Written by: Charles Rosenberg
Photos by: Joe Papeo

B.B. King accelerated the pace in his 87th year with us. God Bless The King! Backed by a full band; horns, keyboards, guitar, bass, and drums, Mr. King has never been more vibrant. Aside from age relegating him to sitting throughout the hour and a half set, the man's hands sizzle slowly over the frets.

Of course, no B.B. King show is without anecdotes, and Mr. King sprinkled a few to spice up the proceedings. "Everyday I Have The Blues" and "Rock Me Baby" demonstrated how Mr. King creates tension between the notes. Carefully picked and held, every note is true, exponentially elongated only as he can."

A nod to the traditional played out with "You Are My Sunshine," cajoling the audience into a sing-along kiss along suite of sweetness. However, it is the sincerity of spirit that permeated the song that imbued it with a singular specialness, veering from the trite into the memorable.

Mr. King presented rousing renditions of "The Thill is Gone" and "When Love Came to Town" while rocking the house. And the vocals: the ostentatious growl — You get it all, still… …a paradigm of tightness that resonates within.

Legend, icon, giant — all used regularly to describe B.B. King. But it is this what sets the man apart with his talents and music: HEART. It is truly larger than life and continues to beat strongly in him, for us, as ONE.

 

 

The Capitol Theatre Photo Gallery

Photos by: Joe Papeo

[gallery link="file" columns="4"]