POP MUSIC REVIEWS : Watson Throws a Party at the House of Blues

Johnny (Guitar) Watson wasn’t about to waste his time Friday at the House of Blues performing a lame nostalgia show. Within minutes, this funk-blues party master had waded deep into the crowd with his guitar, firing off one explosive blues lead after another.

Dressed in a black fedora and great big shades, Watson’s appearance was like something right out of the ‘70s, when he was a regular hit maker with songs like “A Real Mother for Ya.” That brand of grinding funk has now found a new audience, via the old Watson tracks sampled by the likes of Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg. “We’re enjoying a period of reinvention,” Watson announced with a smile.

On Friday, Watson resurrected several of those “ ‘70s specials” but also played songs from his new “Bow Wow” album, a Grammy nominee for best contemporary blues collection. It was that new material, including a title track he said was inspired by his new friends of the hip-hop generation, that suggests Watson’s sound and energy are still present for the ‘90s.

Watson used his guitar sparingly (probably too sparingly), but he led a nine-person band that genuinely seemed to be enjoying itself, with members laughing, hugging and high-fiving with the boss. It was a mood that spread quickly to an audience ready to welcome the return of a relentless pop artist who knows how to throw a party.