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Boz scaggs just announced a 2023 tour: get tickets today.

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We’ve got the “Lowdown” scoop of the year for you.

Classic rock legend Boz Scaggs just announced he’s returning to the stage for his 18-concert ‘Summer 23 Tour’ which will take him all over the U.S. from May 11 through June 10 this year.

That includes gigs at Albany, NY’s The Egg on May 14, Rochester, NY’s Kodak Center on May 23 and Red Bank, NJ’s Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre on May 27.

While fans can likely expect a walk down memory lane when the 78-year-old Scaggs busts out the hits from his seminal 1976 album “Silk Degrees,” don’t be surprised if he also introduces tracks from his soulful 2013 record “Georgia” or 2019’s Grammy-nominated “Out Of The Blues.”

Want to see if the “Lido Shuffle” crooner is coming to a venue near you?

Keep reading — we’ve got everything you need to know about the tour and more.

Boz Scaggs 2023 tour schedule

A complete calendar including all upcoming 18 tour dates, venues and links to buy tickets can be found below.

Boz Scaggs set list

Scaggs has been playing live since the late 1960s.

Still, he finds room to mix things up even though it’s his seventh decade in the biz.

While we can’t say for certain what he’ll perform when he comes to a city near you, here’s a recent set list of Scaggs (courtesy of Set List FM ) that should give you a good idea of what to expect at an upcoming concert of his.

01.) “What Can I Say” 02.) “Rock and Stick” 03.) “Miss Riddle” 04.) “The Feeling Is Gone” (Bobby “Blue” Bland cover) 05.) “Just Got to Know” (Jimmy McCracklin cover) 06.) “Lowdown” 07.) “Harbor Lights” 08.) “Georgia” 09.) “Look What You’ve Done to Me” 10.) “Radiator 110” 11.) “Lido Shuffle”

12.) “It’s Over” 13.) “You Never Can Tell” (Chuck Berry cover) Encore 2:

14.) “Somebody (Loan Me a Dime)” (Fenton Robinson cover)

Classic rockers on tour in 2023

Many legendary groups from yesterday — including Scaggs’ former bandmate Steve Miller — are pounding the pavement this year.

Here are just five of our favorite classic rockers you won’t want to miss live in the next few months.

•  Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

•  Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band

•  Dead and Company featuring John Mayer

•  Billy Joel with Stevie Nicks

•  Lynyrd Skynyrd with ZZ Top

Looking for more options? Try out our list of the 22 biggest classic rockers on tour here .

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Boz Scaggs  

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Boz Scaggs (born 8 June 1944) – aka William Royce Scaggs – is a singer/songwriter from Plano, Texas, US. Through his music he explored the rock, blues, and soul genres, and was a renowned guitarist in the Steve Miller Band as well as having a successful solo career.

Boz Scaggs started experimenting with music at a young age and learned how to play the guitar at the age of 12. While attending high school he befriended Steve Miller and ended up singing vocals in Steve Miller’s band The Marksmen in 1959. Both Miller and Scaggs ended up attending the same university and played in several blues bands during their school years. After school Scaggs moved to London, UK and joined the R&B scene that was on the rise in London. After singing in several bands in London he moved to Switzerland and released his first album as a solo artist, “Boz”, which was released in 1965.

In 1967 Scaggs moved back to the US and settled in San Francisco where the psychedelic scene was starting to explode. While in San Francisco he reconnected with Steve Miller and performed on the Steve Miller Band albums “Children of the Future” and “Sailor”. In 1968 Scaggs was signed as a solo artist to Atlantic Records and released his self-titled album “Boz Scaggs” in 1969. The album received critical praise and included guest musicians like Duane Allman, Eddie Hinton, and David Hood.

Scaggs later signed to Columbia Records and released his third studio album “Moments” in 1971. The album conveyed Scaggs starting to define his unique sound in the blue-eyed soul genre. Scaggs continued to consistently put out albums in the early ‘70s and his album “Slow Dancer” showed Scaggs reaching the No. 81 position on the US Billboard chart.

With the release of his seventh studio album “Silk Degrees” in 1976 Boz Scaggs really broke into the mainstream. The album reached the No. 2 spot on the Billboard 200 chart and contained three top 40 singles: It’s Over”, “Lowdown”, and “Lido Shuffle”. The album would go on to be certified 5x platinum. “Silk Degrees” also contained performances by several of the members in Toto. The album nicely blended in blues, rock, and soul elements and presented it in a pop oriented way. The single “Lowdown” is still a staple for radio stations to play and the song won a Grammy Award for Best R&B song.

Boz Scaggs’ 1977 album “Down Two Then Left” was not quite as successful as “Silk Degrees”, but it still did well on the charts placing at No. 11 on the Billboard 200. In 1980 Boz Scaggs released the track “Look What You’ve Done to Me” on the “Urban Cowboy” soundtrack, which reached No. 14 on the US Pop charts.

Scaggs went on a hiatus for nearly the whole decade of the ‘80s and did not release his next album until 1988, which was called “Other Roads”. In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s Scaggs became involved with a musical side project called The New York Rock and Soul Revue, which featured the members Donald Fagen, Phoebe Snow, and Michael McDonald. Scaggs continues to release music that follows his signature sound as well as branches off by performing covers of well-known hits and jazz standards. Scaggs also stays busy in the live music scene. He is the co-owner of the San Francisco nightclub, “Slim’s”, as well as a consistent performer. He has headlined sold out shows all over the world, touring countries like the United States, Canada, and Japan.

