When guitar legend Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads, it was because of the blues.
And when the voices of the crowd at Wharton Center’s Great Hall were numbed by the first few notes of a harmonica Thursday night, it was because of the blues.
The Muddy Waters Tribute Band, five members, all of whom have played with the late Waters at various points in their careers, drew an audience of all ages to the All Over Blues concert which kicked the audience out of the nonsmoking East Lansing facility and into the smoky clubs of South Chicago.
“I’m very impressed, they’re doing Muddy Waters’ name justice,” Leah Bagdon, an English sophomore said.
The first guitar solo of the night, which flared from the fingers of Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson cut the rhythm of the music in half.
Johnson got his musical start with Muddy Waters in 1973 when he played at The Stables, an East Lansing club no longer in existence.
Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin, guitarist for the group, said they have received a warm welcome from the community.
“They seem to really be enjoying the music which is what we’re here for,” he said. “It’s nice to take a break for a while from the nasty stuff that’s been going on.”
Lansing residents and musicians in the rock band Craft; Jeremy Algrim, 19, Aaron Algrim, 17 and Sam Pratt, also 17 came to the concert to celebrate Aaron’s birthday in hopes of seeing some great guitar solos.
“I just wanted to come because I love the blues,” Algrim said.
The second half of the performance featured guitarist, singer and actor in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?,” Chris Thomas King and his group the 21st Century Blues Band.
King was not dressed in the usual blues guitarist clothing of leisure suits and leather or snake skin boots, but in a football jersey, looking more like DMX than Howlin’ Wolf.
The music was equally unexpected.
Heavy bass and electronic drum beats filled the hall as King’s voice gave way to hip-hop lyrics.
After the first song, the crowd was significantly smaller, but still a few 21st century minds kept their toes tapping.
One wouldn’t have anticipated King to play a classic E pentatonic scale on the guitar, nor would one have anticipated seeing a hip-hop artist play a guitar solo with his teeth, but he did.
Before the end of the two-and-a-half hour concert, the band left the stage and King began to sing and play songs from his new album, “The Legend of Tommy Johnson” on an acoustic and resonator guitar.
“We’ve always had one foot in the blues and one foot in hip-hop,” King said. “It’s the way we like it rolling.”
East Lansing residents, Birney Adams and Doug Smith were caught off guard by the 21st Century Blues Band’s unique take on the classic American music, but liked it.
“It’s a different generation than what I grew up in,” Smith said. “Clearly I liked the first half of the performance better, but he’s a hell of a performer and has the potential to be someone like the next Jimi Hendrix.”
