Soul Legend Johnny Rawls Closes 2024 Tour with Triumphant Finale in Minneapolis

In the sleeper show of the year, former O.V. Wright band leader and one of the greatest soul singer/songwriter/guitarist still on the circuit today, Johnny Rawls, picked a small, neighborhood music club in Northeast Minneapolis to closeout his 2024 tour. If you were one of the fortunate few to hear of this under the radar show and fork over a ten spot you were treated to over 3 hours of down home Mississippi blues and sweet Memphis soul by one of the genre's absolute masters. Talk about an inflation beater, the Federal Reserve would be wise to sample from Mr. Rawls' catalog. 

 It felt strange to be back in the old Sun Saloon again after nearly a quarter century. Now named Shaw's Bar & Grill, I must admit the "new"regime (celebrating their 25th anniversary this year) really did a good job turning the former home of Steve Hull's Thursday night biker karaoke into one of the finer small music rooms in the cities. Excellent sound and sightlines in an intimate, yet comfortable setting, topped off by a friendly, attentive bar staff and decent draught beer list. Who could ask for anything more? 

 Johnny got the evening off to a  start at 7:30 PM with some Sonny Boy, "Help Me" before segueing into the Fever. Next up was a song off his recent "Live in Europe" album, "Country Boy" which featured the affable Rusty Walls on harp. Mr. Rawls paid tribute to one of his early mentors next, the great Z.Z. Hill, with a medley of "Down Home Blues" "Bump and Grind" and "Rock Me Baby".

 I believe the next number was "Shake and Fingerpop" but instead of featuring the harp it featured Johnny's under appreciated guitar work. Johnny's economic playing looks effortless but as anyone who has ever picked up the instrument knows, there is nothing harder than to play seemingly simple notes in the perfect tone and Johnny's playing is all about the tone and then some. I couldn't help but think of one of my favorite guitarists, the late great Paul "lil Buck" Sinegal, when watching Johnny play while leading his band. Playing both lead and rhythm, you see where the great Jimmie Vaughn got his inspiration. Whatever it was that they taught guitarists in places like Lafayette, LA. they must have been sharing it with their colleagues in Mississippi or vice versa. They understood that guitar playing was not an end in itself but rather was in service to the song. 

 When Johnny called for "Turn Back the Hands of Time" I have to admit that I questioned whether they would be able to pull off the Tyrone Davis classic with out horns and strings. But to their credit they did and then  turned it into a medley with snippets of Rufus Thomas' "Funky Chicken" "Sister Sookie"and "Take Me Back to School Days". Johnny performed one of his best originals next, "Love Machine" which he wrote with Bob Trenchard. Not to be confused with the Miracles song with the same name or Wynonie Harris' "Loving Machine". Johnny's song "Love Machine" is my favorite of all the songs sharing that or a similar name and in the hands of a great horn section is a tour de force. Even a stripped down version of the song sans horns is a powerful thing in the hands of a performer like Johnny Rawls. 

 As a change of pace, Johnny asked that the house lights be dimmed and then promised to do us men in the crowd a favor and help us "get lucky" (i.e. laid).  He then launched into a sultry Marvin medley of "Let's Get it On" and "Sexual Healing" eventually ending with the Rawls original "Come and Get It" to close out the set. 

The second set opened with Johnny covering BB's "The Thrill is Gone" before handing over the reins to his daughter Destini who worked the audience up close with an excellent set of her own starting with "I Don't Need No Man" followed by "Chain of Fools" "Everybody Gets the Blues Sometime""Walking Shoes" before ending with a rousing version of the  Staples "I'll Take You There".  Destini Rawls is a talented singer with impeccable taste who is destined for greatness even without her famous father.  I was so impressed I picked up her cd and highly recommend it.

At this point in the show Johnny recognized an old friend in the audience, Jelly Bean, of Flyte Time productions fame before having some fun with Rick James' "Brickhouse" to close out the second set.  Destini would be wise to enlist our local production talent who did such a stellar job producing Janet Jackson.

At 74 years old Johnny is still the consummate performer and like his contemporary, William Bell, shows no sign of slowing down.  He opens his third set with "Pride and Joy" followed by perhaps his biggest hit "Red Cadillac" throwing in a little "Woman Gotta Have It" before closing with "I Say Yes , Yes ,Yes".  The appreciative crowd at Shaw's were not going to let them go without an encore, "Juicy Lucy".  Kudos to Johnny and Destini Rawls and their midwest touring band consisting of John Magee on guitar, Trent Boldt on bass and I hope I am correct that Allen Kirk was on drums and local hero, the aforementioned Rusty Walls, on harp.  These guys are much more than your local journeymen musicians but rather play with the Rawls on a regular basis dozens of shows throughout the region and it clearly shows.  Thanks to Shaws for booking my favorite show this year!