“Top Notch!” Keb’ Mo’ LIVE! at Ocean City Music Pier

By Spotlight Central. Photos by Love Imagery

It’s cool on the boardwalk outside Ocean City, NJ’s Ocean City Music Pier this Tuesday, June 20, 2023 as music lovers await the start of a hot night of blues by musician Keb’ Mo’. A five-time Grammy award winner, Keb’ Mo’ has appeared on television on shows including Sesame Street and The West Wing, and has also performed with such legendary artists as Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Dr. John, Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow, Keith Richards, Buddy Guy, Metallica, and more.

The Music Pier auditorium lights dim and the crowd cheers as musicians Dane Farnsworth on keyboards, Zachariah Witcher on bass, and Casey Wasner take their places on stage and Keb’ Mo’, 71, enters with his electric guitar and harmonica. Wasner kicks off a rockin’ drumbeat and Keb’ Mo’ says “Ocean City, how you doing?” before wailing on his harmonica as the band joins in to support him on “Muddy Water.”

With his soulful voice, Keb’ Mo’ sings, “Well, I love muddy water/It’s dirty but it feels alright/I love muddy water/I’m ready for the blues tonight” on this bluesy swamp rocker.

The crowd cheers and Keb’ Mo’ replies, “Thank you much!” as he counts off his next number, “Everything I Need.” Concertgoers drink in the song’s funky groove, moving to the rhythm in their seats. Dane Farnsworth supports Keb’ Mo’s lead vocal by playing multiple keyboards as he simultaneously provides backup harmony vocals.

While switching from electric to acoustic guitar, Keb’ Mo’ dedicates his next song, “Life is Beautiful,” to “this day, this month” and thanks the audience for coming out tonight. Music lovers clap along on this folky two-step while Keb’ Mo’ sings, “Life is beautiful, life is wonderous/Every star above shining just for us” as fog rises in the colored lights behind him.

Rolling with arpeggios and cascading runs, keyboardist Dave Farnsworth impresses the crowd with a keyboard solo before Keb’ Mo’ scat sings on the song’s coda to avid cheers and applause.

Keb’ Mo’ ad libs vocally on the charming ditty, “The Old Me Better.” After he croons, “You made me a brand new man but I liked the old me better!” Wasner and Farnsworth play horn parts on kazoos which elicit smiles from music lovers in the crowd.

Audience members cheer and Keb’ Mo’ explains about his songs, “They’re all done in humor. None of these things are to be taken seriously!”

Bending strings on his acoustic guitar while Farnsworth’s Hammond organ rhythmically whirls, Keb’ Mo’ performs the acoustic funk number, “Good to Be (Home Again).”

As he sings, blue lights shine down creating a colorful backdrop for his performance.

Taking a seat on a stool, Keb’ Mo’ switches over to resonator guitar, explaining, “I have to get my fingers dressed — hold on,” as he puts fingerpicks on his fingers and a slide on the pinkie of his right hand. His voice sounding soft and compelling, he performs the country-rocker, “Infinite Eyes.” Backed by Zachariah Witcher’s simple and strong bass line, Keb’ Mo’ whispers, “I can see miracles/Happening all the time/I can see eternity/Through infinite eyes.”

The crowd hoots and hollers and Keb’ Mo’ bows as he switches over to an acoustic guitar with an open tuning for his country rocker, “Shave Yo’ Legs.”

Concertgoers bop in their seats as Keb’ Mo’ sings, “You don’t need to change your dress/You don’t need to change your shoes/Go ahead, be wild and free,” while he’s deftly accompanied by his bandmates on keyboards, bass, and drums.

The musicians leave Keb’ Mo’ alone on stage with his resonator guitar to perform a solo rendition of “Suitcase.” Feeling the blues as he sings his story, the crowd cheers and applauds for this talented musician.

Drummer Casey Wasner rejoins Keb’ Mo’ and plays a rock beat to Keb’ Mo’s twangy guitar on “Am I Wrong” while lights flash and turn colors and the audience claps along on this intoxicating “swamp funk” number.

The rest of the band returns and two-part vocal harmonies and swirling organ support Keb’ Mo’s electric guitar playing on “Somebody Hurt You.” Keb’ Mo’s expert blues guitar work brings applause from the crowd as lights spin to the kaleidoscope of sound emanating from the Ocean City Music Pier stage.

