Robert Gordon + His Original All-Star Band at Hill Country Barbecue Market

At the age of nine in Bethesda, Maryland, Robert Gordon was inspired by the Elvis Presley song "Heartbreak Hotel" to pursue a career as a rock and roll musician. At age 15, Gordon debuted as a singer at summer camp, when his brother asked him to sing for his pals. In his late teens he sang in several local bands, and made his recording debut at age 17 in 1964 with a group called the Confidentials, which after several lineup changes became the Newports. Gordon married at age 19 and fathered two sons, and in 1970 the family moved to New York City, where he opened a clothing store. The first couple of years business and family took up most of his time, but after a divorce in the mid-1970s Gordon became musically active again. In the mid-1970s he performed often at CBGBs in Tuff Darts, but just as the punk rock band seemed poised for success, Gordon launched a solo career singing rockabilly with guitar icon Link Wray, then Chris Spedding and later Danny Gatton. Gordon's 10th and most studio album is 2014's I'm Coming Home.

Billed as "Robert Gordon + His Original All-Star Band featuring Chris Spedding, Anton Fig, and Rob Stoner," Gordon's band tonight at Hill Country Barbecue Market actually was not his original band, but it consisted of some of his best known past collaborators. Spedding led the band through four songs before Gordon appeared during "The Way I Walk." As usual, Gordon had a list of songs written on a large chart placed on the floor, but after a few songs paid it little mind, instead taking requests from the audience and band members. Throughout the evening, Gordon's rich baritone invigorated the decades-old songs. Spedding sprinkled seasoned flavorings but curiously highlighted very few extended guitar parts. With no new album to promote, the concert was very similar to Gordon's performances of recent years, even with his reassembled "all-star" lineup. Gordon's set consisted mostly of obscure vintage rockabilly songs, but ended with balmy interpretations of Bruce Springsteen's "Fire," the Yardbirds' "Heart Full of Soul" and Iggy Pop's "Beside You." Gordon jumped a ride on the rockabilly revival of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and although it has not gained him neither fame nor fortune, he is to be commended for remaining true to the music he loves most and performing it well.

Visit Robert Gordon at www.robertgordon.dk.

Setlist:

Chris Spedding, Anton Fig, and Rob Stoner only:

1. Wild in the Streets (Garland Jeffreys cover)
2. Gunfight (Chris Spedding cover)
3. Guitar Jamboree (Chris Spedding cover)
4. Motor Bikin' (Chris Spedding cover)

Robert Gordon:

1. The Way I Walk (Jack Scott cover)
2. Loverboy
3. Hello Walls (Faron Young cover)
4. Move It (Ian Samwell cover)
5. The Fool (Sanford Clark cover)
6. Love’s Theme (Love Unlimited Orchestra cover) (riffed a few times)
7. Wild Wild Women (Chris Spedding cover)
8. I'm Leaving It Up to You (Don & Dewey cover)
9. I'm Coming Home (Johnny Horton cover)
10. I Sure Miss You (Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps cover)
11. The Worryin' Kind (Tommy Sands cover)
12. It's Only Make Believe (Conway Twitty cover) (verse)
13. Fire (Bruce Springsteen cover)
14. Heart Full of Soul (The Yardbirds cover)
15. Beside You (Iggy Pop cover)

Encore:

1. Rockabilly Boogie (Johnny Burnette cover)