Marcus King @ Élysée-Montmartre, Paris - March 19th, 2023

Marcus King is just 27 but already has quite a career behind him, and all the hard work and great music he's been releasing has been paying off. He's rightly considered one of his generation's greatest blues-rock gunslingers, and his records are all held in high esteem by American music connoisseurs the world over. His new album Young Blood, produced by none other than Dan Auerbach, was released last summer and is another brilliant slice of soul-infused, country-tinged blues rock. 

His show at the Élysée-Montmartre, in the red light district of Paris, was sold out and absolutely jam-packed: 1400 people came to hear the young man from South Carolina and his 7-piece band, including a full horn section, deliver the tastiest contemporary Southern Rock this side of the Sheepdogs. 

The two-hour set was of course a showcase for King's emotive guitar playing and his soulful vocals, but also also allowed for backing musicians to share the spotlight, including guitarist Drew Smithers whose slide work was incendiary throughout. Among the highlights of the show were I'll Fly Away, in duet with support act Leah Blevins, and a version of Rice Pudding in tribute to Jeff Beck who passed away two months ago. All in all, a fantastic evening of guitar and the best music America has to offer.