Robert Cray and Hi Rhythm | photo by John Vettese for WXPN
NON-COMM Recap: Robert Cray and Hi Rhythm brings it home with guitar solos and soul
Bringing NonCOMM 2017 to a high energy close, veteran guitarist Robert Cray was joined by Hi Rhythm for an invigorating set of blues, soul and rock and roll.
Drawing from their new album Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm, the band was tight and energized, and Cray proved an understated but galvanizing leader of it — his presence was stoic on the verses, but emitted pure joy when he dipped into any of the set’s many guitar solos.
The Tony Joe White collab “Aspen, Colerado” was sent out to the DJs in the house from The Colorado Sound, while the socially charged “Just How Low” was teased with a few discordant bars of “Hail to the Thief” on the intro. Later, organ player Charles Hodges shined on the Stax soul vibes of “The Same Love That Made Me Laugh,” sending his bandmates playing (and the crowd grooving) into the night.
Setlist
You Must Believe In Yourself
I Don’t Care
I’m WIth You
Aspen
Just How Low
The Way We Are
Honey Bad
The Same Love That Made Me Laugh
Don’t Steal My Love