New Brunswick bluesman Ross Neilsen ran the gamut of music at a late starting show at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Jan. 30.
It was as excellent as I expected it to be.
Neilsen has a powerful tenor voice and some pretty impressive skills on the guitar. He switched between an acoustic and a National Steel guitar.
He had bassist Shawn Worden adding extra rhythm as Neilsen added percussion by stomping on plywood on the stage.
Neilsen dipped deep into the delta blues songbook, playing an assortment of classics like “Yonder Wall” and obscurities plus originals.
“ Jelly Bean Blues” was a highlight as was a Tommy Johnson cover “Big Road Blues.” The duo put their own stamp on song like John Lee Hooker’s “ Dimples.
It wasn’t just blues though as he added a variety of folk from the likes of Bob Dylan and John Prine.
While some of the louder patrons near the front of the stage called for Charlie Daniels band covers, Neilsen stayed pretty close to traditional blues and folk though he ended his first set with a cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Dead Flowers.”
He kept things bluesy for the second set with some Blind Willie McTell/ Taj Mahal blues, added a cover of “Whipping Post,” and played several original songs, a couple slower blues and some more gospel.
