Although blues aficionados might expect to see Chris Duarte taking the stage at Harlow’s or The Sofia, the talent-buyers at Old Ironsides are out to make sure their historic stage has the same caliber of musicianship; and lately they’ve also been including nearly every genre sans world music on their monthly calendar.
The Texas-born Duarte is a veritable household name on the blues circuit, hailed for sizzling guitar chops that resemble the late Stevie Ray Vaughn. The axe-man has been touring this year in support of his sixteenth full-length “Ain’t Giving Up,” which proves he still has the energy of his earliest releases, even the much-lauded “Texas Sugar/Strat Magik” and its follow-up, “Tailspin Headwhack.”
When it comes to the new record, standout pieces “Can Opener” or “Half As Good As Two” should be enough to get live music addicts to an uncharacteristically early engagement at Old Ironsides. The album’s guitar tones are as greasy and dirty as a Memphis diner’s grill; so it’s no small wonder why Duarte never gravitated to larger capacity theaters. If anything, Sacramentans can just rejoice in one helluva Saturday sermon at a club that barely pushes 200 capacity.
Tickets are $20 advance can be purchased at www.theoldironsides.com. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the early show starts at 7:30 p/m. This is for 21-and-over patrons only. The Old Ironsides is located at 1901 10th Street in downtown Sacramento. It’s bound to get sticky.
(SN&R)