Tour Spotlight: Blind Boys of Alabama
07-28-2008
by Andy Argyrakis

Blind Boys of Alabama

“Down In New Orleans Tour”

Ravinia Festival/Highland Park, IL

Friday, June 27

Old-school R&B/gospel purveyors the Blind Boys of Alabama may have been in business since 1939 (inevitably loosing several members along the way), but the institution lives on and continues to release relevant material for a diverse cross section of listeners. One day the group might be opening for Peter Gabriel, the next, collaborating with Ben Harper, then setting up at a church. Or in the case of its latest Windy City stop, visiting the famed Ravinia Festival (think a breathtaking Midwest version of Red Rocks with a stunning forest preserve setting on the lawn and an acoustically pristine pavilion).

Even after all those decades together, the group (led by co-founding member Jimmy Carter) has churned out some of its most intriguing material to date throughout the 2000s, including 2002’s Higher Ground (covering a variety of contemporary spirituals) and 2008’s Down In New Orleans (which serves as a faith-flanked tribute to those recovering from the hurricane). However, all eras of the troupe’s illustrious history were on display, including its Grammy Award-winning take on “People Get Ready” and a bluesy rendition of “Spirit In the Sky.”

Clad in bright blue suits, the six main members also brought Sunday around early with the affirming throw down “Way Down in the Hole” (characterized by charismatic chants of “keep the devil in the hole”), along with the Crescent City flared “Free At Last.” The latter was dedicated to those displaced from Katrina and ended with Carter holding the last note for at least a minute, a truly amazing feat for anyone (let alone someone of his elderly status). The group continued to keep the soulful thunder rolling come a highly inventive rendition of “Amazing Grace,” which was ingeniously set to the beat of “House of the Rising Sun.”

Yet, the living legends truly brought the house down during the revival-like finale “What He’s Done For Me,” thanks in part to the sightless front man running up and down the aisles (with an assistant) and even waving at those on the lawn for a round of communal praises. It was a fitting end to an inspiring evening that not only found the Blind Boys in remarkably fine form, but their message reaching across all borders and boundary lines.

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To view exclusive pics from this concert, click here.

For more info on the Blind Boys of Alabama, log on to their official website.