Photo by Peter LeeA dozen years ago I had a chance to see T-Model Ford open for R.L. Burnside at the House Of Blues in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In his late seventies at the time, he’d only recently started recording and performing – just a kid with a dream, really. Café 9 is known as the “musician’s living room” and Ford spent the hours before his set resting comfortably at the bar; leaving him sufficiently relaxed by the time he took the stage.

“I’m from Greenville, Mississippi” , Ford reminded the crowd before touching off with “Mean Old Frisco” – battered into a new song called “Yes, I’m Standing” , though virtually the entire set is an excuse for the boogie or a shuffle. His nickname The Tail Dragger, is written across his Peavey Razer, which somehow stayed in tune despite the pounding it took on Howlin’ Wolf’s “44 Blues” , which goes on for about 15, though no one seemed to mind. Ever the raconteur, he cadges drinks from the crowd ( “I need my medicine.” ) before launching into Jimmy Reed’s “Big Boss Man” and the tumblers of Johnny Walker Black line up atop his amplifier.

The twelve-bar chaos continued with lots of Muddy Waters – “Rock Me Baby” , “Honey Bee” and “Hoochie Coochie Man” (twice!) as well as the title track from his newest, “Ladies Man” , where we’re left with no doubt that this ninety year-old still likes a good time. With Burnside and Junior Kimbrough both gone, T-Model Ford is one of the last performers whose ramshackle style of blues can conjure up a Delta juke joint without a credibility problem. He manages to deliver a sepia-toned view of another world as well as something thoroughly modern.

It all wrapped up at nearly 1:30 with “Hip Shakin’ Woman” and Willie Dixon’s “My Babe” . By which point he’d worn out his drummer, Marty Reinsel of Gravelroad, nearly sixty years his junior.