Famed keyboardist and songwriter Booker T. Jones broke out the classics on the boardwalk outside of Atlantic City’s historic Boardwalk Hall on Aug. 19. His performance took place ahead of a small run of shows that will include multiple New York area appearances this fall. The organ player who headed namesake group Booker T. & the M.G.’s is responsible for a slew of hits, appearing on and writing many of Stax Records’ most iconic hits including Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay,” Sam & Dave’s “Soul Man,” and the M.G.’s own “Green Onions.”
Jones and his band broke these out and more, as the 81-year-old musician handled organ, vocal, and guitar duties throughout the evening. His set served simultaneously as a retrospective for Stax, and his own incredible career. A true portrait of the time, Jones led the audience in song and dance through tunes you’ve heard over and over again, on the radio, in commercials, in your parents’ car, and on film — tunes like the M.G.’s “Time Is Tight” and “Hip-Hug-Her,” complemented covers of songs like Jimi Hendrix’s rendition of “Hey Joe,” and Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.” Jones eventually stepped away from his keys to deliver an emotional vocal performance on the mic, front and center, guitar in his hands.
While many of the songs come from a bygone era and evoke a sense of nostalgia, their messages remain pertinent and true today amidst political, racial, and class tensions in America. Still, solace exists on the boardwalk and in concert halls where people can get together, sing along, and remember we all have a little more in common than we might remember sometimes.
Jones and his band will return to the New York area this fall with stops at the Emelin Theatre in Mamaroneck, NY on Oct. 24, and at The Suffolk in Riverhead, NY on Oct. 25. If you plan to bring anything, bring your dancing shoes. Stay up to date with Booker T. Jones at bookert.com.
