George Thorogood & the Destroyers at the Town Hall

George Thorogood

Born in Wilmington, Delaware, George Thorogood in the 1970s played second base in a local semi-pro baseball team. Inspired by a John P. Hammond concert he attended, he also began performing as a solo acoustic performer in the style of blues giants Robert Johnson and Elmore James. Thorogood soon formed a band, the Delaware Destroyers, with high school friend and drummer Jeff Simon, who also played center field in his baseball team. Adding musicians and playing the regional rock club circuit, the band eventually shortened its name to the Destroyers. During this time, Thorogood supplemented his income by working as a roadie for Hound Dog Taylor. Relocating to Boston, Massachusetts, the new George Thorogood & the Destroyers began touring and releasing albums; the band sold 15 million albums worldwide, scoring two platinum and six gold albums in the United States. The band's 16th and most recent studio album is 2011's 2120 South Michigan Ave., although more recently in 2017 Thorogood released a solo album, Party of One. George Thorogood & the Destroyers presently consists of Thorogood, Simon, saxophonist Buddy Leach, rhythm guitarist Jim Suhler, and bassist Billy Blough.

George Thorogood & the Destroyers headlined at the Town Hall tonight, performing high-energy guitar-fueled original songs plus a handful of vintage cover songs. Thanks to the band's loyal fans, the concert was already a rock and roll party even before the first song, "Rock Party." Lyrics that honored bad behavior and alcohol drinking added to the festive spirit. Most of the set was comprised of charging rockers deeply rooted in Chicago blues, classic rock and roll, and boogie, and Thorogood played almost non-stop slide and finger-picking guitar leads, only occasionally stepping back to allow the saxophonist to shine. Thorogood's musicians ably supported his rampaging drive, and Thorogood's gritty vocals added to the raw thrust of the set. George Thorogood & the Destroyers capitalized well on retro rock and roll riffs that will remain thrilling in any music epoch.

Setlist:

1. Rock Party
2. Who Do You Love? (Bo Diddley cover)
3. Help Me (Sonny Boy Williamson cover)
4. Night Time (The Strangeloves cover)
5. I Drink Alone
6. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (John Lee Hooker cover)
7. Gear Jammer
8. Get a Haircut
9. Bad to the Bone
10. Twenty Dollar Gig
11. Move It on Over (Hank Williams cover)

Encore:

1. Born to Be Bad