Outside the venue, a replica of the Blues Brothers car sat parked that set the authentic vibe before you even walked in. The Blues Masters walked onstage at Knuckleheads Garage in Kansas City with smiles, with front and center noticeably empty. The opening music began, and lead singer Elwood stepped out with a briefcase handcuffed to his wrist, perfectly reenacting the familiar moment from the film.
The band wailed into Blues Brothers classics before adding in some covers not in the film. “Hold On, I’m Comin’,” originally recorded by Sam & Dave, set the rhythm early and got people moving near the stage. “Mustang Sally,” made famous by Wilson Pickett, pushed the room from swaying to actual dancing. By the time they played “The Letter” by Jim Crocker, the floor had stopped functioning as a place to stand and turned into a dance space. At one point, the iconic black hats were handed to people who were already dancing, immersing the audience.
Elwood called for a dance contest and pointed directly to the twist contest scene from the movie Pulp Fiction. Couples and singles alike stepped forward and understood the assignment. At the end, they handed out shirts to the winners.
In ninety minutes, Elwood & The Blues Masters built the night around familiar songs, hilarious references, and constant interaction with the room. It was truly a barroom blues revue with the audience was completely immersed.
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