|
September 7th, 2007 @ Family Wash, East Nashville —Kevin Gordon Kevin Gordon Delivers a Blues Sound all His Own Friday evening, while Next Big Nashville raged West of the Cumberland River, Kevin Gordon delivered a stinging set of swamp blues over at East Nashville's Family Wash. Kevin Gordon's version of the blues is part Keith Richards, part Son House, and part Elvis Costello. Think "Gimme Shelter" with Costello on vocals and you get close to the incredible roots sound of Kevin Gordon. The fact that Mary Brace (Lightning 100) was in the house when the NBN showcase was happening downtown speaks volumes about Kevin Gordon's talent. Although Gordon's music is well-suited for heavy drinking and all sorts of raucous behavior, Nashville audiences tend to sit quietly in amazement and stare. The fella from Germany sitting to my left was itching to get up and let the spirit take over—but he restrained himself cause, frankly, he would've looked like a Pentecostal getting saved in the middle of a Catholic mass. But we all felt it. There's no denying that the gut-level response to a Kevin Gordon show is to get up on your feet, put your hands in the air, and let your emotions take over. But instead, we sit—stupefied, and study his every move. How the hell does he get those sounds out of that guitar? Gordon has a warm vintage tube-driven guitar sound. He plays an old Gibson hollowbody with a P-90 (occasionally a Tele) through a Fender amp with just a touch of tremolo. He has a couple standard pedals, nothing out of the ordinary. With this combo Gordon stands in front of the mic, closes his eyes, and starts laying down some of the sickest roots/blues guitar you've ever heard. He's not one of those studio aces who never hits a bad note. Nah, Gordan will hit a bad note every now and then —but even the bad notes have soul, and the occasional bad note serves his purpose well ... there's magic in playing like that (Jimmy Page hit a few bad notes too). But it doesn't stop there. Vocally, Gordon has a rich deep voice that will remind you of Son House one minute and David Baerwald (of David and David) the next. The live show is always energetic and riveting, no matter the venue and no matter the size of the audience. Kevin Gordon continues to be one of Nashville's hidden treasures. Kevin Gordan will be back at The Family Wash w/Tommy Womack on November 2nd for what promises to be a standing room only event. Get there early. —Vincent Wynne
archives
|
