Robert Cray performed a blistering set Sunday. Robert Cray (guitar) along with band members Jim Pugh (keyboards), Karl Severaid (bass), and Kevin Hayes (drums) mesmerized the packed house at the now famous New York City venue. This club has without a doubt the best line of vision and the best sound of any in the city. The "board" produced studio quality sound which enabled the listener to hear the stinging guitar lines. Often criticized for not playing enough guitar the stripped down band "sans horns" enabled Robert to silence the critics once and for all.

Opening with "Porch Light" from "False Accuations", Robert set the tone for the evening with that of his guitar. Next Robert played "Poor Johnny" from his newest album "Twenty", a song about a two-timer whose time was up. Other tunes from "Twenty" included the title song about a soldier who goes to Iraq, only twenty years old and both "I'm Walkin" and "My Last Regret" with its heavy reverberation.

Other songs included "I Was Warned", "Consequences" from "Midnight Stroll" and "That Wasn't Me" from "Take Your Shoes Off". A highlight of the performance was a rendition of "The Twelve Year Old Boy", the Elmore James classic featured on his "Should Been Home" album, "I let a boy that's twelve years old, take my baby away from me". Robert also sang "Right Next Door, Because of Me" from "Strong Persauder" and encored with "Smoking Gun".

Many in the room had seen Robert Cray before, few had ever seen him like this, close up and personal and at the very height of his game. If you've never seen him here then you better catch him next time. This is as good as it gets.

Richard Ludmerer
Director, The New York Blues & Jazz Society
ricdale2@yahoo.com

(c)2005 Richard Ludmerer