“American Idol” season six finalist Sundance Head has performed at several Keller Williams’ concerts at Kings Harbor, but last Friday night’s show was a family affair. About an hour into the free concert, Sundance was joined on stage by his father, Roy Head, best known for his 1965 number-two single: “Treat Her Right.” The talented father-son duo has been touring under the name “Head to Head,” providing a wide cross-generational appeal.
Before introducing his famous father, Sundance took his time showing off his own skills as a vocalist and guitarist. He was accompanied by Casey King on drums and Dave Walters on bass guitar. The band played a mixture of original songs written by Sundance and his own, unique renditions of hit cover tunes.
Sundance introduced the crowd to two of his newest songs: “Highway 59” and “Let’s Talk About It.” He immediately acknowledged a fan’s request with a soulful “Mustang Sally,” his signature song which he performed on “America Idol.” He then belted out the ballad that he wrote about his disappointment with his Motown contract: “Going Back to Texas.”
When the band took a break, Keller Williams Agent Roland Duhon took the opportunity to introduce the band sponsor, Bert Brocker of Texan GMC, who had several of his newest vehicles on display that night. Brocker talked about the dealership’s involvement in the Humble Rodeo and BBQ Cook-Off. The event benefits the Humble ISD Foundation and takes place at the Humble Civic Center with the cook-off on Feb. 2-3 followed by the rodeo on Feb. 10-11.
The concert’s featured charity Friends of the Library Kingwood, better known as FOLK, thanked the community for its support of the new Kingwood Public Library. Karen Buchler with FOLK asked the audience to help the library by donating used books to the FOLK store found right inside the library’s front door.
Duhon announced a new feature of the concert series: the Kingwood’s Got Talent Contest. Local bands and solo performers will compete to become the warm-up act at a Keller Williams concert next year. He encouraged the crowd to visit the Keller Williams Northeast Facebook page to learn more about the contest.
To the cheers of his fans, Roy Head bounded on stage saying, “I want to tell you a story” and launched into his blue-eyed soul hit: “Treat Her Right.” He grabbed the microphone and threw it around like a juggler. (No wonder Sundance had asked for some duct tape to repair the mic earlier that evening!) Roy introduced “Sundance on the gee-tar” and the son exclaimed, “Dad, you take over from here.” Roy did just that, attempting to display his infamous contortionist dance moves while he sang. He apologized to the crowd for not moving like he used to, acknowledging that he had a bum leg due to falling out of a pine tree.
Keller Williams Realty Northeast General Manager Michael Clapp welcomes Roy Head (on left) and Gary Lopez to the Keller Williams Concert at Kings Harbor on Friday. Clapp’s uncle Dan Buie was the piano player in the band Roy Head and the Traits.
His lack of moves did not matter to the ladies in the crowd who knew him when he was a teen heart throb. He sang a couple of his old favorites, “Just a Little Bit” and “Linda Lou,” which brought out his groupies to dance. He then slowed down the pace for a couples’ dance singing, “Tonight’s the Night.”
Roy was visited by his former band member, Gary Lopez, who chimed in on the harmonica and on percussion. Together, they performed Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love,” a song which Sundance repeated later in the concert in his own interpretation.
Singing head-to-head at one microphone, Roy and Sundance thrilled the crowd with their duet of a Roy Head classic: “The Most Wanted Woman in Town.” Roy sauntered off the stage for a meet and greet with his fans with one telling him: “You were my teen idol. Michael Jackson has no moves on you.” Back in the saddle, Sundance sang an amazing “Stand by Me” to close out the set.
In the final set, Sundance brought some kids on stage to show off their dancing skills. His own son and daughter were up and down the stage all night, showing an inherited ease under the spotlights. Sundance precluded his rendition of the Blues Brother’s song, “Soul Man,” with the statement: “I guarantee that you’ve never heard it this way before.” He was right. The guitar jam to the song lasted to the moon and back. He took a deep breath to tell the crowd that he had “time for just one more.” That song was, appropriately, the sign-off anthem: “Last Call.”
The next Keller Williams concert will be February 17 featuring a Mardi Gras concert by the Mambo Jazz Kings. Find more concert information on the Keller Williams Northeast Facebook Page.