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Keb’ Mo’
The Vogue
Thursday, March 18

Now here’s something you don’t run into every day: an acoustic blues artist who’s been on a major label for a decade. Keb’ Mo’, one of the most familiar faces in blues, will be at the Vogue (6259 N. College Ave.) on March 18. Kaki King will be opening.

The former Kevin Moore of Los Angeles recorded his Keb’ Mo’ self-titled debut in 1994 for Sony’s Okeh label. In the mid ’90s, a new generation of African-American acoustic blues musicians was popping up. Some even changed their musical image towards the blues. Players like Guy Davis, Corey Harris, Alvin Youngblood Hart and Fruteland Jackson were writing original material and getting signed to record labels of various sizes. Of this crop of players, Mo’ was the most visible.

His sophomore and junior albums, Just Like You and Slow Down, won him Grammy awards. The Door was released in 2000 and he recorded an album for all ages called Big Wide Grin in 2001. The don’t-call-it-a-children’s album featured covers of “Family Affair,” “Love Train,” “Isn’t She Lovely,” “Big Yellow Taxi” (take that, Counting Crowes) and a pre-Sept. 11 “America The Beautiful.”

Mo’ gained more exposure last year by appearing in Martin Scorsese’s contribution (“Feel Like Going Home”) to his PBS documentary The Blues. Public Radio International aired a national weekly blues series (also called The Blues), which Mo’ hosted. His latest album, Keep It Simple, was released by Okeh last month.

Decisions, decisions: The same night Keb’ Mo’ is in town, young gun guitar slinger Anthony Gomes will be at the Slippery Noodle Inn (372 S. Meridian St.). The month still has coming to town, Noodle-wise, Savoy Brown with Kim Simmonds (March 23), Chicago great Byther Smith (March 25) and the blues godfather of Austin, Texas, W.C. Clark (March 30).