Marc Broussard brought his “bayou soul” to the Tower Theatre last Friday night. I had a pretty good idea what to expect, though it was over 15 years since I last saw Broussard perform. That last opportunity had been in 2003 just prior to his major label debut, “Carencro” released in the fall of 2004. At the time, Broussard was opening two nights for New York jam wizards, moe. in Austin, TX. I still remember being blown away with his funky mix of blues, rock, pop and R&B. I was even more impressed with his sit-in performances with moe. during their set for spirited, jammed out versions of “Hey Pocky Way” and “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”. Let’s just say, the young man made a really good impression, and yes, he continued to do so here in Oklahoma City.
First things first, I was proud of my adoptive city. Broussard isn’t necessarily the type of artist that I would have thought would draw the crowd that he did. Yet, that’s exactly what he did, drawing a near sell out. Taking the stage with his polished band, Broussard wasted little time, launching into “Baton Rouge” which was quickly followed by “Lucky” and “Wanderer.” Broussard has always included stand-out covers in his sets, and tonight was no exception. Al Green’s “Love and Happiness”and Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” (with a lengthy snippet of “Papa Was A Rolling Stone”mixed in)were performed with heartfelt sincerity and definite crowd favorites. The songs from “Carencro” drew the best reception from the energized crowd, with “Home” the obvious highlight for most. Personally, I was most impressed with his performance of “Send Me A Sign”, which Broussard dedicated to an audience member that had recently lost someone close to them. It was one of those special, unexpected moments that left a lasting impression, one that tells you a lot about the type of man Broussard is.
Marc Broussard is still currently out on tour. Find out more about his music including his new live album, “Home (The Dockside Sessions)” here: http://www.marcbroussard.com/
Dallas native Bryce Bangs pretty much stunned the audience with his impassioned mix of blues, rock and soul. The easiest comparison is to compare Bangs with Stevie Ray Vaughan and while that’s not really fair to either man, it’s still accurate. Bangs blistered through his opening set like a man with only a hour to live. “Taking A Ride,” “Shameless Blues” and “Chasing That Gold” set the stage, and the fiery cover of Hendrix’s “Red House” knocked it out of the park. It was a spur of the moment cover by Bangs, that displayed a seasoned awareness of his audience. It definitely payed off, as he had them in the palm of his hand from that moment on. Bangs and band seemed genuinely humbled by the appreciative response here in OKC. A definite highlight of his set for me was his newest song, “Steel Crushes The Bone.” If raw, rude Texas guitar blues is your thing, Bryce Bangs is one to keep an eye on.
Find out more information here: https://www.brycebangsmusic.com/