Charlie Musselwhite

Photo by John Carrico

Charlie Musselwhite

All evidence to the contrary, the blues are alive and well in Austin. At least where harp-blower supreme Charlie Musselwhite is concerned. The Mississippi native and his electric trio blew the roof off the WaMu tent, almost making up for the dearth of other bluesmen this weekend. Concentrating on his latest disc, Delta Hardware, Musselwhite mixed full-bore Chicago-style blues with a few surprises. There was "Church Is Out," a riff-rocker à la Austin's LeRoi Brothers, a taste of what he called "Brazilian blues," and the appropriately ominous "Black Water," an ode to New Orleans in the wake of Katrina. Guitarist Chris "Kid" Anderson added notable help, demonstrating a delicate touch when necessary and then blazing like Jimmie Vaughan on the set-closing vamp that allowed each player space to strut his stuff. The uproarious packed house had come to hear some rollin' and tumblin', and Musselwhite held up his end of the bargain.