B.B. King brings his 85-year-old blues back to Vancouver

by Steve Newton on August 23rd, 2011 at 3:40 PM

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B.B. King is best known for his soulful, Grammy-winning version of "The Thrill is Gone", but right next to that on his Top 10 is probably the much-covered "Everyday I Have the Blues". Now, if what he sings in that song is true--and I've never known him to lie--then, man, the music legend has seen an awful lot of bluesy days. Like whatever 85 X 365 adds up to.

It's more than that, actually, because King turns 86 next month. But Father Time is one dude that B.B. isn't much troubled by, because--even with the Type II diabetes he's been managing for more than two decades--he just keeps on keepin' on. I've seen him play in Vancouver numerous times over the years--first at the North Shore's long-shuttered Plazazz Showroom back in the mid-'80s, and then at the Orpheum Theatre and GM Place (with Dr. John) after that. He's never put on a bad show, and I don't expect him to start now.

Which is why, if you haven't seen the living legend perform in person yet, you might want to consider saving your pennies and keeping Saturday, November 19 open. That's when the man who Rolling Stone ranks third on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time plays the River Rock Show Theatre.

Tickets go on sale this Thursday at 10 a.m. at www.ticketmaster.ca/.