THE BLUES IS #1!!!! Still reeling from an amazing evening last night at High Noon Saloon in Madison, WI with Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, on tour to support their latest album “Freedom Tower No Wave Dance Party 2015.″ We were able to meet up with Judah prior to the show, with a surprise (for us) addition of his brother, Donovan, and had dinner with them, along with their parents and a few other friends (photos above are me with Donovan, Judah and Cristian).

The show was a blistering, roaring and – yes – explosion of energy, probably one of the top performances I have seen from them in the 21+ years I’ve been going to their shows. Spencer rocks his ass off and Simins bangs the drums with gleeful ferocity – both men working and sweating so hard that they look like they just took a 90 minute hot yoga class. Judah is ever cool and unruffled;  luckily the sound guys had the mix perfectly tuned so his guitar was front and center.

For me, the highlight of the show was toward the end of the encore when, after a little confusion – I think maybe they were looking for the opening band (Daddy Long Legs) to join them onstage? – Spencer asked for requests. Judah looked at me and I yelled “Greyhound.” He told me after the show it was the perfect song for that moment.