Delbert McClinton at the Gothic Theatre

Jenn Cohen | June 1, 2012 | 0 Comments

by Corey Blecha

On May 10, Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter, Delbert McClinton, made his way through town for a show at the Gothic Theatre, proving once again why he has secured a place in the hearts of so many people in this country. With his all-too-real stories of failures and fortunes, love and loneliness, and a long history of playing his bluesy music across the globe, “Del” has been riding a wave of success for what seems like decades now, and his stop in Denver showed that he’s definitely still got it!

Opening up the night were locals, Robby Peoples, and Andy Sydow, both of whom did a great job getting the middle-aged crowd warmed up for an amazing night of music. The biggest surprise of the night was seeing 20-year-old Andy Sydow, and his backing band of some of Denver’s best young musicians, rock the nearly sold-out crowd in the set just prior to Delbert’s. Sydow has a charismatic stage presence, and is an excellent songwriter, showing character beyond his years in both his lyrics and playing ability. With influences ranging from deep-south slide guitar, to jazz and funk, his songs take on an accessible, Americana feel, and he breathes life into traditional styles of music that allows for a new generation of fans, while still appealing to older-generations that grew up with blues, rock n’ roll, and folk music.

When McClinton hit the stage, the place was packed, and he did not disappoint the patient attendees, who waited all night to see him in action. I think Sydow said it best when he introduced him, “Delbert is a baaad dude, get ready Denver!”

He couldn’t have been more spot-on, as McClinton came out with all the old hits, delivering them with the cool and calm, yet completely badass demeanor, that only he can balance. Pulling songs deep from his catalog, as well as bringing some new ones from his latest album, Acquired Taste, to keep things contemporary, Del and the band ripped through a set that sounded like they were 20 years old again, surprising anyone expecting a rusty performance!

The night was capped off with a heartfelt thank you to the Denver crowd, a city that has always supported Del and been able to relate to his stories of life in Middle America. People went into the night looking to hear some old tunes, and I think many of them got more than they bargained for with the amazing young openers, and a refreshing look at some of McClinton’s biggest hits, and then some! Stay tuned for what he has next, and keep your ears open for the young stars of the night, as they all have plenty planned for the upcoming summer season, including more shows right here in Denver!

Online: Delbert.com

Andysydow.com

Robbypeoples.com