2019 Doheny Blues Festival recap

Marcus King displaying his otherworldly talents
at 2019 Doheny Blues Festival.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Lovers of blues, soul, blues-rock and roots music all found something to celebrate at the Doheny Blues Festival held at Sea Terrace Park in Dana Point, May 18-19.

The annual blues bash presented by Omega Events lived up its legacy over two wonderful days, with discerning fans of all ages rewarded with memorable performances. Here is a recap of this writer's favorite performances that played out in Dana Point over the weekend.

May 18, 2019

From left, Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan performing in
Dana Point on May 18, 2019.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Singer-harmonica player Tom Ball and guitar master Kenny Sultan performed a breakfast set for fans lined up to get into the festival, offering up authentic acoustic stylings with warmth and early-hour firepower. 

GA-20 performing at Doheny Blues Festival.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

GA-20 is a rising talent forged in Boston, Massachusetts last year. Recalling the fiery approach of new generation blues heroes Moreland & Arbuckle and The Record Company, singer-guitarist Pat Faherty and guitarist Matthews Stubbs fired up the crowd with a number of hard-hitting tracks. "One Night Man," "By My Lonesome" and a cover of Clifton Chenier's "My Soul" were among the memorable cuts that lit up the Backporch Stage.

Joey "D" Delgado at Doheny Blues Festival.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Opening up the action on the Dana Point Stage was East Los Angeles' the Delgado Brothers, a quintet that shined with a mix of well-crafted blues and roots rock tracks. Drummer-lead singer Steve Delgado, bassist Bob Delgado, lead guitarist Joey "D" Delgado and keyboardist David B. Kelley led the group through a powerful batch of originals including the winning title track off their latest album Two Trains. Another solid original was the tuneful "Live For Today," bolstered by great vocal harmonies and impressive fretwork courtesy of Joey Delgado.

Sue Foley in action at Doheny Blues Festival.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

To say singer-songwriter-guitar great Sue Foley and her two-man band brought down the house was to state the obvious. Performing a 45-minute set of material weighted in favor of her latest album, the terrific The Ice Queen, the Canadian star is a masterful artist who was able to further inspire via a strong performance on the Backporch Stage. The smooth "Gaslight," joyful "The Lucky Ones" and a short mini-set of flamenco blues (including the beautiful "The Dance") showcasing Foley's shining guitar work made for one of the weekend's standout sets. Foley closed out her set with the hard-charging "Run" that had everyone moving to the wild and infectious rhythm, and also participating in a fun clap-along section.

Luther Dickinson tearing it up with the must-see
North Mississippi Allstars on the Backporch Stage.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

The North Mississippi Allstars brought their signature brand of Southern rock, blues rock and jam band tradition to the Backporch, with singer-guitarist Luther Dickinson and drummer-guitarist Cody Dickinson impressing with their virtuoso chops and authentic approach. Highlights of the hour-long outing including an extended electric washboard solo from Cody, and 16-year-old guitar prodigy Brandon "Taz" Niederauer and lead guitarist Duane Betts (the son of Allman Brothers Band legend Dickey Betts) joining the band later in the set.

From left, Berry Oakley Jr., Devon Allman and Duane Betts of the Allman Betts Band.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

The Allman Betts Band's turn on the Backporch Stage recalled the musical magic and sonic stylings of The Allman Brothers Band in spades, no wonder since the seven-member group includes Devon Allman (the son of the late Gregg Allman), Berry Oakley Jr. (the son of Raymond Berry Oakley, the founding bassist of the Allman Brothers Band) and previously-noted Duane Betts. In addition to some solid originals, faithful takes on The Allman Brothers' "Blue Sky," "Ain't Wastin' Time No More" and instrumental classic "Jessica" were performed with precision and craft. I was especially impressed by the title track off the band's forthcoming debut album (Down To The River set for release on June 28, 2019), an arresting song blending classic Southern rock with soul.

Ben Harper thrilling blues aficionados to cap
day 1 at the 2019 Doheny Blues Festival.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals used their 90-minute set to deliver a searing lesson in why blues and roots music still matter. Performing on the Dana Point Stage, Harper and his outfit performed both full-band blues blasters and sparse acoustic tracks. All featured Harper's distinctive vocals and lyrical stories that resonate with real life power. The potent "Burn One Down," the trance blues of "Whipping Boy" and stirring "There Will be a Light" were among the wonderful selections that showered the night with magic.

