Boz Scaggs February 14, 2014

                       Boz Scaggs: What Can I Say

                                     By Glen Creason

     You really have to hand it to Boz Scaggs. He started decades ago  as a rhythm playing rock and roll guitarist, then went solo as a polyester-clad crooner, then a “white-soul singer, then back to a blues man-guitarist and now just a fearless and  cool old veteran who knows how to entertain a big auditorium.  That he did in Cerritos before a packed house of fans that grooved on the hits from the 70’s but also patiently absorbed his new material that showed he has only improved with age. Wish we could all say that.  He gave the people what they wanted with “Georgia,” “Lowdown,” “Lido Shuffle,”“What Can I Say” and the lesser performed “Sierra” from those crooning years and it sounded just like it did booming from our Pioneer speakers back in the days of cuffed baggies and platform shoes.  He also showed his versatility by throwing in a sweet cover of “Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl,” a really delicate and fine “Corrina Corrina” along with a bluesy “Dry Spell” which matched the weather outside.

     Yet, the proof of Scaggs’ long experience and supreme confidence was to step on the stage with a band and back-up singer how had the capacity to make the audience forget who was the headliner. Singer Ms. Monet absolutely electrified the hall with high-voltage versions of Boz’s “Miss Sun” and two old soul faves “Thank You” and “Thank You Falletinme Be Mice Elf Agin” that sounded much better than the original in my humble opinion.  He also turned loose guitarist Drew Zingg on a deeply delicious reading of the old Bobby Blue Bland song “Loan Me a Dime” that stood the house on its ear, its good ear. Boz Scaggs didn’t need to worry as he held his position as head man with some sweet guitar and vocals that don’t sound like a guy who has been at it for forty plus years.  A very happy crowd who stood and cheered long at the conclusion no doubt went home and pulled out their “Silk Degrees” and said again “what can I say?”