Performing live at The Center for Arts Natick February 9 2019
by Jennifer Simon
Marcia Ball returned to the Center for Arts in Natick MA on February ninth to a sold out crowd for her annual pilgrimage to the area before an appreciative audience.
Ball started the evening off projecting the attitude needed by all with: If you Don’t Rock & Roll You Won’t have No Fun At All. The band included John Bennett on bass, Corey Keller on drums, Mike Schermer on lead guitar, and Eric Bernhardt on saxophone. Ball of course plays keyboards and sings. The band’s style is an enticing mixture of ragtime and blues, all with a healthy dose of Cajun seasoning over the top.
Last year she played a number of new songs being worked on for her latest album. This year she was delighted to share that album and the finished version of several of those on her new disc Shine Bright. She feels as if the album exemplifies her New Year’s Resolution to “count your blessings and watch your step.” Ball’s new record is a “call to perform aggressive acts of good”. Much of the set included songs from the release including Look Before You Leap.
Ball spoke of her desire to “take a little of Louisiana everywhere you go”. and exemplified that with her song When Mardi Gras is Over, That’s When I go Home. She also played tunes in her older catalogue including her most requested song Big Mouth Louella and also Tattooed Lady & Alligator Man.
After an amazing show over one hundred minutes in length, Ball came out and played a two song encore: Peace Love & BBQ and Party is Still Goin On. Ball stuck around and chatted with fans and signed copies of the new album.
2022 Tour Dates:
Sat, FEB 19
SOPAC | South Orange Performing Arts Center
South Orange, NJ
Sun, FEB 20
BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity
Northampton, MA
Tue, FEB 22
Infinity Hall Norfolk
Norfolk, CT
Wed, FEB 23
Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club
Portsmouth, NH
Thu, FEB 24
Narrows Center For The Arts
Fall River, MA
Fri, FEB 25
Center For Arts In Natick
Natick, MA
Fri, MAR 4
Grand Magnolia Ballroom & Suites
Pascagoula, MS
Sat, MAR 5
Manship Theatre
Baton Rouge, LA
Fri, MAR 18
Marcia Ball Trio at The Bugle Boy
La Grange, TX
Sat, MAR 19
Crighton Theatre
Conroe, TX
Thu, MAR 24
The Globe Theatre
Bertram, TX
Fri, MAR 25
Marcia Ball and Tinsley Ellis at Belle Isle
Oklahoma City, OK
Sat, APR 9
44th Annual Lubbock Arts Festival
Lubbock, TX
Wed, APR 13
Marcia Ball and Tommy Castro & The Painkillers at Antone’s
Austin, TX
Thu, APR 14
Marcia Ball and Tommy Castro & The Painkillers at The Kessler Theater
Dallas, TX
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