If Houston isnยt the home of the blues, it certainly has always been somewhere between a cradle and a halfway house for it. Itยs guys like piano man Earl Gilliam who continue to give Houston its blues cred as we speed forward in the 21st century. Yes, Gilliam has changed a bit since he was a young phenom holding his own with the likes of Albert Collins or Johnny Copeland, but the manยs like a fine wine ย he only gets better with age. Anyone whoยs seen a recent Gilliam show knows heยs as subtle as it gets, but that he ainยt too tired to pound ยem through the floor when the beat gets right. With Gilliam and his crew of rowdies, the thrill is never gone, itยs just on its way ยround again.
This article appears in Jul 26 – Aug 1, 2007.