Kenny Wayne Shepherd
June 28, 2000 
Starlake Amphitheater - Pittsburgh, PA

When TPRS.com spoke to Kenny Wayne Shepherd he said that playing guitar was kind of a natural thing for him, he was always drawn to it, and surprisingly, he has never taken a lesson - he plays everything by ear. Shepherd says that by being ignorant of the technicalities of music "makes you show more of your true self."

Shepherd's love for his guitar can clearly be seen in the show-stopping performances that he has done around the globe opening for legends like Aerosmith and more recently, The Allman Brothers...

When TPRS.com caught Shepherd and band (Noah Hunt (vocals), Sam Bryant (drums), Keith Christopher (Bass), and Jimmy Wallace (Keyboards)) warming-up the audience for The Black Crowes and the legendary Jimmy Page, we were left with a lasting impression from Shepherd's heart-felt melodies. The highlights included "Was," "Blue on Black," and "Last Goodbye." The latter being a conceptual piece from his third CD, Live On, which was released in October 1999 and held the #1 position on the Billboard Blues Albums chart for 23 consecutive weeks.

According to Shepherd his upcoming video for the track portrays a "junkyard of dreams." The video was shot in Berkeley, California and features Shepherd along with vocalist Noah Hunt. It centers around a salvage lot where people are discarding prized possessions. Shepherd explains that "throughout the video, people are coming in and handing over pieces of their past that are very significant to them."

This blues guitarist notes that his earliest influence was Stevie Ray Vaughn who he first saw performing live in concert at age seven. However, Shepherd says that if he could jam with anyone (dead or alive) it would be rock god Jimi Hendrix. After catching the medley of "Voodoo Chile" and "Purple Haze" that concluded his set, the reason was evident. Shepherd transformed into a lively rock star when he hit the opening cord, taking center stage as he through his guitar into a frenzy and drove the audience wild.

Shepherd is currently focusing on getting the word out about his latest record. His band will be supporting the Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes tour through July 10, and he says "some tours are being talked about" and promises that they are going to be busy touring all summer long. For the latest tour dates visit his official Web site at www.kwsband.com.
Review and Photos by Kara Phillips
 

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