Marcus King at Club Ebony. Once in a lifetime.

I first heard Marcus King with his album Carolina Confessions. I've enjoyed his music from time to time.

Two weeks ago a friend called and said he had tickets to a Marcus King show. 

My wife and I drove 10 hours from our home to Indianola, Mississippi where our friends live and where the concert was to be. (To be clear, we would have driven out there just to see our friends so it wasn't solely for the show). We listened to Marcus King songs all the way there.  Some of it is derivative. It ranges from blues, to R&B, roots rock and country. Think Marshall Tucker, Allam Brothers. Some of it is too country for my tastes. But when you dig deep there is some really good stuff in there. 

He played at a juke joint called Club Ebony. Club Ebony is now owned by the B.B. King museum in Indianola. It was legendary as part of the Chitlin Circuit prior to the civil rights movement. Count Basie, Ike and Tina, Sam Cooke, B.B. King, Albert King, Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter and virtually any of the gods of the blues, soul and R&B played there.

I'm guessing the club holds maybe 200 people at most. We were on the third row of tables from the stage. Very close.

Marcus King played a one and a half hour acoustic set. Just him sitting in a chair with an acoustic guitar and a dobro borrowed from a local musician since he did not have his gear with him.

I've known since I fist heard him that he was talented as a singer, songwriter and guitarist. But I was not prepared for the deep raw talent I saw at that show. He was simply mesmerizing. All of the accolades he has been given over the years all fall short of Marcus live and in person.

His live shows with his band in large venues look fantastic but if you ever get to see him do an acoustic set, don't miss it. Drive 10 hours if you have to. And get your tickets fast. The tickets for this show sold out in under two hours and it was only announced days before the show.

Check him out on You Tube, especially acoustic versions.