Eric Bibb--the real deal
by RayRayJr on 2/6/12Montalvo - SaratogaRating: 5 out of 5With only his voice, guitar, and harmonicist Grant Dermody, Bibb had this relatively staid south-bay crowd dancing in the aisles. He is a master at the art blues masters of a generation or two ago--Lightning Hopkins and Skip James come to mind--had to rock the house and send the people home happy.
And inspired. Odes to marital fidelity and resiliance, not usually part of the Hopkins songbook, were performed beautifully. Clearly a religious man, ala Josh White (and with a similar honeyed voice) and (dare I say) Reverend Gary Davis, he payed homage to the role of religion in preserving this culture without preaching or letting it impinge on the show. The rare individual that can express his faith without making me feel badly about my lack thereof.
If you want to see blues and roots music the way it was meant to be performed, don't miss Eric Bibb.