year. Can’t beat that with a stick, friends.