News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Lindsey Johnson sang with Keb’ Mo’ on “One Friend” during Saturday’s Starry Nights concert.
Mike Patterson, Avi Vogel, Shannon Fouts, Madison Slicker and Jaimee Simundson performed with Keb’ Mo’.
Keb' Mo' earned his first ovation of the night Saturday before he even hit a note. A packed house gave the blues-based singer-songwriter, who first played here in 2005, a warm welcome on his return to the Starry Nights stage.
The audience had reason to be appreciative. Like all Starry Nights performers, Keb' Mo' was donating his performance, which enabled the program that started in 1997 to crack the $1 million mark in funds raised for distribution by the Sisters Schools Foundation.
Starry Nights has helped the school district fill budget gaps to retain programs through lean times.
The performance was relaxed and soulful, with Keb' Mo' seated on a stool, switching back and forth between a 12-fret parlor acoustic guitar and a steel-bodied resonator guitar, and occasionally throwing in some blues harmonica, played in the rack.
His set-list, which he apparently changed up frequently ("Sometimes I look at my set list and just don't like it!") ranged from traditional blues-style songs such as "Government Cheese" and "Shave Yo Legs" to some of his melodic hits such as "More Than One Way Home" and "Just Like You."
The evening was highlighted by student-accompanied performances. Americana Project students joined the artist on stage for "Let Your Light Shine." Mike Patterson contributed a tasteful electric guitar lead over percussion by Avi Vogel, while Shannon Fouts, Madison Slicker and Jaimee Simundson took on the chorus vocals. Then Lindsey Johnson sang in a duet of "One Friend."
"I'm nervous," Keb' Mo' said as the students took the stage. "They're good. They're young and they're good."
Keb' Mo's quiet good humor and laid-back delivery endeared him to the audience as much as his song-craft and stellar guitar chops, and they sent him off with two standing ovations.
Colton Cooper and Jordan Williams shared Master of Ceremonies duties for the evening, which was opened by Jena Rickards with her musical partners Cody Fry and Niko Xidas.
Rickards, herself once a student performer at Starry Nights, noted that the performance was bringing her "full circle." (See "Sisters songwriter to open Starry Nights concert," The Nugget, May 15, for details.)
The evening also featured performances in the foyer by Americana Project musicians and the Sisters High School Jazz Choir, reminding the sell-out crowd of the purpose behind an evening of first-class art and entertainment.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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