Although it was a little chilly outside, the Texas Blues Brothers made the most of their appearance at Keller Williams Concert last Friday night at Kings Harbor, calling it a “Winter Blues Blast.” Dressed in their traditional black suits and dark sunglasses, Mike Powell as Elwood and Steve Boado as Jake churned out Blues classics and hits from the iconic, 1980 movie “The Blues Brothers.”
The first set included Delbert McClinton’s “Givin’ It Up For Your Love” and The Fabulous Thunderbird’s “Wrap it Up” sung by Powell. The versatile Boado accompanied him on the harmonica, saxophone and tambourine. During each number, the pair shuffled and danced in the original John Belushi/Dan Aykroyd style.
The Keller Williams Northeast agents made the concert RED HOT by serving up free hot chocolate and apple cider and providing some table top heat lamps. Participating KWNE agents were: Roland Duhon, Suzanna Cheek, Elton Fritz, Judy Ragsdale, Anne Vickery, Linda Bridges and Amy Rocka joined by GM Michael Clapp.
The concert’s charity guest was The 100 Club, represented by the non-profit organization’s Executive Director Rick Hartley. He explained to the audience that The 100 Club provides financial support to the dependents of law enforcement officers and firefighters who are killed in the line of duty in an 18 county region surrounding Houston. Since 1953, the organization has provided nearly $35 million in support to surviving dependents, for special equipment, to educate officers, and to award outstanding officers and firefighters.
Hartley encouraged the audience to become members of The 100 Club and get one of those prolific stickers you see on the back of cars. (Did you know a gold sticker means you are a life member of The 100 Club?) Always philanthropic, KWNE Co-Owner Judy Hopkins answered the challenge and became a member that night.
After warming their hands by the heat lamps (and avoiding the cops in the audience), the Blues Brothers returned to the stage for their second set. Not to be confused with “a church concert,” they pushed the temperature of the songs up a notch with: “Gimme Some Lovin'” and “Do It Right.” The tempo rose as well with Wilson Pickett’s “Mustang Sally” and Stevie Ray Vaughn’s “House is a Rockin’.”
Next the Blues Brothers turned soulful with: “Bad Luck,” “Mr. Pitiful” and the “Blues Got Soul.” Otis Redding’s lyrics continued to be well represented with “I Can’t Turn You Loose” (The Blues Brothers entrance theme music) and “Dock of the Bay.”
It was close to 10 p.m., but the brothers finally gave the audience what they had been expecting to hear all night, the legendary song from the Blues Brothers movie: “Soul Man.” That was just the ticket to get the remaining concert-goers out of their warm blankets and onto the dance floor to wrap up a great night of free entertainment.
