Performing live at The Center for Arts Natick February 9 2019
by Jennifer Simon
Marcia Ball returned to the Center for Arts in Natick MA on February ninth to a sold out crowd for her annual pilgrimage to the area before an appreciative audience.
Ball started the evening off projecting the attitude needed by all with: If you Don’t Rock & Roll You Won’t have No Fun At All. The band included John Bennett on bass, Corey Keller on drums, Mike Schermer on lead guitar, and Eric Bernhardt on saxophone. Ball of course plays keyboards and sings. The band’s style is an enticing mixture of ragtime and blues, all with a healthy dose of Cajun seasoning over the top.
Last year she played a number of new songs being worked on for her latest album. This year she was delighted to share that album and the finished version of several of those on her new disc Shine Bright. She feels as if the album exemplifies her New Year’s Resolution to “count your blessings and watch your step.” Ball’s new record is a “call to perform aggressive acts of good”. Much of the set included songs from the release including Look Before You Leap.
Ball spoke of her desire to “take a little of Louisiana everywhere you go”. and exemplified that with her song When Mardi Gras is Over, That’s When I go Home. She also played tunes in her older catalogue including her most requested song Big Mouth Louella and also Tattooed Lady & Alligator Man.
After an amazing show over one hundred minutes in length, Ball came out and played a two song encore: Peace Love & BBQ and Party is Still Goin On. Ball stuck around and chatted with fans and signed copies of the new album.
Check out the summary of Wolf Brothers tour dates here.
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