Photos + Review | JD McPherson + Dylan Pratt @ The Sinclair

Photos by Boston Concert Photography

On Wednesday, March 4th us winter-weary Boston folks got a much needed southern heatwave in the form of JD McPherson and his band of rhythm and blues brothers. The jet stream pulled the rockabilly currents directly from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, right through the doors of the Sinclair, to create a hip-twisting tornado of guitar-fueled energy. McPherson shimmied and shook across the stage as though he had been possessed by Elvis himself, while Jimmy Sutton (upright bass), Jason Smay (drums), Ray Jacildo (keys), and Doug Corcoran (saxophone/guitar) kept the rock n’ roll storm swirling around the venue.

JD kicked the evening off with a cover of Billy Boy Arnold’s blues classic, “I Wish You Would,” and the crowd immediately forgot their collective worries and danced to that beautiful beat. The setlist included songs from both of McPherson’s fantastic albums, 2012’s Signs and Signifiers and the latest, Let The Good Times Roll, which came out this past February. The band hit the perfect stride four songs in with the fist-pumping number “Bossy” from the new record. It was clearly an audience favorite as well, given the number of people jumping around without being overly concerned with the amount of beer being spilled.  Their cover of “Your Love (All That I’m Missing)” paid homage to the great 50’s sock hop era when poodle skirts and saddles shoes were swung through the air with reckless abandon. In fact that pretty much sums up the show. Everyone packed into the sold-out venue was reminded that hot music keeps a cold night at bay.

Along for the ride was talented Phoenix, AZ singer-songwriter Dylan Pratt, who opened up the show with a beautiful set featuring songs from his album, Beg For Fire. Pratt was part of the entire spring tour with JD and crew and he’s been making new fans along the entire way. Alone on stage with guitar in hand the musician held the audience’s attention with impassioned songs filled with hope-tinged melancholy held aloft by six strings and a powerful voice.

Check out the superb photos of the night taken by our very own Steve Benoit of Boston Concert Photography fame.