Football has long been Jim Irsay’s professional focus, but along with his family’s stewardship of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts have come passions for music and collecting artifacts from pop culture history. Those twin flames once again converged for a spectacular night of celebration in song as the Jim Irsay Collection and Jim Irsay Band descended on the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on a brisk January night. And while Jim wasn’t in attendance himself due to illness—new reports indicate that he has been receiving treatment for a respiratory illness following a suspected overdose in December—his absence was more than made up by an all-star cast that included Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Buddy Guy, Ann Wilson (Heart), Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon), Peter Wolf (The J. Geils Band), and Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), among others.
The evening began when the building opened up for fans—none of whom had to pay to enter—to peruse Jim’s extensive collection of memorabilia. There were guitars from Eric Clapton and Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour (the latter of which made its way into Kenny Wayne’s hands during the show) alongside historical artifacts, from a 200-year-old printing of The Declaration of Independence to Jack Kerouac’s original manuscript of On The Road.
The show itself began with a brief appearance by Edgerrin James, the Hall-of-Fame running back who spent the crux of his pro football career with the Colts. From there, the band embarked on a two-hour-plus parade of blues and classic rock.
They opened with “Down For Love”, from Kenny Wayne’s catalog, and later dropped in “Blue on Black”. Mike Mills, known best for his work with R.E.M., took the lead on covers of “(Don’t Go Back to) Rockville” and The Clique’s “Superman”. Danny Nucci, who played guitar and saxophone in the band (and has acted in such films as Titanic and The Rock) stepped up to the microphone to sing on renditions of Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar” and “Comfortably Numb”, as Kenny Wayne wailed away on David Gilmour’s famous “Black Strat.”
Beyond those bits, the night was dominated by the league of legendary guests who came to grace the stage. There was Buddy Guy, being his usual vulgar self (even at the age of 87) as he riffed and sang on “Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues”, “I’ve Got to Use My Imagination”, and the Elmore James classic “I Can’t Hold Out”. Heart’s Ann Wilson lent her pipes and her presence to a vivacious version of The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” before busting into “Barracuda”.
Kevin Cronin came out for an extended run through some of REO Speedwagon’s biggest hits. He lent his infectious energy and Midwestern charm to such classic rock standards as “Take It on the Run”, “Keep on Loving You”, “Ridin’ Out the Storm”, and “Roll With the Changes”.
Peter Wolf scored the most substantial guest spot of the evening. He joined the band for four iconic J. Geils Band songs—”Hard Drivin’ Man”, “Just Can’t Wait”, ”Centerfold”, and “Love Stinks”—before closing out his appearance with a cover of “Lookin’ For Love” by The Valentinos. All the while, the 77-year-old New Yorker danced and strutted across the stage in his sparkling sequined sport coat.
The final cameo came courtesy of Billy Gibbons. The long-bearded Texan joined the Jim Irsay Band to sing and play guitar to ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man” and “La Grange” before closing out the show as the lead on a cover of Freddie King’s “Going Down.”
All told, Jim Irsay’s latest display for the public went off without a hitch, save for the namesake’s sickness. Music lovers can only hope that this free exhibition, band included, will be back in action before too long, and that Jim will be healthy enough to join the fun next time.
Click below to view a photo gallery and collection of fan-shot videos from Jim Irsay Band at Shrine Auditorium.
Jim Irsay Band – “Have A Cigar” (Pink Floyd) Ft. Kenny Wayne Shepherd (With David Gilmour’s “Black Strat”) – 1/11/24
[Video: csilver522]
Setlist: Jim Irsay Band | Shrine Auditorium | Los Angeles, CA | 1/11/24
Set: Down for Love (Kenny Wayne Shepherd song) (with Kenny Wayne Shepherd), Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues (Buddy Guy cover), I’ve Got to Use My Imagination / She’s Nineteen Years Old (with Buddy Guy), I Can’t Hold Out / Watch Yourself (Elmore James cover) (with Kenny Wayne Shepherd), Blue on Black (Kenny Wayne Shepherd song) (with Kenny Wayne Shepherd), (Don’t Go Back to) Rockville (R.E.M. cover) (with Mike Mills), Superman (The Clique cover) (with Mike Mills), Have a Cigar (Pink Floyd cover) (With David Gilmour’s “The Black Strat”), Comfortably Numb (Pink Floyd cover) (With David Gilmour’s “The Black Strat”), Love, Reign O’er Me (The Who cover) (with Ann Wilson), Barracuda (Heart cover) (with Ann Wilson), Take It on the Run (REO Speedwagon cover) (with Kevin Cronin), Keep On Loving You (REO Speedwagon cover) (with Kevin Cronin), Ridin’ the Storm Out (REO Speedwagon cover) (with Kevin Cronin), Roll With the Changes (REO Speedwagon cover) (with Kevin Cronin), Hard Drivin’ Man (The J. Geils Band cover) (with Peter Wolf), Just Can’t Wait (The J. Geils Band cover) (with Peter Wolf), Centerfold (The J. Geils Band cover) (with Peter Wolf), Love Stinks (The J. Geils Band cover) (with Peter Wolf), Lookin’ for a Love (The Valentinos cover) (with Peter Wolf), Sharp Dressed Man (ZZ Top cover) (with Billy Gibbons), La Grange (ZZ Top cover) (with Billy Gibbons), Going Down (Freddie King cover) (with Billy Gibbons)
The post Jim Irsay Band Welcomes Buddy Guy, Billy Gibbons, More In Irsay’s Absence At L.A. Show [Photos/Videos] appeared first on L4LM.