Live reviews

Boz Scaggs was in great form and he was backed up by a cracking band! He kicked off with a burning "Running Blue" and had the audience in the palm of his hand from that point on. It would be difficult to pick a highlight as he touched on various stages of his career with a set list heavy on "Silk Degrees" and his latest LP, "Memphis." Scaggs still has one of the most distinctive voices in music and the crowd loved it. Midway through he sat on a stool and slowed things down with "Corinna Corinna" and a few other softer selections as the audience relaxed and took it all in. From that point on it was all high notes such as "Lido" and "Lowdown." He came back for an encore that started with "What Can I Say" and then went into "Loan Me a Dime" that just sizzled. The keyboard player played his Hammond B-3 with just enough style to suck you in and when Boz traded licks with his guitarist all bets were off! We were treated to a 10+ minute jam of one of his all-time greatest hits and what used to be an FM AOR station staple. The crowd leaped to it's feet several times during the song to show their appreciation to the players on stage. A rare occurrence - he came back for a second encore! What a night! I hope he comes around again soon.

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Was really thrilled to get to see Rock and Roll Legend Boz Scaggs in concert. I have been a fan since my father played for me his copy of his record Silk Degrees. I also am a big Steve Miller Band fan and like the stuff he did with them. The concert was sold out and he played most of his hits.

He played the classics “lowdown” and the rocking “Lido Shuffle”. The crowd really got into those songs. He also performed a lot of songs from his new album that was recorded in the city of Memphis. Those songs had a lot of Rhythm and blues roots and really were well done. He has created some really good songs and it may be some of his better work since the 1970’s. His band was very tight and they were well in tuned with his type of song and the way he wanted the show to go. He played for about 90 minutes. He did several encores. He did not do any old Steve Miller songs which was kind of disappointing but that did not damper the whole show. His new album is critically acclaimed and hopefully he is picking up some younger fans, because it really is good music.

Everyone knows by now that I am Boz's NO.1 fan. I've loved his music since I first heard "We Were Always Sweethearts" in 1971. Immediately after that I bought previous albums and have collected everything he's done since.

This man is so under-rated as an artist and musician! I've seen him countless times live: little venues and big, and he never, ever disappoints. His gorgeous, silky voice and manner are just beyond words.

While the (newer) music world is full of non-music, it is heaven sent that a man like Boz, (who came from a musical era that will never be bettered!)is still performing, still recording and giving the world his lovely soul filled voice and melodies.

Boz...YOU ROCK!

Ms. Evan Degenfelder

Absolutely the BEST concert I've ever been to in about 35 years (I'm 49). He is so underrated and so extremely talented (not hard on the eyes either). His voice is still amazing, he's an incredible guitarist and performer. It actually gave me chills everything was so perfect. His band and Monet were extraordinary and I wish I had been even closer. Wow, what a bunch of talented people. Revolution Hall was a great venue as well. I hope I will be able to see him in a small venue like this again before I die! I love him more than I already did. Thank him for coming to Portland!!

Exceptional show! When seeing a seasoned performer, who has been in the business for 40 years, one expects certain songs to be altered for vocal ranges changing with age and for some of the catalog to be played differently. NOT the case with Boz Scaggs! Crystal clear, perfectly balanced sound and vocals. Every song was played as it was released to the public. Boz has not lost any edge on his vocals or guitar abilities in the slightest. This is by far one of, if not the best show I have ever seen for a performer of his age and caliber. I HIGHLY recommend seeing Boz Scaggs!

Boz Scaggs...what a fun, amazing concert. Even at 75, Boz can still bring it! He did everything from Texas Blues to his older hits. His falsetto is still perfect too.

The band was terrific! Every one of his band members brought precision musicianship to the stage. From the guitar to the tenor saxophone to the keyboards, bass, drum set, and background vocals, each musician was stellar.

I’ve been to many concerts over the years but Boz Scaggs will forever be one of my favorites. Hoping he will tour in this area again! He was fabulous! It was a wonderful time!

Awesome! Almost 71 years old and he rocked the arena. I was in love all over again the minute he started singing! We wore out our 8-track tape of Silk Degrees driving from South Texas to Orlando, Florida on our honeymoon in 1977. Boz still has that beautiful voice and music that moves me! Wish I had the money to follow his concerts while he tours. He knows how to entertain, and employs the sound guys who deliver! Love him!

1st time seeing and hearing Boz Scaggs and his band play. His voice is excellent and his band is tight!!! If you have the chance to go to his show you will not be disappointed. His music set list included Rock & Stick, Radiator 110 from his latest music as well Loan me a Dime, Link Wrays “Cadillac Walk”,Chuck Berry’s “You never can tell”, Georgia, Jojo, It’s Over.

Awesome show. A mix of his old Slow dancer and silk degree hits with some old blues tunes and some of his new Memphis album. Talented band of musicians who play it tight. Boz shows off how good he can be on the guitar at times but shares the stage. Only thing was I found it over too soon. 1 hour and half. Would have loved to hear Loan me a dime but it wasn't in the set.

I LOVE the direction Boz is taking with his music. I like his old stuff from what he refers to as his "Hollywood days". ...But I really love the Memphis album as well as his newest album, Fool to Care. I'm a fan! The concert was terrific. Great band and incredible backup singer (not sure what her name is, but she has an awesome voice!!)

Posters (19)

Find out more about Boz Scaggs tour dates & tickets 2024-2025

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• SF Bay Area (203)
• Los Angeles (LA) (79)
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• Donald Fagen (55)
• Dukes of September (49)
• The Dukes of September Rhyt... (42)
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BOZ SCAGGS BRINGS SUMMER 23 TOUR TO RICHMOND

Feb 28 , 2023, for immediate release.