Electric guitar, keyboard, and striking lighting design set the mood for “All Dressed Up” where Keb’ Mo’ sings, “I’m a fool and I know it/‘Cause I’m still in love with you/Now I’m sittin’ here/All dressed up in blue,” on this slow and jazzy blues number.

Heads bop and toes tap to the irresistible groove of the bluesy “Perpetual Blues Machine” where sustained organ contrasts with Keb’ Mo’s rhythmic electric guitar playing prior to his scat-singing at the end.

Explaining that his next number is about “a guy who’s been coming to the same bar for 25 years and hits on every woman who comes in,” Keb’ Mo’ performs “I Remember You.” Hammond organ and synthesized Fender Rhodes accompany Keb’ Mo’ as he switches from playing a modal guitar solo to a blues solo on this funky blues rocker.

Vocals warn the audience to “Look out, baby/I’m in a dangerous mood” as Keb’ Mo’ performs “Dangerous Mood.” Bright white lights flash as Keb’ Mo’ sings, “I had to steal a little time, baby/So I could spend it all on you,” on this thumping blues number. The band decrescendos, allowing Keb’ Mo’s guitar to cry out while colorful lighting accentuates the blues emanating from the stage.

For his final number, Keb’ Mo’ performs the infectious “The Worst Is Yet to Come.” After crying, “Woke up this mornin’/Wrong side of the bed/Had a heavenly night, you know/I’m feelin’ it in my head,” music lovers clap along to the irresistible groove of this funky country rocker.

At the conclusion, the crowd reacts with cheers, applause, and a standing ovation. Keb’ Mo’ and the band leave the stage and return to perform an encore of “She Just Wants to Dance.” Resonator guitar accompanies Keb’ Mo’s vocal as he tells a story so compelling that a woman in the audience gets up and dances in the aisle to this uptempo swing blues number as music lovers clap along.

The crowd roars, and Keb’ Mo’ inquires, “We’ve got one more, alright?” The audience heartily agrees, and concertgoers clap and sing as Keb’ Mo’ plays electric guitar and cries, “I’m gonna make my world a better place/I’m gonna keep that smile on my face” on “Better Man.”

People stand, cheer, and whistle, and Keb’ Mo’ reacts by exclaiming, “Thank you, Ocean City!” After he acknowledges his band and crew members, Keb’ Mo’, along with his musicians, takes a bow in front of the cheering crowd.

As audience members make their way out of the Music Pier auditorium, several comment on tonight’s performance. Declares Yogi from Cape May, “Keb’ Mo’ was unbelievable tonight!” explaining, “This is the best show I’ve seen all year anywhere in South Jersey!” Susan from West Cape agrees, noting, “It was fabulous — just a a totally feel-good show,” before exclaiming, “Keb’ Mo’ is such a natural performer, you just want to take him home with you!”

Kevin from Ocean City acknowledges, “Keb’ Mo’ has always been a great blues player, and seeing him here at Ocean City Music Pier is fantastic since it’s one of the best music houses anywhere.” Laura from Somers Point concurs, adding, “He has such virtuosity! I loved how many different instruments he played” prior to insisting, “He looks and sounds great — I can’t believe he’s 71 years old!”

Brad from Downington, PA reveals, “I was so excited to get to see Keb’ Mo’ tonight and he was fantastic!” explaining, “I’m really into the blues and I love how Keb’ Mo’ is keeping with the blues tradition while updating it and bringing it to a contemporary audience.” Brad’s brother, Jake, agrees, adding, “Brad and I love going to shows together and this was a great one to see!”

Conni from Cherry Hill asserts, “I loved Keb’ Mo’ tonight! He’s so uplifting. He’s got so much soul — he makes you happy and he makes you smile! I originally saw him 20 years ago and he still looks and sounds the same. He’s so positive and his energy is so great, he really gets your mojo going!”

Lastly, Paul from Rio Grande characterizes Keb’ Mo’s performance tonight as, “Fabulous!” explaining, “If you don’t come out smiling after a Keb’ Mo’ concert, there’s something wrong with you! He’s incredible. He’s tasteful. He’s fit as a fiddle, and he’s a f*cking good guitar player,” before concluding, “He’s simply top notch!’”

To learn more about Keb’ Mo’, please go to kebmo.com. For information on upcoming performances at Ocean City Music Pier — including Kenny G on July 10, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes on July 17, and Aimee Mann with Jonathan Coulson on July 31 — please go to ocnj.us/SummerConcertSeries.