What’s left to say about B.B. King? This one-time WDIA personality and Beale Street Blues Boy is one of the living giants of American music, earning a seat at the head table with the likes of Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Merle Haggard, and precious few others. With the death of John Lee Hooker last year, King stands alone as both the most important remaining blues artist and still the genre’s most beloved and recognizable ambassador. Oh, yeah, and he can still howl “The Thrill is Gone” and bend a guitar note like nobody’s business.
King makes his semiregular pilgrimage to his namesake club on Beale Street this week, performing two sets –7 and 10 p.m. — on Monday, February 4th. As of press time, tickets were going fast and may well be gone by the time you read this. To inquire about the availability of $35 general admission or higher-priced dinner/concert tickets, head down to the club or call 524-5464. The opportunity to see a musician this legendary in a setting this intimate is a rare thing indeed. This is definitely one show you don’t want to miss if you can help it.
But if you can’t get into B.B.’s to see B.B., a decent alternative might be to head down to the casino strip and see a guitar-slinger who has obviously been inspired by him. Former Fabulous Thunderbird and current Handy nominee Jimmie Vaughan is one of the guitar giants of the fertile Austin music scene and will be at the Horseshoe Casino on Saturday, February 2nd. —Chris Herrington