Written by Jim Bille
The Fabulous Thunderbirds blew through Houston Sunday evening for a terrific show at The Dosey Doe Big Barn in The Woodlands. Welcomed by a full house, Kim Wilson and company hit the stage and did not disappoint.
Having had a successful solo career Wilson is still flying high as the leader of the T-Birds who are still thriving in the blues music scene they famously helped reinvent during the Austin blues explosion in the mid 1970’s and early 1980’s. Working as the house band at the world famous Antoine’s club in Austin at the beginning of the clubs existence, The T-Birds garnered strong relationships and made true friends of many of the visiting artists from Chicago and elsewhere as they came to perform at the legendary club founded by Clifford Antoine.
Kim Wilson has always been the mainstay and the one constant of the band with his powerhouse harmonica sound and soulfully distinct vocals, not to mention his hipster dance moves while performing, all of which are instantly recognizable and were on display Sunday night.
The band’s line up has changed over the years but the sound and message remains the same. Wilson continues to guide the band down bluesy musical roads that seem endless due in part to his knowledge of the blues and years of exposure and friendships forged with some of the greats of the genre. Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, BB King, Junior Wells and others all came though Austin and quite often the T-Birds were on the stage with them backing them up or opening the evening shows.
Sunday nights show featured a lot of older material that Wilson resurrected from the T-Birds archives spanning much of the now 50 year T-Bird musical journey. A few of these chestnut songs featured were “Scratch My Back”, “One’s Too Many”, “She’s Tuff”, “The Crawl”, “Wrap It Up” and their mega trademark hit “Tuff Enough”.
The band’s latest release, Struck Down, was nominated for two Grammy Awards earlier this year and after hearing songs from the album during the show it was easy to see – or hear, why.
“Payback Time” was the rocker from the release that featured some of guitarist Johnny Moeller’s finer moments during the set. “I’ve Got Eye’s” had a definite jump beat to it and a classic T-Bird sound. The Cajun infused “Don’t Make No Sense” featured Terrance Simeon on accordion on the album. Even without the accordion at the show you got the feeling in your feet when this song was performed Sunday evening.
Kim Wilson continues to carry the T-Bird torch and here’s hoping he doesn’t stop anytime soon. The music is too good to stop – and Kim Wilson is too cool not to play it.