Moline, Illinois
By Phillip Smith; March 26, 2019
I was happy as a lark to see Ghost Town Blues
Band return to the region on their latest Canada/Midwest tour. They truly are one of my favorite bands. Presented by the Mississippi Valley Blues
Society, and hosted by the Moline Viking Club, the show featured two
bodacious sets of riveting high-energy blues.
Fronted by Matt Isbell on lead vocals and guitars, Ghost Town
Blues band is also comprised of lead guitarist Taylor Orr, bassist Matt
Karner, drummer Andrew McNeil, organist/keyboardist Cedric Taylor,
and trombonist Suavo Jones.
As soon as the band kicked the first set into gear
with “Hate to See Her Go”, and “Memphis Blues”, I knew it was going to be a
sensational show. They broke out “Dust the
Dust” and ”Big Shirley” too, the latter of which sweetly rolled right into Led
Zepplin’s “Rock and Roll”. I loved
the funky two-fer including “Shine” and "Givin’ It All Away” from their latest
album, Backstage Pass. Suavo belted out such a tremendous
solo on trombone. It was absolutely amazing. Isbell pulled out his one-of-a-kind
cigar box guitar he made out of his late grandmother’s silver drawer for an enthralling
performance of “Road Still Drives the Same”.
With a Bourbon Street-style entrance, horns and
drums in hand, the band marched back into the venue for the second set playing “When
the Saints Go Marching In”. That was so
fun to watch. They played “Memphis Train”
and “Tip of My Hat” soon after. When
they broke into the Beatles’ “Come Together” though, it was quite magical. Like sword-wielding knights, Suavo and Isbell
squared off. While Suavo extended
the outer slide tube of his trombone skyward, Isbell held his cigar box
high in the air, nailing every note as the guitar neck maneuvered about the trombone
as a slide. It’s such a unique and
amazing feat to witness. Afterward, Orr
gave a smokin’ guitar solo on “One More Whiskey”, then the band wrapped up with
a spectacular extended jam on “Whipping Post”. It was such a wonderful evening of music, I can’t
wait to see them again.
* All photos by Phillip Smith
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* All photos by Phillip Smith
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