Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram Holds the Torch High for the Blues

Any time a musician, particularly a very young one, is given the title "the future of” anything, the skepticism meter spikes sky high. But in the case of acclaimed Mississippi guitarist, bandleader, vocalist and songwriter Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, the praise is definitely justified, even if it doesn't do justice to just how exciting and invigorating seeing him is for blues fans.

The 21-year-old’s sound and style certainly reflect the influence of vintage Chicago and Delta (and to some extent, Texas and West Coast) greats, but Ingram also has a fresh, engaging and highly personalized edge. He isn't doing blues-rock, funk fusion, soul-blues or any other hybrid — not that those are necessarily bad. Instead, he's offering the classic laments, edgy refrains, seasoned wisdom and poignant remembrances of hard-earned life lessons that have always been the thematic foundation of great blues.

Saturday night, Ingram presented a powerhouse two-plus-hour set at 3rd and Lindsley to a totally sold-out house for the second night in a row. All seats were taken roughly 15 minutes after the doors opened at 6 p.m., with standing room on the main floor and upstairs sections overflowing. Only a handful of folks abandoned ship before Ingram capped his awesome set with a 20-minute encore.

None of the complaints lodged over the years about contemporary blues musicians register when it comes to Ingram. Three-quarters of his set was made up of original material. There were no unnecessary gimmicks, no excessively lengthy solos. The volume didn’t threaten anyone's hearing, but the impact was intense just the same.

Every song was delivered in a fashion that featured dynamic showmanship combined with imaginative, decisive and constantly surprising musicianship. Ingram’s vocals were energetic and compelling, and his stage presence is not the least bit fake or contrived. Here's someone who truly enjoys performing. Even when he employed the age-old maneuver of leaving the stage to play solos all over the room, his vitality made it feel like he was doing something original.

Ingram’s songwriting and vocal maturity are equally impressive. Whether it was the biting refrains of "Trouble" or "It Ain't Right," the disappointment voiced in "Love Ain't My Favorite Word," or the recitation of joint suffering and tough realities examined in "Hard Times," Ingram's singing was triumphant and evocative and his lyrics memorable. His solos on a variety of different guitars were crisp and elegant, sometimes hypnotic, but never boring or repetitive. While the care he takes with sonics — particularly long lines, rippling phrases and sustained, ringing overtones — reflects the influence of Buddy Guy (with whom he toured last year), it's far from an imitative approach.

Ingram's supporting unit was a match for his skill, with Nashvillian Eric Roberts leading the way on keyboards, backed by bassist Paul Rogers and drummer Chris Black, both from Mississippi. There was also a guest appearance on a cover of "The Thrill Is Gone" by Tony “T.C.” Coleman, drummer for the late B.B. King, who provided an undulating solo midway through. The final two segments of Ingram's set included an acoustic portion that paid appropriate homage to his Delta roots, followed by a handful of solidly performed blues and soul covers.

Ingram is a wily and inventive player. He changed the pacing and flavor of "The Thrill Is Gone," and turned "Hey Joe" into a bombastic whirlwind. He also welcomed back onstage the evening's outstanding opening act, the Austin, Texas-based duo The Peterson Brothers. They proved fine companions during the final numbers, including a spicy version of The Spinners' "I'll Be Around." 

The Peterson Brothers deserve plaudits for their excellent set, in which they incorporated energetically delivered versions of soul classics into a blues and jazz framework. Their selections included a cleverly reconfigured version of The Dramatics' hit "What You See Is What You Get," The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back," and a standout adaptation of the Earth, Wind & Fire/Ramsey Lewis number "Sun Goddess." 

Glenn Peterson Jr. is a first-rate guitarist and effective vocalist, while electric bassist Alex Peterson often sounded like an updated version of Bootsy Collins with hints of a youthful Stanley Clarke on Saturday night. The pair had the vitality and perfectly synchronized stage show one would expect of an act with more than a decade's experience playing together, and their 20-minute-plus set included a superb bonus: Alex's dazzling solo version of "Amazing Grace" on violin. 

They deserve a larger showcase of their own, and certainly set the stage for what came later: a night of judiciously applied blues fireworks. If anyone has doubts about who’s leading the next generation of blues musicians, they need look no further. Christone Ingram holds the torch high, and the light shines brightly.

See our slideshow for more photos.