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, MARCH 3, AT 10AM LOCAL

(RICHMOND, VA) Grammy-winning rock pioneer  Boz Scaggs announces his “Summer 23” tour coming to Dominion Energy Center on May 30, 2023 . Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, March 3 at 10:00AM. Tickets can be purchased at dominionenergycenter.com.

Born William Royce Scaggs in Canton, Ohio on June 8, 1944, Boz Scaggs grew up in Oklahoma and Texas, where he spent his teenage years immersed in the blues, R&B and early rock 'n' roll. While attending school in Dallas, he played in local combos. After several years as a journeyman musician around Madison, WI and Austin, TX, Scaggs spent time traveling in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, eventually settling in Stockholm where he recorded the album  Boz .

Returning to the U.S. in 1967, Scaggs joined the Steve Miller Band in San Francisco, performing on that group's albums  Children of the Future  and  Sailor , before launching his solo career with 1968's seminal  Boz Scaggs  LP, recorded in Muscle Shoals, AL for Atlantic Records.   Scaggs continued to mine a personalized mix of rock, blues and R&B influences, along with a signature style of ballads on such influential '70s albums as  Moments ,  Boz Scaggs & Band ,  My Time ,  Slow Dancer  and 1976’s  Silk Degrees . The latter release became a massive commercial breakthrough, reaching Number Two and remaining on the album charts for 115 weeks.  It spawned three Top 40 hit singles: "It's Over," "Lido Shuffle" and the Grammy-winning "Lowdown."  Subsequently, "We're All Alone” from that same album, would become a #1 single for Rita Coolidge.   Silk Degrees  was followed by the albums  Down Two Then Left  and  Middle Man , and such hit singles as "Breakdown Dead Ahead," "Jo Jo" and "Look What You've Done to Me." 

Despite his '70s successes, Scaggs spent much of the 1980s out of the music-biz spotlight, traveling, opening a family business, fathering young children and founding the San Francisco nightclub, Slim's, He returned to the studio after an 8-year hiatus and released,  Other Roads ,  Some Change ,  Dig , the Grammy-nominated  Come on Home , the unplugged  Fade Into Light , the in-concert retrospective  Greatest Hits Live  as well as a stint touring with Donald Fagen’s New York Rock & Soul Review; all while continuing to maintain a loyal audience in the U.S. and overseas, particularly in Japan. A pair of albums of jazz standards,  But Beautiful  and  Speak Low , the latter topping the  Billboard  Jazz chart, demonstrated Scaggs' stylistic mastery, as did the Southern-flavored  Memphis  and the rhythm & bluesy  A Fool to Care .

"Music has been a constant companion and I'm feeling more free with it than ever," Scaggs comments. "I feel like I've found my voice through all these years, and I've gotten closer to where I want to be with my approach."

Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, March 3 at 10:00AM. Tickets will be available online at dominionenergycenter.com, by phone at (800) 514-3849 via Etix, or in-person at the Altria Theater Box Office, located at 6 N. Laurel Street, open Monday-Friday, 10AM-2PM local.

As a courtesy reminder, Dominion Energy Center urges ticket buyers to buy direct from the Dominion Energy Center website or from the sources listed above. All other ticketing sources are through unauthorized sellers. More information on buying direct can be found at dominionenergycenter.com/tickets-events/etix.

For more information, visit dominionenergycenter.com.  

About ASM Richmond

ASM Richmond is the Richmond, Virginia division of ASM Global, the world’s leading provider of innovative venue services and live experiences. The company manages three local venues including, Altria Theater and Dominion Energy Center on behalf of the Richmond Performing Arts Commission (RPAC), and Bon Secours Training Center on behalf of the Richmond Economic Development Authority. Previously known as SMG Richmond, the company became ASM Richmond in 2019 as a result of the merger between its parent company, SMG Worldwide, and AEG Facilities. ASM Richmond oversees all facets of venue management including, administration and finance, sales and marketing, event production and promotion, and facilities maintenance.

About ASM Global

ASM Global is the world’s leading producer of entertainment experiences. It is the global leader in venue and event strategy and management—delivering locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies to achieve maximum results for venue owners. The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 325 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention, and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and Twitter . asmglobal.com

BOZ SCAGGS – SUMMER 23 TOUR

Dominion energy center, event starts 8:00 pm.

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• Date & Time June 2 , 2023 7:30 PM
• Time 7:30 PM
• On Sale On Sale Now
• Ticket Pricing $59.50 - $89.50

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Ryman Auditorium

Ryman Auditorium, located at 116 Rep. John Lewis Way North, in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the most celebrated venues in modern music. Built in 1892, the historic 2,362-seat live performance venue is the most famous former home of the Grand Ole Opry and is revered by artists and music fans for its world-class acoustics. A bucket list moment for both fans and artists alike, her iconic stage has hosted performers from across genres, such as Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, Charley Pride, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Harry Styles, Wu-Tang Clan, Lizzo, and thousands more. While offering a diverse lineup and thriving concert schedule with over 200 shows per year, the venue is also open for daytime tours year-round. Along with best-in-class production technologies and livestream capabilities, the Ryman has been named  Pollstar ’s Theater of the Year for 13 years through 2021.

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Boz Scaggs at Orpheum Theatre

Orpheum theatre - omaha, ,, orpheum theatre - omaha.

This 2023, classic rock icon Boz Scaggs is bringing his highly-acclaimed live show across North America! The multiple-city run kicked off earlier this spring and was initially scheduled to cover only 18 major cities. But due to public demand, Scaggs will add several more dates, and his initial spring run is now a full-on summer tour! Fans can take a walk down memory lane as the Grammy Award-winning blues rock legend deliver his most sensational hits, such as "Heart of Mine," “Lowdown,” “Lido Shuffle,” “What Can I Say,” and “Sierra.” Aside from older hits, fans can also expect Scaggs to bust out tracks from his latest chart-performing albums, such as Memphis, A Fool to Care, and Out of the Blues! On Saturday, 29th July 2023, the tour makes its way to Omaha, where Scaggs will conquer the iconic Orpheum Theater for one night! If you don’t want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, you better hurry and score tickets now!

