In the immortal words of Muddy Waters, “The blues had a baby and they named it rock ‘n’ roll.” The blues could just as easily have named that baby George Thorogood, as his recent appearance at the Warner Theatre was a celebration of greasy, groovy blues-based rock ‘n’ roll music, delivered loud and nasty.
A native of Delaware, Thorogood became a huge star in the early ’80s thanks to the title cut of his fourth album, Bad To The Bone. If you were a kid in the ’80s, it’s a song you’ve heard, even if you don’t recognize the name of the song or the band. It was everywhere for a while, and George still does it every night for his audiences. I feel like I remember it being used with football highlights, but memory is a funny thing, and I can’t be sure. I also feel like it was used in a music video for the late professional wrestler (and noted softball enthusiast) Sid Vicious (no relation to the Sex Pistol), but again I could be wrong. (It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen!)
On Feb. 25, the Warner Theatre was a special place for George, as it was his first show after his 75th birthday on Monday. (And he looks and sounds great! It’s always encouraging to see artists staying strong and vibrant as they get older.) The audience celebrated and sang to him with the band. Later that night, he promised, “I’m going to do everything in my power to get arrested.” This was, of course, just a boast, but a boast in the finest tradition of blues and rock braggadocio.
Watch the official music video for “Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood & The Destroyers on YouTube:
Though he’s not a purist, Thorogood always pays tribute to his blues influences, and this night and this show was no exception. He covered Amos Milburn (“One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” one of his biggest hits), Bo Diddley (“Who Do You Love?”), John Lee Hooker (“House Rent Blues”), and JB Lenoir (“Mama Talk to Your Daughter.”) But his influences aren’t limited to the blues: He also played “Gloria” (made famous by Van Morrison’s first band, Them), the traditional “Cocaine Blues” (the basis for Eric Clapton’s “Cocaine”), and he finished his main set with a Hank Williams tune, “Move It On Over,” that lent its name to his first album back in the ’70s.
Coming out to the classic ’60s tune “Eve of Destruction,” the Destroyers got things started, appropriately enough, with the anthemic “Rock Party.” The set was rounded out with a smattering of Thorogood originals: “I Drink Alone,” “Gear Jammer,” “Get a Haircut,” and, of course, “Bad To the Bone.” Between “Cocaine Blues” and “Gear Jammer,” George took a quick break and the band jammed until he came back.
Speaking of taking a break, when they came back for their encore, the Destroyers were joined by Pat Faherty, the guitarist and vocalist for Canyon Lights, who opened the show. Together, they played “Born to be Bad” (I think I’m sensing a common theme), then sent the audience to the exits as “The Star-Spangled Banner” played.
Canyon Lights, the trio who opened the show with a 45-minute set, were new to me — and, I would assume, to most of the audience — having formed fairly recently, inspired by the hard rock of the ’70s, like the James Gang, whose “Walk Away” they covered. I particularly related to “Late to the Ball,” which Pat explained is about “trying to flirt with girls while being on the autism spectrum.” Pat did one number, “Codeine & Caffeine,” solo, and other songs included “Breathe Easy,” “There’s a Song Behind These Tones,” and “Over the Moon.”
It’s always tough for an unknown band to win over a crowd, but Canyon Lights did it, with a good chunk of the audience giving them a standing ovation. As George said, we’re going to be hearing a lot from these folks. I really enjoyed their set and look forward to catching them again. They did a great job of setting the stage for the Destroyers, who lived up to their name, absolutely killing it.
Here are some photos of George Thorogood & The Destroyers performing at the Warner Theatre in DC on Feb. 25, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.
Here are some photos of Canyon Lights opening George Thorogood & The Destroyers at the Warner Theatre in DC on Feb. 25, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.
