Over the night Junior traveled a wide, raucous, rollicking path while giving the crowd energetic, infectious music. “You Call Everybody Sweetheart But Me” had Junior playing intense, precise guitar licks with wild energy, jumping around and in the air. His sharp, ringing vocals were delivered with him style. Johnny added his expressive, gritty sax riffs for a great sound. Junior mentioned he is half Portuguese, so he gave the crowd a little Latin beat on “The Girl with Emphazema.” Junior danced as he played, letting beautiful, rippling guitar riffs flow of his guitar. Continuing on the wild musical ride, Junior played a medley of surf guitar on his gold top Gibson. He played fast, strumming riffs, one-handed, and jumped in the air as he played. Johnny’s great dirty-tone sax added a great deal to the surf music. Junior mentioned that his early guitar heroes were players like Dick Dale. Spying four young boys in front of the stage with black blues hats and inflatable guitars, Junior brought them up to play air guitar behind him.

Junior played some great, infectious jump blues on “Whooping and a Hollering.” His happy, energetic playing and vocals were enhanced by the great wailing sax of Johnny. Junior gave the crowd some country blues on “Honky Tonk,” playing controlled riffs with great tone on acoustic guitar. Johnny added his nasty tone sax for a great ensemble sound. Junior introduced “Blues After Hours” by commenting on Pee Wee Clayton as one of the best blues guitarists ever. On this slow, soulful blues grinder Junior had his guitar sending out beautiful, echoing, rippling waves of notes that were broken up with fast, strident fills. Junior played behind his head. His strong vocals were broken up with his laughing, demented scream. Junior is a man in constant motion, some times seeming to barely contain all the energy and enthusiasm he brings to the stage. Fortunately it flows out to the crowd, who simply have to have a good time.

This wildly turning musical journey continued through the second and third sets. He gave the crowd some great jump blues, including the catchy, hooking sound of “Something’s Wrong” where Junior played “Here Comes the Bride” within this great, humorous song by Little Charlie and the Nightcats. One instrumental he played could best be described as a surf guitar two-step. Junior’s echoing, ringing, fast trilling guitar was wildly pleasing. Junior closed out the night with a long, jamming funk jazz number and some great jump blues on “That Train.” Just keeping up with all the turns, spins, and variety in Junior’s music can exhaust you, doubly so if you dance to his fast rhythms. Junior is one of the best and most versatile blues guitarists playing today. Be sure to catch him the next time he brings his rollicking blues sound to town.

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