So here’s the lowdown. Boz Scaggs is one of the most prominent solo singer-songwriters to have emerged in the ‘60s, and he remains a prolific force in rock and roll today. The former Steve Miller Band member has come out with several iconic hits after leaving the band in 1969. That year, he dropped his highly-anticipated sophomore album, which performed moderately well on the Billboard 200 chart. However, by the mid-’70s, Scaggs began to find his momentum and rise up on the chart. In 1974, he released his sixth effort, Slow Dancer. The album sold over 500,000 copies in the U.S., earning Scaggs a coveted gold certification.

Things forever changed when he dropped his 1976 effort, Silk Degrees. Scaggs went from barely entering the top 100 of the Billboard 200 to number 2 on the chart with his seventh album. The career-defining effort found incredible commercial success due to his megahit, “Lowdown.” The song peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 in Canada. To this day, the single is his highest-charting song to date. “Lowdown” was followed by two more incredible hits, “What Can I Say” and “Lido Shuffle.” The personnel in this critically-acclaimed effort were carefully selected by Scaggs. The esteemed musicians, including David Piach, Jeff Porcaro, and David Hungate, became a solid group and later went on tour together as Scaggs’ official band.

The following year, the success of his seventh album, Silk Degrees, earned him several Grammy nominations and a Grammy win. The album was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance Male. Meanwhile, “Lowdown” was nominated for Best R&B Vocal Performance and Best Rhythm & Blues Song, which we won. Silk Degrees became Scaggs’ best-selling album in the U.S. after five million copies were sold.

After the incredible success of his 1976 album, Scaggs continued to release new music every few years. During the ‘80s, he took an eight-year break from studio recording from 1980 to 1987. In 1988, he dropped his tenth studio album, Other Roads. It took him several more years before coming out with Some Change in 1994.

In 2018, Scaggs released his latest effort, Out of the Blues. The critically-acclaimed album contains songs written by Scaggs and other notable songwriters, such as Jack Walroth, Neil Young, Jimmy and Manny Reed, and more.

See the legendary singer-songwriter rock out like 1975 at the Orpheum Theater - Omaha! Tickets are now up for grabs!

• Orpheum Theatre
• | Boz Scaggs

About the Venue

August 12, 2023

It's appropriate that Boz Scaggs' new album is Out of the Blues, since the blues is what first sparked his five-decade musical career.

Born William Royce Scaggs in Canton, Ohio on June 8, 1944, he grew up in Oklahoma and Texas, where he spent his teenage years immersed in the blues, R&B and early rock 'n' roll. 

"Music has been a constant companion and I'm feeling more free with it than ever," Scaggs comments. "I feel like I've found my voice through all these years, and I've gotten closer to where I want to be with my approach."

August 12 - August 12, 2023

Concert Schedule

Plaza doors open at 6:00 pm

Concessions in the plaza begin at 6:00 pm

Amphitheatre seating starts a 6:30 pm

Concert starts at 7:30 pm

About Boz Scaggs

Born William Royce Scaggs in Canton, Ohio on June 8, 1944, he grew up in Oklahoma and Texas, where he spent his teenage years immersed in the blues, R&B and early rock 'n' roll. While attending school in Dallas, he played in local combos. After several years as a journeyman musician around Madison, WI and Austin, TX, Scaggs spent time traveling in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, eventually settling in Stockholm where he recorded the album Boz.

Returning to the U.S. in 1967, Scaggs joined the Steve Miller Band in San Francisco, performing on that group's albums Children of the Future and Sailor, before launching his solo career with 1968's seminal Boz Scaggs LP, recorded in Muscle Shoals, AL for Atlantic Records. Scaggs continued to mine a personalized mix of rock, blues and R&B influences, along with a signature style of ballads on such influential '70s albums as Moments, Boz Scaggs & Band, My Time, Slow Dancer and 1976’s Silk Degrees. The latter release became a massive commercial breakthrough, reaching Number Two and remaining on the album charts for 115 weeks. It spawned three Top 40 hit singles: "It's Over," "Lido Shuffle" and the Grammy-winning "Lowdown." Subsequently, "We're All Alone” from that same album, would become a #1 single for Rita Coolidge. Silk Degrees was followed by the albums Down Two Then Left and Middle Man, and such hit singles as "Breakdown Dead Ahead," "Jo Jo" and "Look What You've Done to Me."

Despite his '70s successes, Scaggs spent much of the 1980s out of the music-biz spotlight, traveling, opening a family business, fathering young children and founding the San Francisco nightclub, Slim's, He returned to the studio after an 8-year hiatus and released, Other Roads, Some Change, Dig, the Grammy-nominated Come on Home, the unplugged Fade Into Light, the in-concert retrospective Greatest Hits Live as well as a stint touring with Donald Fagen’s New York Rock & Soul Review; all while continuing to maintain a loyal audience in the U.S. and overseas, particularly in Japan. A pair of albums of jazz standards, But Beautiful and Speak Low, the latter topping the Billboard Jazz chart, demonstrated Scaggs' stylistic mastery, as did the Southern-flavored Memphis and the rhythm & bluesy A Fool to Care.

Concessions and Policies

Concessions.

This year, food concessions are provided by   Organic Roots Catering   - featuring locally made, delicious sandwiches, nachos, salads and more. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.

Pre-orders for these menu items are available up to four days before each summer concert. 

