Pair brings Nashville sound to Boondocks
They say that Nashville-born blues/R&B singer Nick Nixon has a voice that will remind you of Billy Eckstine or Jimmy Witherspoon.
His musical partner Andy Talamantez — best known as Andy T — plays the role of backup vocalist with an economy of style and perfection.
Put them together and you get what music critic Ted Drozdowski of the Nashville Scene magazine calls “... an outfit that swings effortlessly between West Coast Jump Blues stompers, hardcore Chicago and Texas string-fests and Louisiana swamp grooves.”
In other words, expect the Andy T and Nick Nixon Band to bring the best of blues in all its glorious shades when they hit the stage at Boondocks Lounge at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7.
The show is a KXCI Production in cooperation with the Boondocks and the Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Foundation — another opportunity for Tucson blues fans to see some of the legendary talent that has influenced generations that have followed. Tucson’s all-star seven-piece band Johnny Ain’t Right opens the show.
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Nixon and Talamantez have deep histories in the blues. Nixon’s resume includes being part of Nashville’s hopping 1960s Jefferson Street Blues scene and a longtime member of the 45-year-old soul outfit The New Imperials. He also has recorded on Chess records in the 1970s and is credited with Nashville’s recent blues revival.
Talamantez cut his teeth in his native Southern California. He borrows guitar influences from T-Bone Walker, Magic Sam, Albert Collins and B.B. King, and counts Guitar Shorty and Smokey Wilson among the greats with whom he’s toured.
The pair have recorded a pair of critically-acclaimed CDs on the Delta Groove record label — 2013’s “Drink, Drank, Drunk,” which was nominated for a Blues Blast Magazine award; and 2014’s “Livin’ It Up,” which was nominated for a Blues Music Award and a Blues Blast Magazine award. Their latest, “Numbers Man,” was released in September on Blind Pig Records.
Saturday’s concert starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $7 in advance at The Boondocks Lounge, 3306 N. First Ave., or $10 at the door. Blues foundation and KXCI members can get a $3 discount. Details: boondockslounge.com or 690-0991.
Melissa Etheridge swings solo into Fox
The Houston Texans football team’s monster defensive end J.J. Walker has a theme song on the NFL Network.
It’s Melissa Etheridge’s slamming rocker “Monster.” In a video, Walker is shown doing what he does pretty well — taking down quarterbacks — while Etheridge can be heard growling in the background: “Here come the monster, everybody run / Shouting out loud and beating that drum / I’m gigantic, titanic, I might cause a panic / Ready or not baby, here I come.”
That song will pack a more subtle but no less poignant punch when Etheridge sings it Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Fox Tucson Theatre.
The 54-year-old singer-songwriter is bringing Tucson her “This is M.E. Solo” tour, a show unencumbered by a stage full of musicians and backup vocalists.
In between songs, expect Etheridge to talk about what inspired her songwriting, her battle with breast cancer and possibly some subtle political commentary on human rights issues near to her heart.
“Monster” is surely on the set list, but expect Etheridge to spend most of the night with those wonderful mid-1980s to late 1990s hits that established her as a leading female rocker of her generation including “Ain’t It Heavy,” “Bring Me Some Water,” “If I Wanted To,” “No Souvenirs,” “Yes I Am,” “I Want to Come Over,” “Come to My Window,” “The Angels,” “I’m the Only One” and “Like the Way I Do.”
Etheridge takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Fox, 17 W. Congress St. Tickets are $38 to $98 through foxtucsontheatre.ticketforce.com
Also this week
- Latin hip-hop rockers Ozomatli are at Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5. Expect to hear jazz, rock, salsa, funk and a little reggae in the mix, and a few well-placed jabs on the state of politics and human rights. Tickets: $15-$28 at ticketfly.com
- Doors open at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, for the all-ages “We Sold Our Souls to Metal Tour” with Soulfly, Shattered Sun, Incite, Scar Eater and Order 66. The show’s at The Rock, 136 N. Park Ave. $22 at therocktucson.ticketleap.com
