John Ginty live show review…May 28, 2014…

JOHN GINTY

12TH AND PORTER

NASHVILLE, TN  MAY 21, 2014

John Ginty may be most widely-known for his strong keyboard work with the Dixie Chicks and Robert Randolph and the Family Band, but blues fans know him better from his recent solo album release, “Bad News Travels.’  (previously reviewed within this forum.)  Touring in support of this album, John brought his band to 12TH And Porter on Wednesday, May 21, 2014, and it’s a date we’d had circled on our calendar since we found out he was coming to town.

Not only was it a fantastic show from one of contemporary blues’ best keyboard players, it also served as a reunion of sorts for John with some of his friends from his home base of New Jersey adding to the fun.  Opening the show was Franklin, TN, resident Bill Griese, who is ‘transplanted” from New Jersey.  With a smooth vocal style at times reminiscent of James Taylor, Bill began with his originals “Close To You” and “Too Long Coming,’  before launching into one of our all-time favorites, Hall and Oates’ “Rich Girl.’  John Ginty came onstage to add his trademark B-3 to Bill’s final two songs, “The Power Of Our Love” and “Tonight’s The Night.”

John then began his set in earnest.  With Andrei Koribanics on drums, Paul Kuzik on bass, and Michael “Bucky” Buckman on guitar, (all of whom also hail from Jersey as well!), John drew heavily from his album.  Kicking things off with a nod to his Southern-rock heritage, “Hot ‘Lanta” got everybody in a party groove.  Favorites for us were “Elvis Presley,” the Addams Family-ish creep of “Peanut Butter,” and, featuring Bill Griese on vocals, “Black Cat.”  (There is a cool vid of this song on Bill’s Facebook page!)  Of special note was an appearance by Ben Sesar, himself noted as being Brad Paisley’s drummer, who also happened to be a high school friend of John’s, and he did the honors on drums for “The Quirk.”  The night ended much too soon with John’s show-stopping “Trinity,” hearkening back to his time spent with Robert Randolph and the Family Band.  This song featured one brilliant flourish of notes after another, breathing fire and spittin’ brimstone up thru its glorious climax, a few choruses of Hank’s “I’ll Fly Away.”

Throughout the night, John made several references to us while on stage, praising the works presented in this humble forum, and, for these kind words, we are eternally grateful.  Stating that a tour with the Chicks was in the works for 2015, John Ginty is out there working hard to ride the crest of “Bad News Travels.”  If you can, by all means catch him in a live setting if he comes to your town.  Trust us, you will not be disappointed by the immense keyboard talents of this man!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.