Place Preorders Here

Please note that NO outside food or beverages are allowed in the venue.

Amphitheatre Policies

Concerts are held rain or shine.

No outside food or picnics allowed in the venue. 

Factory sealed water bottles or empty bottles only. No outside beverages, glass containers or alcohol allowed. Beer, wine, soft drinks, bottled water, lemonade and iced tea are for sale inside the venue.

Lawn chairs with legs are not allowed - visit our website for details on types that are permitted.

Designated service animals only.

The Arvada Center is a non-smoking facility, which includes cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vaporizers and pipes.

Read the full list of Amphitheatre Policies at the link below!

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Boz Scaggs' touring season concludes with two shows at the Fillmore in August. 

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The Grammy Award-winning multi-genre artist returns to The City in August as part of the 'Summer '23' tour, a 42-date excursion across the U.S.

Boz Scaggs to wrap up summer tour with two SF shows

James Salazar

• Author twitter
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• Apr 24, 2023
• Apr 24, 2023 Updated Apr 24, 2023

Boz Scaggs is hitting the road this summer, and Bay Areas fans will have a chance to catch the " Harbor Lights " shining over San Francisco come August.  

The Grammy Award-winning multi-genre artist, and former co-owner of Slim's , will embark on the "Summer '23" tour, a 42-date excursion across the U.S. next month.

It kicks off May 11 in Nashua, New Hampshire and will make stops in cities such as Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Houston, Minneapolis and San Diego.  Musician Keb'Mo'  will co-headline five shows on the tour, primarily in the midwest. 

Scaggs' touring season concludes with two dates at the Fillmore  on Aug. 25 and 26. 

For fans who want the " Lowdown " on scoring a pair of tickets, a pre-sale opens April 27 at 10 a.m. with the code "VINYL." The general sale begins April 28 at 10 a.m. 

Tickets and other additional information for both sets of shows can be found on Live Nation's website . 

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About Boz Scaggs

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• By Jim Gilbert
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Photo by Claude Sawyer

• Claude Sawyer

Boz Scaggs served up a sumptuous spread of sleek, soulful, syncopated and sophisticated songcraft to a sold-out and hungry crowd at The Egg Sunday night. The dapper Scaggs, now 78, proved he had not lost a step, his unique reedy tenor still in terrific shape, sounding just like it did on those massive hits he […]

Concert Review: Boz Scaggs @ The Egg, 05/14/2023

• By Mark Hudson
• May 15, 2023
• May 15, 2023 Updated Feb 21, 2024

Boz Scaggs served up a sumptuous spread of sleek, soulful, syncopated and sophisticated songcraft to a sold-out and hungry crowd at The Egg Sunday night.

The dapper Scaggs, now 78, proved he had not lost a step, his unique reedy tenor still in terrific shape, sounding just like it did on those massive hits he had back in the seventies. And it was a fan-friendly set, mixing those giant radio songs like “What Can I Say?”, “Lido Shuffle,” “It’s Over,” and of course, “Lowdown” (all from the 5x platinum 1976 album “Silk Degrees”) with a selection of R & B covers, and blues workouts. All were performed seamlessly by Scaggs and his top-notch six-piece band.  

Highlights were many.  Boz’s version of Joe Simon’s “Drowning in the Sea of Love” was definitive blue-eyed soul. “The Feeling is Gone” and “I’ve Just Got to Know” was a one-two Blues punch to the gut, with snaky guitar playing from both Scaggs and Mike Miller. “Miss Riddle” took the show down to an intimate and sultry pace, showcasing Scagg’s flawless vocals, never over singing but just riding the deep sympathetic groove with an unhurried and perfect pitch. Another ballad, “Harbor Lights,” was similarly handled, segueing into a buoyant Latin jam with sparkling electric piano from Michael Logan and effervescent percussion from Branlie Mejias. Logan, Mejias, and drummer Teddy Campbell all provided strong backing vocals throughout the set. The legendary Willie Weeks on bass nonchalantly held down the bottom end, he and Campbell keeping it tight and loose. And Eric Crystal was superb on saxes, melodica and supporting keyboards.  

The epic, sprawling blues of “Loan me a Dime,” from Scaggs’ self-titled 1969 album, gave the whole band a chance to stretch out, then it was a breathless race through “Lido Shuffle” on to the inevitable encore of “Lowdown,” it’s signature bass riff still a funky earworm for the ages.

Some artists struggle to recreate their catalog as they age.  Not Boz. He remains in the pocket, the epitome of cool. What can I say? Pure class.

• What Can I Say?
• Drowning in the Sea of Love
• Rock and Stick
• The Feeling is Gone
• I’ve Just Got to Know
• Miss Riddle
• Harbor Lights
• Radiator 110
• Loan Me a Dime
• Lido Shuffle
• You Never Can Tell
• Breakdown Dead Ahead

Photo Gallery by Claude Sawyer

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Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 7:30 pm

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It’s appropriate that Boz Scaggs’ latest album is Out of the Blues , since the blues is what first sparked his five-decade musical career.

Born William Royce Scaggs in Canton, Ohio on June 8, 1944, he grew up in Oklahoma and Texas, where he spent his teenage years immersed in the blues, R&B and early rock ‘n’ roll. While attending school in Dallas, he played in local combos. After several years as a journeyman musician around Madison, WI and Austin, TX, Scaggs spent time traveling in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, eventually settling in Stockholm where he recorded the album Boz .

