Galveston native Hamilton Loomis began playing blues guitar in front of thousands of people as a teenager. Over the years, the Grammy-nominated guitarist has kept it simple. He focused on learning from the best — Bo Diddley and Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown among them — touring extensively and writing his own songs. The result is a deep catalogue of music that celebrates the origins of the blues, with plenty of modern nuances for a contemporary audience. The song “You’ve Got to Wait,” a collaboration with the late Diddley on Loomis’s album Ain’t Just Temporary, is a prime example. The opportunity to see a guitarist of this caliber at such an intimate venue doesn’t present itself often. This is an instance when going out on a Sunday night is worth it. 6 p.m. McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk. For information, call 713-528-5999 or visit www.mcgonigels.com. $15.

Sun., Aug. 10, 6 p.m., 2008

This article appears in Aug 7-13, 2008.