In the last issue of SOUTBOUNDBEAT MAGAZINE, I did a review of Charlie Musselwhite’s performance at Royce Hall, on the campus of UCLA. I sighted the difference between hearing the Blues in a concert setting rather than a nightclub. In this issue, we find ourselves at Perq’s, located on Main Street in Huntington Beach, California. If Charlie’s concert was the Yin of the Blues, then Walter’s performance was definitely the Yang—in other words, this was good ole’ bar blues at its finest.

To see Walter Trout play his aggressive, biting, no holds barred guitar at Perq’s is like watching the Yankees from Rudy Giuliani’s private box at Yankee Stadium. It’s like talking to the President in the Oval Office or seeing the Pope at the Vatican, for this is Home, Sweet Home for the Walter Trout Band. Vegas has Elvis, London has Clapton but Huntington Beach has Walter Trout.

On this cool Saturday night last April, Perq’s was filled to capacity. Filled? Hell, it was stuffed with the usual beach crowd; pretty girls in hiphugger jeans, doing their best not to fall off those silly shoes and guys with tattoos and shaved heads. The beach is where the beautiful people meet with the ordinary folks who are doing their best not to stare at the drunk and psychotic. It was a lovely crowd; The perfect place to play your air guitar, if that’s your thing, or just listen to the music and enjoy the eye candy as they parade from one end of the bar to the other. And, if a bar full of typically hot California girls wasn’t enough, there was Cassandra, the Crown Royal girl. This girl was so stunning in her purple Lycra that no one thought it ironic that she was passing out seat cushions to a standing room only crowd.

In the back of the narrow bar, Walter Trout holds court. His disciples crowd the little tables and miniscule dance floor to hear their King. Yes, here at Perq's, Walter Trout is King. His no nonsense approach to the Blues is intoxicating. His trademark riffs recall the great guitarists of the Blues, Rock and hints at the heavy metal sounds of the 60s and 70s. While focusing on the tunes from his newly released in the U.S. album, LIFE IN THE JUNGLE, Walter did not let his followers down. His vocals were tough, gritty and right on the money. His slow blues were perfectly executed and gave credence to their poignant lyrics. The organ proved a perfect compliment to Walter’s finger shredding guitar solos.

It’s no wonder that, before the night was over, Walter ad hypnotized not only the music lovers who came down to see him, but he soon held sway the preening felines and posing studs who came to see and be seen. Anyone whose ever played a gig in a “meat market” knows that this is no small feat. But, there’s nothing small about Walter Trout. If you can‘t make it to Perq’s, keep an eye out for Walter. He just may be bringing down the roof at a watering hole near you.

Web site: http://www.waltertrout.com
 

Live Review By Pat Benny