Marshall teenager and blues-rock guitarist Jake Kershaw stole the show at State Theatre, while Tab Benoit did double-duty by later playing drums with Out of Favor Boys at Old Dog Tavern. Review, photos.
State Theatre Blues: Jake Kershaw and his band preceded Tab Benoit on stage in Kalamazoo Friday. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
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Blues fans around Kalamazoo were treated to something special Friday night as Louisiana legend Tab Benoit headlined at the State Theatre, then headed over to the Old Dog Tavern where he traded in his guitar for a pair of drumsticks and sat in with Kalamazoo’s own Out of Favor Boys.
Tab Benoit (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
Opening the show at the State was fellow Louisianan Eric Johanson, who took to the stage, just he, his guitar, some good humor and his gritty voice. Johansen played for about 35 minutes, closing down his set list-free set with the title cut off his debut release “Burn it Down” that was released this fall on Benoit’s label.
Johansen certainly got things warmed up and Benoit took the crowd of about 1,100 into the night with banter about Kalamazoo, Gibson and Heritage guitars, a memorable take on his own “Nothing takes the Place of You” and a bluesy rendition of the timeless Buffalo Springfield classic “For What it’s Worth” — which was highlighted by teases of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
But it was the middle act, the humble local kid, Jake Kershaw, who stole the show at the ripe young age of 17.
Jake Kershaw (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
After wowing the audience with original tunes such as the popular “Piece of My Mind” (the title track from his debut album) and licks reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimmy Page, Kershaw spoke of playing the State for the first time at age 14 when Johnny Lang invited him up for Lang original “Angel of Mercy,” the song Kershaw chose to close his set.
If the Marshall teenager continues to progress the way he has and keeps growing into his wide-ranging voice, Lang in 10 years will be the one talking about the time when a 14-year-old Kershaw sat in with him.
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PHOTO GALLERY: Tab Benoit, Jake Kershaw at Kalamazoo State Theatre
Photos by Derek Ketchum
Photos by Derek Ketchum
