REVIEW BY ELGIN SMITH
Booker T. Jones is a name that has become synonymous with things like soul music, the Hammond B3 organ and Stax Records. It's a name that people recognize, not only because of the man's playing but also because of his songwriting, his arranging, his producing and his contribution to American music as we know it. Mr. Jones' performance at Knuckleheads on Sunday was truly a glimpse at the roots of rhythm and blues, from someone who has been there for over 47 years.
Jones started the show with a few songs from his new album, Potato Hole.
A quick disclaimer: if you require catchy lyrics to hold your interest, this album is not for you. But if you dig soul-meets-rock instrumentals with tight organ riffs and exceptional guitar work (from rocker Neil Young, no less), Potato Hole is your hot spud.
The first set blasted off with a trio of songs from the new album: "Pound It Out", "She Breaks", and "Warp Sister." On the latter two, fans certainly appreciated Jones's short introductions about why each song was written and the thought process behind them.
Then, the question I, and I'm sure many others, had been wondering for the past week was vehemently answered: Will he play any MG's stuff? The answer came in the form of a quick introduction and the MG's smash 1962 track, "Green Onions."
For this reviewer, nothing says "soul" more than Jones's irresistible organ riff on that track, and the thrill of getting to hear him play it live is something that I can't fully express in words. Although Troy Gonyea's guitar wasn't quite as sparse and rough as Steve Cropper's on the original cut, his sound didn't deviate far from it.
As I was wondering what Jones and the band could possibly play to follow that track, he steered the band in the direction of yet another Booker T. staple, "Born Under A Bad Sign," This was the first track of the night to feature his vocal -- definitely a welcome surprise. While Jones' voice had a cool, laid back demeanor about it, frustration ensued when the Knuckleheads PA started going haywire. Jones actually pulled the band back to a barely audible level while stagehands tried to get the microphone issues resolved. I honestly can't say I blame him. Thankfully, the sound improved and the band was able to finish off the track on a high level.
To my surprise, Jones then moved from organ to rhythm guitar and kicked off yet another pair of Stax classics, surely due in part to the time he and the MG's spent backing up the label's heavy hitters. Hearing Jones's treatment of Sam & Dave's "Hold On, I'm Comin'" and Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" was really something special. He also allowed drummer Darian Gray to showcase his rhyming talent with a couple rap verses during "Hold On..." Following these old-school standards, the first half closed with the new album's title track, "Potato Hole".
After an intermission and some microphone replacements, Jones kept the MG's staples coming with the 1967 cut, "Hip Hug-Her." Gray again infused some hip-hop into the track with a rhyming solo while many of the Knuckleheads crowd got up to dance. With trains passing in the background, Jones later shifted gears into the slower, groovier "Melting Pot." His B3 couldn't have sounded better, and the track was the longest jam of the night.
Gonyea's guitar went Spaghetti-Western style after Jones introduced "Hang 'Em High," definitely one of the most powerful tracks of the show. The band finished the second set with the irresistible groove of "Time Is Tight," and onlookers once again got up to dance. A quick encore featured a cool cover from the new album, "Hey Ya" (yep, the one by Outkast).
One thing I have to mention is how gracious of a performer Jones is. Whether it was the thoughtful introductions between songs, keeping his cool while the Knuckleheads staff scrambled to fix the technical problems, signing a variety of items after the show ended (including one Gibson "Flying V" guitar), or simply shaking hands with fans (myself included), he truly epitomized what a professional musician is. I suppose that's the kind of class that comes with a lifetime of producing the authentic sound that Jones has always been known for.
Set List
Pound It Out
She Breaks
Warp Sister
Green Onions
Born Under A Bad Sign
Hold On, I'm Comin'
(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay
Potato Hole
Hip Hug-Her
Native New Yorker
Melting Pot
Hang 'Em High
Time Is Tight
Hey-Ya (encore)
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