Friday night rocks in Ann Arbor: Keb' Mo' struts at Michigan Theater...

By Gautam Baksi

Daily Arts Writer

Longtime Ann Arbor blues favorite Keb' Mo' (a.k.a. Kevin Moore) hit the stage of the Michigan Theater last Friday night wearing his trademark Stetson hat. What followed for the next two hours was one of Keb Mo's longest shows, covering many grooves off his recent studio release The Door as well as slower versions of his classic hits. Other instruments on-stage included an electric and bass guitar, a couple of keyboards (depending on the intensity of the songs) and a drummer. Strapping on his harmonica holder, Mo' even performed several solo acoustic numbers to the audience's delight.

The overall tone of the concert was very mellow, as even electrified numbers like "She Just Wants to Dance" lacked their rich, studio sound. Unquestionably, Mo's voice was in top form, but the amplification of other instruments failed to keep up with his superb vocals. Though the large majority of the set spanned songs off his fourth release, Mo' was certain to include a number of hits off his Grammy-winning CD's, Slow Down and Just Like You. Lyrics were filled with images from Mo's childhood in Compton, CA, raised with his three sisters by his mother, the owner of a hair shop. It was obvious Mo' childhood had a deep impact on his music, as his base was primarily the SoCal blues of Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson. Though some may have mistaken his fingerpicking blues style for Robert Johnson, Mo's music clearly displayed a wide variety of influences from Bobby McFarrin to R. Kelly.

Early in the night, Mo' spoke about feeling "nervous" at the Michigan Theater as opposed to his "home in Ann Arbor," the Bling Pig where he has played numerous times. Mo's so-called nervousness was evident as some songs like "Dangerous Mood" crawled at times with slowed rhythm and beats. However, more upbeat songs like "The Action" and "Soon as I Get Paid" found the audience clapping and singing along to the enjoyment of fans and the musicians alike.

Though songs spanned folk, rock, blues and even R&B, Mo' admits he tried to stick to the blues. "I don't have a rock-'n-roll soul. I don't have a jazz soul. I have a blues soul - that's what speaks to me the loudest, so that's why I chose blues. I can go through the motions with jazz and rock, but it's just very mechanical. Blues - I feel it."

Classic blues songs ranged from his Robert Johnson covers to extensive slide guitar work featured on a majority of the songs. The highlight of the night included a special request from a little girl in the audience for "Perpetual Blues Machine." Though not planned on the set-list, Mo' stopped the show, picked up his acoustic guitar and ripped open his best performance of the night. Keb' did warn the young fan, "I don't understand why you like this song, but I'm gonna play it anyway."

Courtesy of Sony

Who's the guitar-slinger in the crazy Stetson hat? Keb' Mo' of course.