Robert Gordon + His All-Star Band at Hill Country Barbecue Market

In 1956, Elvis Presley released "Heartbreak Hotel," his first single on a major record label. That song on the radio inspired Robert Gordon, a nine-year-old in Bethesda, Maryland, to pursue a career as a rock and roll musician. At his brother's request, a 15-year-old Gordon sang at summer camp, marking his public debut as a singer. In his late teens he sang in several local bands, and at age 17 recorded with a group called the Confidentials, which after several lineup changes became the Newports. Gordon married at age 19 and fathered two sons, and in 1970 the family moved to New York City, where he opened a clothing store. Business and family took up most of his time, but after a divorce in the mid-1970s Gordon joined the burgeoning punk rock scene singing in Tuff Darts. Tuff Darts became popular locally and appeared ready for a more mainstream audience, until Gordon suddenly quit the band to start a solo career singing rockabilly. Over the years, he teamed with stellar guitar icons Link Wray, Chris Spedding and Danny Gatton. Gordon's 10th and most studio album is 2014's I'm Coming Home.

Robert Gordon does not write music, but rather interprets rockabilly standards and obscurities with his rich baritone. Billed as Robert Gordon + His All-Star Band tonight at Hill Country Barbecue Market, Gordon's band consisted of three well-known session players: guitarist Chris Spedding, bassist Rob Stoner, and drummer Thommy Price. Spedding led the trio through several songs before Gordon appeared on stage, with the audience as attentive to Spedding as later to Gordon. With no new recording to promote, Gordon's performance was very similar to his concerts of recent years, even with his slightly altered "all-star" lineup. As usual, Gordon had at his feet a large hand-written set list, but after a few songs paid it little attention, instead taking requests from the audience and band members, singing songs that the audience has heard him sing in the past. Spedding seemed to play more extended solos than at last summer's concert at the same venue, and showcased his masterful ability to pick rockabilly runs rapidly and smoothly. Gordon and his band did a fine job mining a treasury of rockabilly songs; one can only hope that he will introduce new material at future concerts.