Here we are at the Queens Hall Edinburgh to catch Kenny Wayne Shepherd, a man I last saw in 1996 opening for The Eagles at Murrayfield here in Edinburgh. Fast forward just over 26 years and he is back promoting an updated version of his 1997 Trouble Is… album, a complete re-recording of it for its 25th anniversary and includes a never before heard cover of Bob Dylan’s “Ballad Of A Thin Man”. The album is being played in full tonight albeit in a slightly different running order for the live setting, and without the Dylan cover.
The original tour was meant to promote his excellent 2019 Traveler album but the dates have now changed into the Trouble is…25 tour which we are here to see tonight. When you listen to the studio album you should instantly recognise the guest rhythm section as being “double trouble” aka Chris Layton on drums and Tommy Shannon on bass from the Stevie Ray Vaughan band (of whom Kenny is a huge fan after meeting him in 1984). For tonight we have the fabulous Noah Hunt (lead vocals, acoustic, electric guitar), Kevin McCormack (bass), Joe Krown (keyboard, Hammond) and Sam “Freight Train” Bryant (drums) with Kenny doing the singing on a couple of tracks. Also – no support band.
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The band just stroll out on stage, plug in and launch into the fast paced instrumental “Trouble Is…”. There is an amazing fluidity with his playing as he just strolls about the stage that I have not seen since I last saw Stevie Ray Vaughan. The band being super tight behind him make this a stunning start to the show. We have possibly my favourite off the album next with the absolutely incredible “Somehow, Somewhere, Someway” and we get to hear Noah’s soulful vocals taking this song to a different level. The drums and bass are keeping the tune ticking along as Kenny channels his inner Stevie Ray Vaughan on his Strat. We have a handful of covers spread through the set tonight including Bob Dylan’s “Everything is Broken”. Sorry, Bob, but this knocks spots off your version. There’s also a soulful remixed version of Bonnie Tyler’s “Nothing to Do With Love” and a great version of Jimi Hendrix’s “I Don’t Live Today”. We also have the soulful ballad “I Found Love (When I Found You)”, and Kenny likes to give an introduction to this particular song, about his writing and its impact on his fans. He says that since the song came out there is never a week that goes by when he doesn’t have an e-mail or play a show where they ask for it as it was played by a number of fans as their wedding song.
The rocking hypnotic guitar, drums and bass rhythm that is “King’s Highway” has more than a nod to SRV’s “Cold Shot” from his Couldn’t Stand the Weather album. We hear a few more including “(Long) Gone”, a real foot stomper of a track, before we get some “Blue on Black” a crowd favourite. Kenny actually recorded a version of it with Five Finger Death Punch along with Brian May of Queen, the proceeds from the recording supporting The Gary Sinise Foundation. We end the main set with a blistering “Slow Ride”. There is a killer back beat laid down by Sam feeding into Kenny’s wah pedal-infused guitar work, with Kevin rocking those bass licks along with Joe’s keyboards weaving in and out.
The boys go off for a short break before coming back refreshed and open up with a twin salvo from his fantastic 2019 The Traveler album starting with “Woman Like You”. If Nickelback could write the blues it might come out like this, a clap-along gem of a track. “I Want You” kicks in with a steady drum beat and has Kenny singing, his voice is not as soulful as Noah’s but he has a strong set of bluesy vocals, and it’s great to hear him sing along with some fine keyboard.. We find some “Diamonds & Gold” from 2017’s Lay It On Down, sadly minus the brass section on the album version. You just want to get up and groove to this smooth rocker, but that’s the trouble with seated gigs. My shoulders are moving and my head is grooving to the infectious beat delivered by a band on fire as they head into some tasty keyboard and bass solos from Kevin and Joe.
We feel the “Heat of the Sun” now as Kenny comes in with the guitar almost crying its chords out. This is a masterpiece of guitar licks, with vocals from Noah to die for. We have possibly the best cover saved for last with BB King’s “You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now”, impactful in its delivery along with some absolutely tasty keyboards from Joe. The crowd are on their feet clapping and cheering, and rightly so, this was a masterclass in blues tonight. It could well be my gig of the year, an absolutely excellent display from Kenny and the band. I’m grinning from ear to ear, I cannot explain in words how good this was tonight – you just had to be there.
As I wander out of the venue area, I head to the merch stand which I’d looked at earlier and I buy two shirts. An American Trouble is…25 with the guitar on the front and a fabulous “Blue on Black” shirt. How my wife puts up with my shirt collection is beyond me. I have a lot, collecting since 1980, but I’m a firm believer in buying merch, be it bands starting out who need it more or the larger established bands.
I would strongly suggest catching him if you can as this was just an amazing gig, I absolutely look forward to catching him next time and I may just buy another shirt. I head home a very happy man singing “Somehow, Somewhere, Someway”.
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Photos by Coops Gig Photography
