Set list: Robert Cray Band

On 25 April, I got to see the Robert Cray Band perform. Despite sitting next to a drunken ass, the show was amazing. Cray's set included traditional blues numbers and the blues-rock for which he's best known. He and the band kicked serious ass with some awesome guitar, keyboard, and drum work in addition to Cray's emotive and well-delivered vocals. He also played "Right Next Door," which I love, so yay for that.

Set:
1. Phone Booth
2. The Twelve Year Old Boy ... awesome guitar work here
3. I Was Warned ... also particularly awesome. As I recall, this one sounded Santana-esque.
4. Poor Johnny
5. Right Next Door (Because of Me)
6. Midnight Stroll
7. Bad Influence
8. Twenty
9. The One in the Middle
10. Back Door Slam
11. Smoking Gun
Encore
12. Sitting on Top of the World
13. I'm Walkin'
14. Time Makes Two

Song of the Day: "Right Next Door (Because of Me)"

ARTIST: Robert Cray Band
TITLE: "Right Next Door (Because of Me)"
YEAR: 1987

I just saw today that tickets will soon be going on sale for a Robert Cray concert in Nashville after my classes end but before I'll actually be going home. Haven't decided if I'll be buying a ticket yet, but right now I'm leaning toward that.

More about that later, perhaps, but the reason I share that is it was that announcement that made me want to spin one of his hit singles, "Right Next Door (Because of Me)." This is one great song. For starters, Robert Cray is one helluva guitarist. His blues-rock, his smooth vocals, the great lyrics ... damn, it just comes together well here.

If you'd like to hear the song, click here. If you'd like to own it on CD, there are several options, including the album on which it originally appears, Strong Persuader, and such compilations as Definitive Collection.