May 19, 2019

The Reverend Peyton of Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band at
Doheny Blues Festival in Dana Point, CA on May 19.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band opened up the Doheny Point Stage on Sunday and their was an explosion of joyful noise as the high octane trio mixed up country and blues in all the right ways. Lead singer-guitarist Reverend Peyton is a force to be reckoned with and led the band through 35 minutes of bewitching music making including the delightful "You Can't Steal My Shine." In addition to Peyton, the Brown County, Indiana-spawned group includes drummer Max Senteney and "Washboard" Breezy Peyton, the latter who lit her Cajun instrument on fire during the closing number! 

Tierinii Jackson
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Southern Avenue may not be Memphis' best-kept secret much longer. The high-energy young group brought a mix of Southern soul, blues, funk and R&B to the Backporch Stage on Sunday afternoon. Kicking things off with "Whiskey Love" off their new sophomore album Keep On, the mix of styles, infectious energy and palpable chemistry between the band members and virtuoso chops kept the set racing for the next 45 minutes. 

Singer Tierinii Jackson and her sister Tikyra Jackson showed off their great harmonies, while top-tier guitarist Ori Naftly were especially locked in as they commanded the front of the stage. Keyboardist Jeremy Powell got to shine on "It's Gonna Be Alright," a great original off the group's self-titled 2017 full-length effort. Southern Avenue closed things out with the uplifting "Don't Give Up."

John Mayall enjoying the moment.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

At 85, John Mayall remains a passionate and heartfelt champion of the blues – and so-called "British blues" in particular. In addition to his strong baritone vocals, Mayall shared his talents on keyboards, guitar and blues harmonica while also showcasing his latest lead guitarist (and sometimes lead vocalist) Carolyn Wonderland. I especially loved the performance of a loose and buoyant take on the great Curtis Salgado song "The Sum Of Something."

Nick Moss Band with harmonica great Dennis Gruneling at Doheny Blues Festival.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Nick Moss Band with Dennis Gruneling offered up a tradition-laced take on the Chicago blues. Joined by blues harp master Grueling, singer-guitarist Moss and his band brought down the house with a forceful and energetic set. They upped the ante when they brought up area harmonica legend Rod Piazza for a full-on jam.

"Artist-At-Large" Brandon "Taz" Niederauer
performing with the Marcus King Band.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Marcus King, left, with Brandon "Taz" Niederauer.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

The Marcus King Band delivered a jaw-dropping and blistering hour-long set on the Dana Point Stage. Led by super-talented lead guitarist/singer-songwriter Marcus King, the Greenville, South Carolina band draws comparisons with modern-day artists such as Southern Avenue and Vintage Trouble in terms of mixing up its influences and creating something that is the group's own. King was flat-out amazing on stage, with his dramatic and impressive fretwork conjuring up sonic fireworks aplenty. What wasn't to love, including the explosive "Where I'm Headed," more introspective "Mourning Light" and Southern rock power ballad "Goodbye Carolina." What's more, the collective were even joined by Niederauer to cap this incredible set.

Vintage Trouble tearing it up at the Doheny Blues Festival.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Vintage Trouble has proven to be one of modern music's all-time great concert acts, so it's little surprise the Los Angeles-based quartet killed it on the Backporch Stage on Sunday. While the weekend may have been winding down, Vintage Trouble had little interest in helping blues fans relax. Rather the group kept the party rolling with an intoxicating mix of rock 'n' soul. The soulful "Nobody Told Me," rocking "Blues Hand Me Down" and tender "My Whole World Stopped Without You" were early favorites. 

Vintage Trouble's Ty Taylor riding high at Doheny Blues Festival.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

The band (backed on this date by a female vocalist) continued to mix things up and keep things inspired and interesting, complete with an acapella vocal opening to open the timely "Everyone Is Everyone," slide guitar-anchored "Run Like The River" and an inventive cover of Elton John's "Rocketman." Lead singer Ty Taylor ventured out into the enthusiastic crowd several times, including when he was carried above the audience. The over-so-fast set ended with a mighty "Knock Me Out."   

Jonny Lang at Doheny Blues
Festival in Dana Point, CA.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Jonny Lang closed out the weekend with a 75-minute set of well-known tracks, sticking closely to his long-standing set list featuring "Signs," "A Quitter Never Wins," a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City," "Lie to Me" and other faves. 

Omega Events added a special Music Preserves Stage at this year's event where artists were interviewed and concertgoers were treated to insider experiences from musicians. I caught Niederauer who talked about his passion for the blues and his excitement at performing with many of the artists at this year's Doheny Blues Fest. The aforementioned Foley, harmonica legend Rod Piazza and Southern Avenue were among other artists who spoke on the stage.




Review by Robert Kinsler

A special "Thank You" to Bob Steshetz for his wonderful photos!