Baton Rouge Blues

Next week’s going to be good. I’ll be checking out the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. The blues, cold beer, and Telluride, Colorado: what a combination! An interesting sub-plot to the weekend will be that at least a half dozen of the performers are from southern Louisiana: Henry Butler, the Subdudes, Sonny Landreth, Eric Lindell, Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, and today’s feature, Chris Thomas King. What they all may be going through individually, I would have no idea. If they don’t show, it’s perfectly understandable. But the selfish music freak in me hopes they do show, as I’m sure it will be a very intense and heartfelt experience, and great therapy for all parties involved I would think.

Chris grew up in Baton Rouge. His dad, Rockin’ Tabby Thomas (I want a cool nickname like that), owned a popular blues club called Tabby’s Blues Box. This is where Chris spent a lot of time soaking up the blues directly from the masters. Apart from playing several instruments, Chris is also an actor. His debut was in O Brother Where Art Thou in the role of Tommy Johnson.

This tune showcases Chris’ grasp of the blues in the digital age.

Chris Thomas King: Ghetto Life