Returning to the U.S. in 1967, Scaggs joined the Steve Miller Band in San Francisco, performing on that group’s albums Children of the Future and Sailor , before launching his solo career with 1968’s seminal Boz Scaggs LP, recorded in Muscle Shoals, AL for Atlantic Records. Scaggs continued to mine a personalized mix of rock, blues and R&B influences, along with a signature style of ballads on such influential ’70s albums as Moments, Boz Scaggs & Band, My Time, Slow Dancer and 1976’s Silk Degrees . The latter release became a massive commercial breakthrough, reaching Number Two and remaining on the album charts for 115 weeks. It spawned three Top 40 hit singles: “It’s Over,” “Lido Shuffle” and the Grammy-winning “Lowdown.” Subsequently, “We’re All Alone” from that same album, would become a #1 single for Rita Coolidge. Silk Degrees was followed by the albums Down Two Then Left and Middle Man , and such hit singles as “Breakdown Dead Ahead,” “Jo Jo” and “Look What You’ve Done to Me.”

Despite his ’70s successes, Scaggs spent much of the 1980s out of the music-biz spotlight, traveling, opening a family business, fathering young children and founding the San Francisco nightclub, Slim’s, He returned to the studio after an 8-year hiatus and released, Other Roads, Some Change, Dig , the Grammy-nominated Come on Home , the unplugged Fade Into Light , the in-concert retrospective Greatest Hits Live as well as a stint touring with Donald Fagen’s New York Rock & Soul Review ; all while continuing to maintain a loyal audience in the U.S. and overseas, particularly in Japan. A pair of albums of jazz standards, But Beautiful and Speak Low, the latter topping the Billboard Jazz chart, demonstrated Scaggs’ stylistic mastery, as did the Southern-flavored Memphis and the rhythm & bluesy A Fool to Care .

“Music has been a constant companion and I’m feeling more free with it than ever,” Scaggs comments. “I feel like I’ve found my voice through all these years, and I’ve gotten closer to where I want to be with my approach.”

Boz Scaggs – Front Row VIP Package – $243

Package includes:

– One front row ticket

– Collectible poster autographed by Boz Scaggs (limited print)

– Boz Scaggs canvas tote bag

– Exclusive Boz Scaggs VIP merchandise item

– Commemorative tour laminate

– Limited availability

Boz Scaggs – VIP Tour Package – $193

– One premium reserved ticket located in rows 2-12

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Summer '23 Tour

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It's appropriate that Boz Scaggs' new album is Out of the Blues, since the blues is what first sparked his five-decade musical career. Born William Royce Scaggs in Canton, Ohio on June 8, 1944, he grew up in Oklahoma and Texas, where he spent his teenage years immersed in the blues, R&B and early rock 'n' roll. While attending school in Dallas, he played in local combos. After several years as a journeyman musician around Madison, WI and Austin, TX, Scaggs spent time traveling in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, eventually settling in Stockholm where he recorded the album Boz.

Returning to the U.S. in 1967, Scaggs joined the Steve Miller Band in San Francisco, performing on that group's albums Children of the Future and Sailor, before launching his solo career with 1968's seminal Boz Scaggs LP, recorded in Muscle Shoals, AL for Atlantic Records. Scaggs continued to mine a personalized mix of rock, blues and R&B influences, along with a signature style of ballads on such influential '70s albums as Moments, Boz Scaggs & Band, My Time, Slow Dancer and 1976’s Silk Degrees. The latter release became a massive commercial breakthrough, reaching Number Two and remaining on the album charts for 115 weeks.  It spawned three Top 40 hit singles: "It's Over," "Lido Shuffle" and the Grammy-winning "Lowdown."  Subsequently, "We're All Alone” from that same album, would become a #1 single for Rita Coolidge.  Silk Degrees was followed by the albums Down Two Then Left and Middle Man, and such hit singles as "Breakdown Dead Ahead," "Jo Jo" and "Look What You've Done to Me." 

Despite his '70s successes, Scaggs spent much of the 1980s out of the music-biz spotlight, traveling, opening a family business, fathering young children and founding the San Francisco nightclub, Slim's, He returned to the studio after an 8-year hiatus and released, Other Roads, Some Change, Dig, the Grammy-nominated Come on Home, the unplugged Fade Into Light, the in-concert retrospective Greatest Hits Live as well as a stint touring with Donald Fagen’s New York Rock & Soul Review; all while continuing to maintain a loyal audience in the U.S. and overseas, particularly in Japan. A pair of albums of jazz standards, But Beautiful and Speak Low, the latter topping the Billboard Jazz chart, demonstrated Scaggs' stylistic mastery, as did the Southern-flavored Memphis and the rhythm & bluesy A Fool to Care.

"Music has been a constant companion and I'm feeling more free with it than ever," Scaggs comments. "I feel like I've found my voice through all these years, and I've gotten closer to where I want to be with my approach."

Boz Scaggs Illness And Health 2023: Heart Of Mine Singer

Boz Scaggs is a legendary singer-songwriter and guitarist known for his soulful voice and unique blend of rock, blues, and R&B music. He has had a long and successful career in the music industry, having released a total of 19 studio albums and received numerous Grammy Award nominations over the years.

Boz Scaggs illness has been a concern for many fans recently, with rumors circulating that the singer-songwriter had to cancel his Boz’s Out Of The Blues tour due to health issues. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Boz Scaggs’ health condition and his history with health issues.

Boz Scaggs’ Career and Personal Life

Boz Scaggs was born in Canton, Ohio, on June 8, 1944, and raised in Texas. He began his musical career in the 1960s as a member of the Steve Miller Band, where he played guitar and sang on several of the band’s early albums.

In 1968, Boz released his debut solo album, “Boz Scaggs,” which was a critical success. Throughout his career, he has worked with numerous well-known musicians, including Donald Fagen, Carlos Santana, and Duane Allman.

