Thursday night Marc Broussard returned to the House of Blues. This Louisiana native bringing his brand of funk and cajun to Dallas for the evening. Now I’m no stranger to Marc’s shows and this was definitely one that qualifies for top three.
For the first time that I can remember Marc’s backing band had expanded to include a brass section and a group of back up singers (whom doubled as one of the openers.) Personally I am a huge sucker for horns, and once you see a band with a horn section you hope they never go back. Fantastic choice for Marc’s music.
Marc spent most of the evening performing tunes off of Carencro, so many I was surprised. I was expecting it to be filled with tunes from his latest self titled album. But no, they were just sprinkled in here and there. But the choice to pick the older tunes is quite possibly what kept the audience so into the show. So as far as the audience was concerned it was a wise decision, as a critic I would have liked to have heard some more of the newer stuff.
Broussard performed spot on all evening, going beyond what I’d seen from him in the past. Sitting on the edge of the stage for one tune, dropping to his knees during another. Taking folks camera phones and recording a straight into camera at arms length concert video for them. A huge smile on my face every time he did so.
Marc had planned on ending the show with Home, one of the most impressive versions of the tune I’d ever seen from the charmer. Kicking his legs up in the air, doing push ups on the stage exuding all the energy he’s built up. Returning to the stage for a one song encore of Donnie Hathaway’s “More Than You’ll Ever Know” letting the audience know they usually don’t do encores on this tour.
Marc has a record of never letting the audience down, and Thursday’s show was no exception. If you haven’t heard of this Cajun Crooner, you’re completely missing out.
