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Concert review: Nitzinger

Nobody left this birthday bash blue

By DARREN WHITE

Special to the Star-Telegram

The banner behind the stage just said Nitzinger.

One-name notoriety is usually reserved for stars with names like McCartney and Madonna. But in Fort Worth, blues rocker and native son Johnny Nitzinger is a living legend.

He toured with Alice Cooper, wrote songs for Bloodrock and is considered to be one of the greatest living rock guitarists in Texas music history. As if that weren't enough, Nitzinger teaches kids guitar and songwriting at Nitzinger's Music Factory, a real-life school of rock.

At a party celebrating both the release of his latest CD, Kiss of the Mudman, and his birthday Sunday at McDavid Studio, Nitzinger was treated with the reverence of a local superstar and the warmth of an old friend.

And, as birthday parties go, it was certainly a blowout. Nitzinger shared the stage with three backup singers, three horn players, a steel guitarist, a keyboardist, a drummer and bass player. He even called on a drum corps, one of his guitar students and his niece.

The music sounded every bit as raunchy and bluesy as it has for the last 30 years, with Nitzinger dipping deep into his back catalog for favorites like Louisiana Cockfight, as well as tracks off his new CD, including Sarah's Letter and The Devil's Got the Blues. Each one was given the long, drawn-out treatment of a good jam, with several songs stretching minutes past their original track times.

"We just signed to Columbia," Nitzinger joked during the set. "I send them $19.95, and they send me 10 CDs."

In between songs, Nitzinger was presented with birthday gifts, plaques and tokens of appreciation for his years of dedication to the Fort Worth music community.

It's good to see Nitzinger in such good spirits. The last decade has been a rough one for him, as he's dealt with cancer and a stroke. But only slightly worse for the wear, Nitzinger is back in full force, blowing through songs like he's just a spry kid with a guitar: Loud, cocky, funny and bluesy.

At any rate, Nitzinger is a top-level talent who deserves the love and attention he received Sunday. Happy birthday, Johnny.