ON the Beat | Staxing Up the Lobero

Booker T. Jones | Credit: David Bazemore

If it’s a Booker T. Jones concert, you can be sure that green onions will be on the menu. Sure enough, the Booker T. show, Saturday night at the Lobero, reached an expected climax deep into the setlist with the instantly identifiable and beloved signature hit “Green Onions.” Jones’s guitarist son, Ted Jones, a featured member of the solid quartet, dutifully copied the integral Steve Cropper guitar licks from the Booker T. and the MGs’ instrumental pop hit, albeit with a more distorted tone.

This was not the first time the now 81-year-old Jones had graced this stage in this decade. In 2018, he showed up as a special guest at the 80th birthday concert by Montecitan — and fellow Memphis-ian born — Charles Lloyd. Yes, “Green Onions” was on that concert menu as well, although it doesn’t appear on the live recording released by Blue Note (link). (Count this release as one of the more prominent of many live albums recorded at the Lobero, including Horace Tapscott albums put out by Nimbus Records in the ‘80s).

Booker T. Jones | Credit: David Bazemore

On Saturday night, Jones’s setlist covers a waterfront of material, of his own (“Hip Hug-Her,” “Soul Limbo”) and others’ devising. The list included ZZ Top’s “Blue Jean Blues,” the BB King classic “The Thrill is Gone,” the swampy blues staple “Born Under a Bad Sign,” and Marvin Gaye’s timeless anthem “What’s Going On.” The ongoing relevance of Gaye’s anthem was proven when the crowd roared with approval as Jones sang the line “War is not the answer.” The musical message seconded a resounding public sentiment earlier in this “No Kings Day,” as 12,000 locals marched and protested the bellicose and altogether despicable fabric of American life under King Trump’s (or, as some have called him, King Tang’s) iron-fisted rule.

Towards the end of the official set, Jones bumped into technical difficulties when his Hammond B-3 petered out. As he grinningly explained, “I’m 81, and this organ was built in 1955.” But the show must go on, and it did, as Jones switched to keyboard and then to guitar to sing Otis Redding’s soulful “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” and reached a chant-like repetition of “I love you!” gesturing to the mutually loving audience.

He capped off the evening with a pair of encores, the first opening with solo organ, brought down to a band whisper and then building up again, closing with a surprise, twisted ending. A final tip of the hat, from a more recent vintage, came in the form of Lauryn Hill’s “Everything is Everything.”

All told, it was a hot night of vintage sounds from an American legend, still in command of the here and now.

Song King Thompson’s Return

Richard Thompson | Photo: Michael Ryan Kravetsky

Anytime Richard Thompson passes through town, it should pop up on music lovers’ radar as a must-see/hear. Heads-up: He’s coming back to the complementary atmosphere of the Lobero Theatre on Saturday, April 4th. It will no doubt be another hot, smart night out.

At age 76 and still producing fine work (check out his latest album Ship to Shore — hear it here), Thompson remains one of music’s greatest triple threats — a distinctive songwriter, a guitarist with all the right moves, and a singer. He is also still the brightest Brit embraced in the “Americana” cosmos.

Although Thompson’s own songbook is the prime focus of his workload, one of the most unusual and memorable Lobero appearances came in 2006, when he brought his 1,000 Years of Popular Music program to the venue. In this conceptual package, the polymath Thompson — both brainy and down-to-earth — presented his curated collection of songs dating back to the 1068-ish vintage “Sumer is Icumin in,” through the Renaissance, the 19th and early 20th centuries, and tapping none other than the then-hitmaker Britney Spears, with a Thompson-ized take on “Oops I Did It Again.” (Hear the live recording of the project here.)

Don’t come to the Lobero expecting Britney Spears covers, but we can expect to be enlightened, amused, and impressed with some tasty, raw-edged guitar licks.

TO-DOINGS:

Speaking of Lobero Theatre news, next Thursday, April 9, brings a good cause and a very good band to the house. Doublewide Kings, the local band that has collaborated with the Santa Barbara Symphony and does a great job of paying tribute to artists we know and love, is playing to benefit the More Mesa Preservation Coalition.

Locals and curious visitors know that More Mesa — a rare expanse of undeveloped property along the Southern/Central California coast and open to the public — is not only a Santa Barbara treasure, but a precious natural space along the west coast. While much of the mesa is preserved, there remains a sizable portion subject to the ravaging of development.

“Save More Mesa!” is a more than worthy rallying cry in our town.

One of the strongest jazz worldly offerings this year will be the arrival of Terence Blanchard and Ravi Coltrane at The Granada Theatre on Wednesday, April 8, a make-up for an earlier time canceled due to a travel-weather snafu. Hopefully, there won’t be any ICE-y delays or cancellations on their westward trip this time. This is one of the more promising of many centenarian celebrations making the rounds this year, also the subject of Emmet Cohen’s show at Campbell Hall on Sunday, April 12.

But Wednesday’s tribute arrives with bona fide lineage cred, Ravi being John’s gifted son.