NON-COMM Recap: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram proves he is well worth the hype

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram | photo by John Vettese for WXPN

Even before his set started, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram had won everyone over. All those lingering around the PRX stage were blabbering nonstop about how they all believed he was one to watch. He then blew everyone away with a soundcheck that many, understandably, thought was his actual show. Once the set actually began, Mississippi artist quickly proved that he is worthy of all the hype.

He opened with “Before I’m Old”, off his debut album Kingfish which will be released tomorrow via Alligator Records. Ingram’s otherworldly guitar playing and ridiculously rich voice make it hard to believe that he is only twenty years old. He is clearly aware of the absurdity of his talent given his age, as he sings “they say I got an old soul and I ain’t even 21.”

Next came “Fresh Out”, which Ingram started solo. Eventually he was joined by his bassist and drummer, but his solo verse demonstrated that in a way, they’re just extras; he can carry this all on his own. Whether playing delicately or ferociously, Ingram’s every strum is made with passion. That passion for playing was lovingly met but the crowd’s passion for listening. They lingered on his every note, and gleefully anticipated the next one.

Ingram stretched each of his tracks out, squeezing every last drop of possibility out of them. He stretched them so much that he was only able to fit three songs in his twenty minute slot. Like with the two before it, Ingram led “Out of This Town” into an explosive electric blues epic. It sounded like it had been pulled out of the deepest pits of the Earth. Ingram posses the unique ability to make everything he plays sound wholly natural, but entirely his own. This talent is rare, especially for a twenty-year-old. Not so rare for someone his age however, was the Snapchat Ingram took of the roaring crowd as he walked off. He, like everyone who watched him, wanted to make sure the moment lasted.

Check out photos from the Christone “Kingfish” Ingram set, and listen to an audio archive below. Ingram will play XPoNential Music Festival this July. Find tickets and more information at XPNFest.org.

Setlist
Before I’m Old
Fresh Out
Out of This Town