Al Kooper Live at Rams Head
Jacqui and I went to see Al Kooper play solo at the Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis, MD last night. I had seen him with the "Funky Faculty," some of his former colleagues at Berkeley School of Music, a few years back at the House of Blues in Cambridge. That version was with a full band and horns. This one was just Al with electric keyboards and guitar. On his website, he promoted it:
"With the Mongrel Booking Agency in place, Al begins getting back to those nooks & crannies he hasn't visited in decades. A solo performance for all you Maryland and DC fans. It's been awhile now and Al would love to see all of you again! One long show at 7:30."
He played for slightly over two hours, introducing songs with stories about his career, the gist of which is that he always got the short end of business deals with the record companies but was so focused on making good music, he was not really complaining. The room was not quite sold out but filled with long time Kooper fans who appreciated his music and hung on every word. I did not write down a set list but he played I Can't Quit Her, I Can't Stand the Rain, New York City, and The Modern Adventures of Plato, Diogenes and Freud, among others.