Rick Estrin & the Nightcats at 411 Club Kalamazoo MI 3/27

If Rick Estrin & the Nightcats have it their way music like theirs, a swinging set of time honored jump blues, will never go out of style. Estrin and the Nightcats appeared at the 411 Club in Kalamazoo laying it out with enough energy to keep the joint jumping and the dance floor dust-free. The second set began with a jazzy instrumental number which featured multifaceted bassist Lorenzo Farrell on Hammond B-3 organ just ahead the tasteful highlight reel guitar of Kid Andersen. It wasn't long before Estrin--snazzy shoes and all--was launching into the soulful Little Milton number "Never Trust a Woman." His showmanship needs appreciation. Not too many know the real art of front-man entertainer-ship but Estrin makes it look easy. Sporting the style with suits and pompadours, the period look of the Nightcats is from a simpler time when bands actually cared to dress up. Featuring songs from their most recent disc, Twisted (Alligator) Estrin and company did "A Ton of Money" to shouts of approval from the audience. From his days with former band mates in Little Charlie & the Nightcats, Estrin got busy with his signature tune of sorts, "My Next Ex-Wife." Soon after Andersen got the nod for the original surf-like "Earthquake," an instrumental which showed why he can rightfully inherit the once-revered spot held by "Little Charlie" Baty. Here's hoping they put a copy of the Rick Estrin & the Nightcats Twisted CD in the next time capsule so that future generations of music lovers may enjoy. (Photo courtesy of Dennis Tuttle)