Gladys Knight

Not to keep picking on Hootie & The "Sure Do" Blowfish, but the best part of last week's show was that we had lots of time to hang out at the Wildhorse and think of acts we'd rather be seeing in that big awesome room of theirs. At the top of the list was Gladys Knight—maybe because we were staring at the poster, but mostly because we've been fighting with ourselves for years about which phase of Ms. Knights career really is best. Obviously, the Buddah Records/"Midnight Train To Georgia"-era works are the most recognizable, but her platters for Motown rank with the best ever to come out of Detroit and her early '60s doo-wop influenced soul-pop sound is phenomenally fun. But then you have to consider her recent runs through jazz and gospel, and realize that this is an artist that's been making consistently great music for 50 years.
Tue., Aug. 5, 6 p.m., 2008