Have you ever had sex while listening to blues?  There’s that one note that the player slides into and then bends into a sexy whine that makes you bite your bottom lip.  How fast the fingers roll on that minor scale and then end in a slow strum.  Blues.  It’s erratic and messy and smooth and sweaty all at the same time. . .just like sex.  Okay, I can’t be the only one.  Fine, then let me start off with a different intro.

Many, many moons ago I was working at a music store and we had a special in-store appearance by a relatively unknown but talented artist.  He was 17, some-sort of guitar prodigy, and dubbed to be the next Stevie Ray Vaughan.  He looked like a regular kid all grunged-out at the time.  His long, blonde locks covered his face as he ripped through blues riffs that would amaze Clapton.  After he was done, he was looking at our sunglasses rack.  My manager at the time motioned to him to take whatever he wanted.  Unfortunately we forgot to take off the security tag so when the poor kid walked out, he set off the alarm and security stopped him.  Many moons later, security is now stopping people from clambering onto one of the few artist that upholds the meaning of true blues.  One of the first songs he started off with was “Déjà Voodoo” from his debut album Ledbetter Heights.  Still with the blonde locks in front of his face, he no longer hides behind it.  He’s matured, along with his music and performance.  All I can say is, “A-fucking-mazing!”  There have been many guitar gods.  His last release 10 Days Out is Shepherd’s road journey to play with legendary blues artists like B.B. King and Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown.  And you’re damn right when I say everyone that was at the Belly Up on April 16th had the privilege of seeing a legend in the making.  His cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well” and a 20-minute version of “Shame, Shame, Shame” flew the audience into a flurry of passionate screams.  And, of course, the one thing that could put the cherry on top to end the night was his cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child.”  I honestly can’t explain how good it was. . .just like when you have incredible sex and all you can do is smile and smile and keep smiling.  It was just that good.  And after experiencing Kenny Wayne Shepherd, I am so spent.