Originally published by L.S. Media. July 4th 2010.

With a career spanning over 4 decades, Robert Cray has carved himself a position as one of the best blues guitarist to come from America, his gentle on stage demeanour and apparent genuine love of making an audience happy comes across from the moment he picks up his guitar and plays his first note.

Robert was making only his second visit to Liverpool at the invitation of the Liverpool Summer Pops organisers and there are not many artists who could be a perfect choice to be one of the opening acts for this celebration of live music.

Robert and his band opened up the evening with “Our Last Time” from the 1992 album I Was Warned and from that moment the strong Liverpool audience lapped up every word and although a seemingly shy man was able to come from behind the safety of his chosen instrument and make the odd joke with the warm appreciative crowd, including one special moment when a member of the audience had told him to lay of the comedy and just play the music, he wittily replied, “You watch, one of these days, we will make a comedy album!”

The guys on stage had a huge repertoire to try and cram into one evening and in circumstances like this, there will always be songs that get left off the set list that faithful fans would have wanted to hear but with favourites such as Phone Booth, Right Next Door and the fabulously titled Chicken in the Kitchen from the number 2 billboard blues album This Time there wouldn’t have been many dissenting voices in the crowd.

The man of the hour was joined on stage by his band which consisted of Tony Braunagel on drums, Richard Cousins on bass and the amazing Jim Pugh on keyboards, whose obvious talent is on par with Robert himself.

Hopefully it won’t be long before Robert and his band are back in Liverpool, judging by the spontaneous applause at the end of the gig they will always be welcomed here.

Ian D. Hall