Scaggs has also faced several challenges in his personal life, including the loss of his son Oscar to an accidental heroin overdose in 1998. Despite these challenges, he has continued to make music and has remained a beloved figure in the music industry.

Boz Scaggs’ Health Issues

While Boz Scaggs has not faced any major health issues recently, he has dealt with a few in the past. According to Boz, he took a lengthy break from recording after feeling that making music had become a “career” and that music had “left him.”

In 1985, he experienced anxiety and a sense that “something very big” was missing in his life, and he felt that he had to release a record. However, his next album, Other Roads, didn’t come out until 1988. This was due to Columbia’s rejection of the record because they felt it didn’t have a strong hit single.

As a result, Scaggs spent more time perfecting the album. “Heart of Mine,” featured on Other Roads, is his last top-40 hit as of 2018.

Boz Scaggs’ Personal Life

In addition to his career in music, Boz Scaggs has had two marriages. In 1973, he married Donna Carmella Storniola, who became his first wife. They had two sons, Austin and Oscar.

The couple divorced in 1980, but Scaggs eventually won joint custody of their children after three and a half years. Carmella passed away in February 2017.

In 1992, Scaggs married Dominique Gioia. They moved to Napa Valley in 1996 and planted 2.2 acres of Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, and Counoise, resulting in their first wine being produced in 2000. In 2006, Scaggs Vineyard became certified organic, which he sold to Newfound Wines in 2016.

Final Thoughts

While there are no major health issues facing Boz Scaggs currently, he has faced challenges in the past related to anxiety and a sense that his music career had lost its spark.

Despite these challenges, he has continued to make music and remains a beloved figure in the music industry. His personal life has also had its ups and downs, including the loss of his son Oscar to an accidental heroin overdose in 1998.

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Dickey Betts reflects on writing ‘Ramblin' Man’ and more The Allman Brothers Band hits

A bunch of wildly talented Florida boys, including guitar-wielding hellion Dickey Betts , formed The Allman Brothers Band in 1969. They were rock stars in the ’70s, nearly became a rock footnote in the ’80s, and then rose again in the ’90s en route to their rightful place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame .

On Thursday, Betts passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, in Sarasota County, Florida, just off the Highway 41 he sings about in the Allman Brothers’ best-known song.

In honor of Betts, I revisited the interview we did in 2020 about the real Allman Brothers stories behind the film “Almost Famous , ” as well as past ones, including our lengthy conversation from 2014 that took place in Betts’ den over glasses of what he called “hippie wine.”

'Dickey was larger than life': Dickey Betts, Allman Brothers Band guitarist, dies at 80

‘Revival’ from ‘Idlewild South’ (1970)

Betts’ first writing credit for the Allman Brothers finds the band at its blissful best, with an ebullient melody and lyrics to match (“love is everywhere,” goes the chorus). Featuring the twin lead guitar beauty of Betts and Duane Allman, with Gregg Allman on lead vocals, “Revival” became the first Allman Brothers song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

The band rarely performed the song in concert upon its release but welcomed “Revival” back after reforming in 1990. A fine version, again featuring Gregg Allman on lead vocals and with Betts now sharing lead guitar duties with Warren Haynes, can be heard on the ’92 live album “An Evening with the Allman Brothers Band: First Set.”

Betts:  “I think with my dad being a fiddle player I kind of naturally liked the uplifting aspects of music. But I was in a band with Gregg Allman, who is basically a melancholy kind of writer, the beautiful melancholy that Gregg would come with. So, I’m looking at what we have here and I’m thinking how do you balance this out? I don’t want to write a song that makes you want to go hang yourself in the bathroom. So, I would really make an effort to write more up songs, to balance the band out. That kind of influenced the way I wrote.”  

'Almost Famous' turns 20: Dickey Betts reveals the true Allman Brothers stories behind the cult classic

‘In Memory of Elizabeth Reed’ from ‘At Fillmore East’ (1971)

“This song Dickey Betts wrote from our second album, ‘In Memory of Elizabeth Reed,’” Duane Allman announces on the band’s landmark live album “At Fillmore East,” before Betts starts bending his guitar strings to sound like enchanting violins.

The original studio recording of Betts’ masterful instrumental appears in a truncated form on “Idlewild South,” clocking in at just under seven minutes. This version on “At Fillmore East” clocks in at nearly twice that, and Betts would continue to explore the composition — often approaching 20 minutes, with one of his solo band’s live recordings from 1974 topping 40 minutes — throughout his career.

With the Allman Brothers, Betts reinvented the song as a more meditative jazz rendition on tour in ’73 while acting as the sole guitarist and sharing lead playing with keyboardist Chuck Leavell (captured on “Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas”). Nearly two decades later, Betts offered a delicate acoustic rendition with accompaniment by co-lead guitarist Haynes for a performance included on the 1995 live album “An Evening with the Allman Brothers Band: 2nd Set.”

Betts:  “Duane and I had an understanding, like an old soul kind of understanding, of let’s play together. Duane would say, ‘Man, I get so jealous of you sometimes when you burn (a guitar solo) off and I have to follow it,’ and we would joke about it. So that’s kind of Duane and mine’s relationship. It was a real understanding. Like, ‘Come on, this is a helluva band, let’s not hotdog it up’ and that was our understanding, and it was an understanding from previous years of experience. That’s kind of amateur s---, you know, when you start trying to upstage everybody? That was kind of the way the thing built momentum. And then I wrote ‘Elizabeth Reed’ and instead of Duane being jealous of it he said, ‘That is the greatest thing, man.’"

