Reviews

Etta James may be 70 years old, but at Dallas' House of Blues on Wednesday night, she still displayed in abundance the sass and sexuality that have endeared her to fans and kept them following her career during the last half a century. She's got soul and sass to spare, and Ms. James' vocals fit the life she's lived – robust and raw around the edges.

Her immaculate Roots Band prefaced her appearance with a nearly 10-minute-long jam session before Ms. James sashayed onstage in black sequins and perched herself in a chair to sing "Come to Mama."

"I'm not no sex kitten," she said early in her hourlong set, but with her explicit gestures, knowing glances and constant swiveling of the hips, Ms. James' denial fell on deaf ears.

The audience roared in approval as her textured, throaty alto took them through "I'd Rather Go Blind," a cover of Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart" and the bawdily rendered Johnny "Guitar" Watson song, "I Want to Ta-Ta You Baby."

After sharing how much she wanted to emulate Mr. Watson's vocal style when they were teens, she cleared up any remaining confusion about the title with, " I don't mean these ta-tas, either," as she gripped her sequined bosom.

Her opening act, 17-year-old Texan and musical prodigy Tyler Dow Bryant, was decidedly lower-key, but he wielded his guitar with poise and precision, giving hope for a new generation of blues masters. His voice was supple with youth, but still held the grit of a man newly discovering his pains and passions.

Lorrie Irby Jackson is a Dallas freelance writer.

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