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Review:I went in to this concert not sure if blues artist Keb’ Mo’ and singer/songwriter Shawn Colvin would do a traditional show where one was the opening act and the other the headliner. My hope was that they would perform together for at least part of the show. I was immediately gratified when they strolled on stage together to open the show with a cover of Sam Cooke’s “Bring It on Home to Me.” Keb’ Mo’ and his four-piece backing band (drums, bass, guitar, keyboards) stuck around for Colvin’s “Polaroids” before surrending the stage to her for a three-song set. Here’s my Spotify playlist of favorite Shawn Colvin songs. Keb’ Mo’ & Co. were back to assist on three more songs, including “Sunny Came Home,” the best-known song of the night. Colvin’s 1997 top-ten hit won her Grammys for Song and Record of the Year. Colvin then left the stage but was coaxed back by Keb’ Mo’ to duet on his song “One Friend,” one of the highlights of the evening. For the rest of the night, the stage belonged to Keb’ Mo’. I had hoped they might close out with another duet or two, but when Colvin exited, Keb’ Mo’ seemingly joked she had to catch a flight. I guess she really did fly the coop. It was the closest I came to being disappointed during the show. I’ve been fans of both artists their entire careers, but rank Colvin amongst my absolute favorites. I would have liked a few more songs. However, Keb’ Mo’ did just fine. Surprisingly, he never dipped into his ample bag of covers (“What a Wonderful World,” “Imagine,” “Lean on Me,” “Come on in My Kitchen,” “When Things Go Wrong It Hurts Me Too” – just to name a few). He also steered clear of those few songs which might have evoked a response of familiarity from the audience (“Put a Woman in Charge,” “This Is My Home,” “Old Me Better”). However, the 73-year-old knows how to win over an audience with his voice and guitar. He displays an ease and comfort on stage, employing humorous patter between songs and looking genuinely happy to be there. That kind of presence gives him the freedom to pull pretty much anything from his repertoire. His set list included cuts from Just Like You (1996) and Keep It Simple (2004), both Grammy winners for Best Contemporary Blues Album. I will definitely delve deeper into those cuts, having immediately put together a Spotify playlist of his setlist (check it out here). Click here to see other concerts I’ve attended. The Set List:
Shawn Colvin: Keb’ Mo’: * Song with an asterisk were performed by Shawn Colvin backed by Keb’ Mo’ & his band
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First posted 3/12/2025. |
