The Texas Blues Brothers repeat performance at the Keller Williams Concert at Kings Harbor last Friday night was an authentic recreation of one of greatest rhythm and blues acts of all times. Dressed in the trademark black suits and hats, Mike Powell as the harmonica playing Elwood and Steve Boado as his singing sidekick Jake presented their tribute to the 1980 iconic film “The Blues Brothers.” The act was so realistic that the pair even brought their own Bluesmobile, parking it in front of Sharky’s for photo opportunities.
The opening act ExitZero brought the crowd out early. The Kingwood’s Got Talent Contest winner kicked off the concert just before 6 p.m., producing an hour of entertaining pop and rock music. The group was comprised of lead singer/guitarist Trevor Ford accompanied by Grant Tillinghast and Thomas Laird on guitar and Thomas Stivala on drums. The four Kingwood High School freshmen performed current hits such as “Just the Way You Are,” along with some oldies for the occasion including “Runaround Sue” and “Takin’ Care of Business.”
By the time the Texas Blues Brothers Band hit the stage, the crowd had expanded into the street. They warmed up the audience with some “God Music” (instrumental theme music from the movie) until Jake and Elwood Blues sauntered on stage. They kicked off their show with Boado singing, “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love,” and Powell digging his harmonica out of his briefcase to jam along.
Boado was back on vocals for the song “It’s Your Thing” made famous by the Isley Brothers, but this time Powell accompanied him on the saxophone. But Powell did not stop with that instrument, he also grabbed a tambourine from his bag for the band’s rendition of Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour.”
The band got back on the Blues Brothers track with tunes “Jailhouse Rock” and the “Theme from Rawhide,” complete with a whip levied by Boado. As a tribute to James Brown who had a cameo in the film, the Boado sang “Do the Mashed Potatoes,” encouraging the audience to sing along. The crowd participation continued with the song, “Drift Away.” When Boado shouted “Come on Kingwood sing it,” the band stopped playing to listen.
During the band’s break, Keller Williams emcee Bob Blewett thanked his fellow agents for presenting the free concert and Texan GMC for sponsoring the band’s appearance. He then introduced Texan GMC’s Bert Brocker, who spoke about their remodeled showroom, and the Lake Houston Family YMCA’s Jenna Dhayer, who drew the winning tickets for the fund-raising raffle. Meanwhile, the Keller Williams Kidz Korner kept the children busy with face painting, balloons and free ice pops.
The Texas Blues Brothers led off the second set with the top single from the movie: “Gimme Some Lovin’.” The band showed off its stuff with some instrumental number from ZZ Top, followed by “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” with a nod to the concert venue.
The couples spilled out on to the dance floor for “My Girl” and stayed on for “Stand By Me.” In fact, the floor remained jam-packed with dancers until the Blues Brothers packed it up for the evening and danced off into the night to the beat of the classic hit: “Soul Man.”
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