Live Review: Johnny Rawls in Fort Worth!

By Don O

One of my favorites, Johnny Rawls, was passing through Fort Worth's J&J Blues Bar last night. New Dallas JSP artist Cookie McGee sat in for part of the evening as well. Cover charge was $8.

It was a full and busy house, not jam packed, but full up. JR had the dancers up on the very first song and kept them gyrating for three one hour sets. Backing included Greg Alan on bass, Big Daddy Sweet on rhythm guitar, and Fast Eddie on drums. I did not miss the endless toodling of the sax player JR had with him last time he came through. Rawls is getting ready to go back in the studio for JSP in September and the second set included four or five of his new tunes. "I Want Her Back" is a killer. The expected title track is "My Turn To Win" but he said that will sound much better with a horn section. "Lucy" is a tune so good that the first time he played it (last year) I advised him to not play it live again until he had it properly copyrighted. He does now and I suspect if he can get it to the right ears it will be a huge soul blues hit along the lines of "Downhome Blues", "Last Two Dollars", etc. It's got all the right parts, a good hook line, and a cool very danceable rhythm. The rest of the night he spent doing a large portion of the songs from his JSP CDs. Only a handful of covers. He even gave dance lessons on how to do The Nasty Dog. :')

Cookie McGee sat in on guitar about half of the first set and the last 20 minutes or so of the third. JR and the band seemed to enjoy Cookie's playing. JR would alternate between letting her handle lead duties while he sang and trading licks with her. Cookie is a little rusty, she's laid off playing for several years, but I think JR and most of the crowd could tell she "has it". There were some very fun exchanges. Cookie is going into Audio Dallas August 7 to complete her CD, Right Time, produced by Andrew "Junior Boy" Jones.

In the news department, I asked JR if we could expect to see the JR/Deitra Farr show I have heard and read so much about. He floored me by saying Deitra has given up singing and is going back to teaching school! He also says he has a great new discovery in New York "who can sing like O.V. Wright". He has pitched him to JSP and is awaiting approval for the project. Based on some of the other artists he has already produced (Johnnie Marshall, Deitra) I am eagerly awaiting that CD.

JR has been approached by Rounder about a possible deal, but, as usual, they are taking their time about finalizing things. In the meantime JR says he is not going to slow his recording pace and will probably complete the next one for JSP while their slow wheels are turning. He also says he plans to cut a new gospel album next year, probably on his own label. JR said he had sold over 400 CDs on his current tour and was completely sold out with 4 gigs to go on this tour.

Johnny Rawls is one of those great talents, who, if you ever get to see even a few minutes of his show, will hook you for life. If he comes your way, BE THERE.

— Don O

Dallas/Fort Worth Blues website at www.chrysalis.org/don
This week's photo of the week: B.B. King

Copyright © 1998 by Don O.