Joanne Shaw Taylor is currently on tour in the USA, and she played Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis recently to a huge blues audience. Taylor is on tour in support of her latest album, Black and Gold, and she has played Rams Head numerous times in the past so in some ways this was almost like a homecoming for the globally renowned blues guitarist.
Taylor (who is from England) played a great set of blues at Rams Head on March 28 and started the show in great form with “Stop Messin’.” You could tell from the onset that Taylor was very comfortable playing at Rams Head and referenced some of the staff members in early comments as she advised she had first played here in 2010.
Taylor got the crowd in attendance laughing early and often with her straight-forward ability for conversing by talking about changing up merch a little on this tour with items that didn’t just feature her face on them but also Hank her dog.
Taylor’s new album is very much from the heart and her performance this time at Rams Head was very heart felt as well as she conversed with the audience often in touching conversation before playing another intense song highlighting her outstanding guitar abilities or her soulful voice as on “Wicked Soul” nearly halfway through the show.
Stream “Wicked Soul” by Joanne Shaw Taylor on YouTube:
About the fifth song into the set, Taylor and fellow guitarist on stage played a real rocker called “Look What I’ve Become,” which showed Taylor’s great blues technique and how she continues evolving over the years. This song was a highlight from Taylor’s new album, which is actually her 10th studio album she has released, and she worked with Kevin Shirley, one of the legends in the music industry, who Taylor mentioned had worked with another little band called Led Zeppelin. Shirley is also legendary guitarist Joe Bonamassa’s producer as well, which Taylor referenced.
One of the highlights of the show was Taylor and band playing Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” demonstrating the band and Taylor’s interworking’s at its best.
Taylor advised the crowd at this point in the show that she is British, so it is natural to check in with the audience to see how they are doing. Taylor also took this time to slow the pace down some and discussed losing her mother in 2013 and how she thinks of her every day as the process never leaves her. However, Taylor feels lucky that she has music to help her with emotions which assists her in creating music that she can share with her “lovely” audiences. Taylor also advised the audience that losing her mother showed her that one must live each day and not to waste a single moment in the process.
Near the end of the night’s performance Taylor played a beautiful version of “Summertime” which was a song she decided to start playing from influence working with Shirley. It was a beautiful version of the classic song and had a similar bluesy feel just like listening to Janis Joplin’s take on the song.
Watch Joanne Shaw Taylor perform “Summertime” live with Joe Bonamassa on YouTube:
After a quick break, Taylor and band played a mesmerizing blues song “Watch Em Burn” to close out the evening. The song was a rocker that sort of had a Zeppelin feel to it. There should be no mistaking the ability of Taylor after hearing this song, which received great ovations from the audience. Taylor left it all on stage this evening in Annapolis and her performance helps to cement her status as one of the best blues players of her generation.
Setlist
1. Stop Messin’
2. Hell of a Good Time
3. Sweet Lil Lies
4. What Good is My Love?
5. Look What I’ve Become
6. Dyin to Know
7. Wicked Soul
8. Wanna Be My Lover?
9. The Chain
10. Fade Away
11. Black Magic
12. Summertime
13. Gotta Stop Letting You Let Me Down
14. Change of Heart
15. Watch Em Burn
Here are some photos of Joanne Shaw Taylor performing live at Rams Head On Stage on March 28, 2026. All pictures copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.
