Jonny Lang

Considered to be among the best young bluesman, Jonny Lang released his first album when he was 15. He performs at 8 p.m. today (June 10) at Neumeier’s Rib Room in Fort Smith. Moreland & Arbuckle open. Tickets are $25.

George Thorogood and the Destroyers

“I know I’m full of (crap), but I’m having a good time,” George Thorogood told a crowd gathered to watch him perform March 7 at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville.

And that pretty much sums it up.

George Thorogood, approaching 60 years of age, is still full of vim and vigor. He’s still got chops on guitar. He’s still got a few moves, too, as he spent a good part of the evening wriggling about onstage, shaking his hips or spinning in circles while playing his white Gibson guitar.

But Thorogood isn’t the best guitarist you’ll ever see. His stage show isn’t the most advanced, although the LED video boards that flanked him on both sides of his spot in the middle of the stage had their moments. And, heck, he doesn’t even play that many of his own songs, making hits instead of blues standards by John Lee Hooker, Bo Diddley and more.

But, you know what? He’s on to something. When you’re having as he was on Sunday night, it’s hard not so share some of that enthusiasm.

About 1,000 people avoided the Oscar broadcast and showed up at the Walton Arts Center on Sunday night to see Thorogood and his backing band, The Destroyers, do their thing.

What is that thing? At this stage in his career, Thorogood sounds like a classic rock jukebox, but that’s in large part because he has half a dozen songs that are staples on such stations.

He played all of those hits, including “Move It On Over,” “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” “I Drink Alone,” “Bad to the Bone,” and more.

During each of those songs, he had a classic-rock-aged crowd on the move, dancing in their seats and singing along with gusto.

Thorogood is an expert at this, having toured the country nonstop for years. He famously crossed the country in 1981 on the 50/50 Tour, which took him to 50 gigs in 50 states in 50 days, including a night at the Library Club in Fayetteville.

Although his antics — slinking across the stage, dropping to his knees, twirling — got a little old by the end of the 95-minute set, Thorogood never physically flagged.

His vocals lost some of their oomph, but it’s debatable if that was because he was tired or just vocally lazy. His playing and his band — which was military marching precision tight — suggested no lack of energy.

At the conclusion of one song, at the end of a lengthy jam segment, he proclaimed, “Pretty good, huh?,” to which the adoring crowd screamed approval.

“It never hurts to have a little confidence,” he said. “If you got it, you got it.”

I doubt many of those in the audience would have said Thorogood had anything but exactly what they asked for.

About the opener:

Dustin Arbuckle, left, and Aaron Moreland

Moreland & Arbuckle, from Kansas, played a way-too-short set as Thorogood’s opening act. The group, which consists of a vocalist, guitarist and drummer, remind me most immediately of The Black Keys but with the sounds of harmonica added to the mix. Their third song of the evening, which I believe was called “Troll,” was a particular highlight with its stomping beat and fat chords.

George Thorogood setlist: 1) Rock Party; 2) Who Do You Love? (Bo Diddley cover); 3) Did not catch the title of this song; 4) Night Time; 5) I Drink Alone; 6) One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (John Lee Hooker Jr. cover); 7) Cocaine Blues (Red Arnall/Johnny Cash cover); 8) Did not catch the title of this song; 9) Get A Haircut; 10) Bad To The Bone; 11) Move It On Over (Hank Williams cover); 12) Taildragger (Howlin’ Wolf Cover); 13) You Talk Too Much;

Encore: 14) Did not catch the title of this song