There’s something BIG scheduled for Bowling Green this summer, and I recommend you take advantage of it. It’s not often a music legend (and even rarer, a blues music legend) with the stature of Johnny Winter comes to town. I mean the guy was at Woodstock! But for those of you who are not familiar with the man or his music here’s a taste of what we are in for.

Well, it’s going to be a blues show. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him in concert three times. The first time, believe it or not, The Blues Brothers opened for him (yes, Belushi and Akroyd). I still remember clearly Winter’s vocal jab at the Blues Brothers’ Matt “Guitar” Murphy for daring to play the classic “Messin’ With the Kid”, and then bringing the same song up several notches higher in his own set. Then there was the New York show at the legendary Bottom Line in the late 90’s. Johnny’s health wasn’t too good at the time, but once he took the stage the fingers and voice just took over. It was basically a show with some rough spots mixed with moments of brilliance.

Winter is a wonder to behold. His physical appearance is very frail-looking. But not to worry, because when I saw him last September at BB King’s in Times Square he was in much better health, and it showed in the music. I know he played “Highway 61” and I am pretty sure he also did “Johnny Guitar”, two of his signature songs. The slide work (and you can expect plenty of that) was smoking on the former. His brother Edgar backed him up on keyboards and saxophone. The brilliance was consistent throughout the show.

So right here in Bowling Green, you can expect to hear a style of blues playing that is sharp, tight, and raw while concurrently smooth and sophisticated. It’s really hard to describe, but it’s unique and it’s great. And his voice is still in fine form; powerful and rugged. Must be something in that Texas water (Stevie Ray Vaughn and Janis Joplin also hailed from Texas). Anyone who enjoys a good guitar player, even if you prefer rock, should enjoy this show.

No one sounds exactly like Johnny, and that’s why I go see him whenever I can. I think you might want to do the same.

Pennman’s Upcoming Show Picks:

Gin Blossoms – Wildhorse – 6/26/2008

Poison – Sommet Center – 7/8/2008

Ringo Starr – Wildhorse – 7/6/2008

Pat Benatar – Wildhorse – 7/15/2008

Mark Knopfler – Ryman – 7/15/2008

Hootie & The Blowfish – Wildhorse – 7/16/2008

Robert Plant/Alison Krauss – Sommet Center – 7/19/2008

Sheryl Crow – Sommet Center – 7/24/2008

Richard Marx – Wildhorse – 7/26/2008

Def Leppard – Sommet Center – 8/1/2008

Gladys Knight – Wildhorse – 8/5/2008

Journey/Cheap Trick – Sommet Center – 8/7/2008

Heart – Wildhorse – 8/9/2008

Brooks & Dunn/ZZ Top – Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY 8/14/2008

38 Special – Wildhorse – 8/15/2008

UB40 – Wildhorse – 8/18/2008

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band – Sommet Center – 8/21/2008

Kenny Loggins – Wildhorse – 8/22/2008

Johnny Winter – Capitol Arts Center – Bowling Green, KY – 8/23/2008

Dave Stewart – Wildhorse – 8/30/2008

Jonny Lang – Ryman – 8/30/2008

Nine Inch Nails – Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY – 8/31/2008

Squeeze/Aimee Mann – Ryman – 9/3/2008

Boz Scaggs – Ryman – 9/14/2008

Black Crowes – Ryman – 11/16/2008

Pennman bought his first 45 at age nine and has been hooked on rock ever since. He has spent much of his disposable income on music, especially live performances. He writes reviews of the shows he sees and keeps a keen lookout for upcoming shows in or near Bowling Green. He has a BA in Communications, specializing in journalism, and has dabbled in music himself, both as a player and instructor. Find more of Pennman’s work at www.associatedcontent.com/user/165511/pennman.html