“He’s not from the North. He’s not from the South. He’s not from the East. He’s not from the West. He’s from Oklahoma!” Singer-songwriter JD McPherson took the stage at the legendary Troubadour Thursday night in front of a packed house, and he had his LA fans dancing all night. “We’ve only read about the Troubadour before, and it’s such an honor to play here.” JD and his band brought their Oklahoma style and a whole lot of sound with them. Check out pictures from the show and more after the jump!
Building off an energetic opening performance by fellow Oklahoma rockers Broncho, JD and the boys built the first part of show up like a big band crescendo culminating in his newest singles “North Side Gal” and “Firefly.” Both songs pick up the pace from toe tapping to boot scooting and there wasn’t a stationary body in the entire Troubadour, except for our photographer Mikey who had to keep his camera still to take these great photos!
JD McPherson and bassist Jimmy Sutton during their encore Dec.6 @ The Troubadour
JD then slowed the show down to show off the amazing musical talent of his band, with each musician taking turns in a series of solos. The slow powerful tempo of “A Gentle Awakening” matched its lyrics and transported listeners to an isolated farm in the Oklahoma wilderness: “The people on the city streets, / The farmers on the plain, / They’re walking in the lucid dream, / While the sky is set aflame. / They soon will hear a quiet sound, / So peaceful and serene, / Then they might too may ease into, / A gentle awakening.” Then JD brought the energy rushing back to the crowd with the saxophone led roadhouse number “Farmer John.”
And since we are in the [post-Thanksgiving] holiday music season the band finished their set by bringing everyone a little Christmas cheer with a new single “Twinkle (Little Christmas Lights)”. Check out the recorded version below:
JD is a former art teacher from the town of Broken Arrow just outside of Tulsa, OK, who found his real calling in music. He released his first album off Rounder Records, Signs and Signifiers, which was recorded entirely in analog at Hi-Style studios which is located in the attic of bassist/producer Jimmy Sutton’s Chicago home.
JD brought Sutton and his stand-up bass with him to LA for Thursday night’s show. One female fan took the time to notice Sutton’s stylish grey hair and smooth rhythm, telling RB “[that] Silver Fox slapped that bass like nobody’s business!”
Jimmy Sutton slappin’ the bass!
Check out JD’s latest single “North Side Gal”:
You can also watch the official video for “Fire-Bug” off his new album:
All photos courtesy of Rabbits Black photographer Michelangelo Attinello.
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