“(When composing ‘In Memory of Elizabeth Reed’) I was thinking of Benny Goodman. I was thinking of how he used melody and then I got all these Western swing influences from my buddy Dave Liles, who passed away about four years ago. But the thing came about, see, I was dating, I was slipping around, back-dooring Boz Scaggs’ girlfriend, live-in girlfriend, they weren’t married, but (laughs). She was a beautiful Italian girl. I wrote this song and I wanted to call it ‘Carmella’ but couldn’t. So the place we would meet, in this old 1800s graveyard, Rose Hill, there was this old tombstone that said on it ‘In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.’

"What I love about that song is if you have a bunch of top-shelf players, they can express themselves beautifully in that song, once they learn it. I don’t have a favorite version but my least favorite is the studio version that we did. It was real stock, and we cut it real short.”

‘Blue Sky’ from ‘Eat a Peach’ (1972)

The first Allman Brothers song to feature Betts on lead vocals, “Blue Sky,” is also one of the final recordings made by Duane Allman before his death in a motorcycle accident. Betts and Allman alternate on lead guitar and then share the sweet, country-influenced melody lines. Joan Baez included a version of the song on her hit 1975 album “Diamonds & Rust” and a live version by the Allman Brothers would finally be officially released as part of their ’92 live disc “An Evening with the Allman Brothers Band: First Set.” 

In 2003, the Allman Brothers released the outstanding retrospective live album “S.U.N.Y. at Stonybrook: Stonybrook, NY 9/19/71.” It contains an 11-minute rendition of “Blue Sky” with Betts sharing lead guitar with Duane Allman and Gregg Allman clearly heard backing Betts on vocals. Following the death of Jerry Garcia, Betts started opening “Blue Sky” with an homage to the Garcia-composed Grateful Dead song “Franklin’s Tower.”  

Betts:  “I guess from listening to The Dead every now and then I remembered the riff and it was a good way to set the tone for that song. The band, the drummers especially, tended to get too fast and kind of play too much like ‘Johnny B. Goode’ or something. And I was trying to get that real, like, loping feeling to it, so I started doing ‘Franklin’s Tower’ in front of it to kind of set the tone for it.

“(Blue Sky) is a cool song. I wrote that for, I was married to an Indian girl whose last name was Wabegijig, which means ‘clear blue sky,’ so I was writing it for her and I was writing it as, ‘She’s my blue sky, she’s my sunny day’ (Betts sings). And I thought, nah, this would be a better song if I just sang it to the sky instead of to a woman. That was a very good move that could make or break that song. It made it more universal. If you’re a songwriter, that’s not a big jump. In fact, in ‘Ramblin’ Man,’ the original line to that was, ‘Playing my music and doing the best I can.’ Everybody doesn’t play music, but everybody works for a living. 

“I sang some with (my previous band) Second Coming but I never saw myself as a singer and still don’t. I sing because it’s necessary (laughs). I asked Gregg to sing ‘Blue Sky’ and actually the producer, Tom Dowd, he said, ‘No, why don’t you sing it.’”

‘Jessica’ from ‘Brothers and Sisters’ (1973)

A positively joyful musical statement, “Jessica” is the rare instrumental to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 (at No. 65). Originally clocking in at seven minutes-plus with a four-minute single version, a brilliant 16-minute live rendition Betts worked up for the Allman Brothers’ album “An Evening with the Allman Brothers Band: 2nd Set” would win a Grammy in 1996 for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

Another favorite of mine is the rowdy rendition with co-lead guitarist “Dangerous” Dan Toler (and his sibling David “Frankie” Toler on drums) captured on the Dickey Betts and Great Southern live album “Southern Jam: New York 1978.” It’s “Jessica” as a speeding locomotive with a “Southbound” detour in the middle. Betts has a blast with the lusty traveling man lyrics (originally penned for Gregg Allman to sing) before returning to a fabulously frantic “Jessica.” 

Betts:  “I was in a room like this (his den in Sarasota County), but it wasn’t as extravagantly furnished. It was a rented apartment. I had been writing for ‘Brothers and Sisters,’ and it was not clean or anything. I’m in there trying to write and Jessica, my daughter, she was like a year and a half, two years old, she comes crawling in the room and I started playing to her. And I was thinking of Django Reinhardt, and that’s the way it came out.”

‘Ramblin’ Man’ from ‘Brothers and Sisters’ (1973)

A charming country rocker with a top-shelf guitar hook and singalong chorus, “Ramblin’ Man,” from the Allman Brothers’ blockbuster 1973 “Brothers and Sisters” album, reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 1 on the Cashbox Top 100 and remains the lone Allman Brothers single to crack the Top 10 on either pop chart.

Fellow Floridian Gary Stewart would record a version of “Ramblin’ Man” for his debut single in ’73, and it reached No. 63 on the country chart, paving the way for a string of much bigger hits for Stewart in the ’70s. “Ramblin’ Man” would appear on numerous live Allman Brothers and solo Betts albums over the years including The Dickey Betts Band’s 2019 release “Ramblin’ Man Live at the St. George Theatre.” 

Betts:  “I was going to send ‘Ramblin’ Man’ to Johnny Cash. This was when Johnny Cash was really vital in his younger days. I thought it was a great song for him. But everybody liked that song. Even my dad liked the song, before we recorded it or anything. And I’m thinking I’m going to send this to Johnny Cash and see if he wanted to do it. The producer (Johnny Sandlin) said we needed another song for the record and asked if I had anything. I said, ‘Well, I got one but I was going to send it to Nashville for Cash to record.’ He said, ‘Let’s hear it.’ And then, ‘No! we gotta do that.’ 

“What pissed me off, though, I still got my feathers up about it, is the producer sped it up. He didn’t think we had the tempo up enough so he sped it up, which makes my voice sound (sings ‘Lord, I was born’) you know, they speed something up, your voice goes up. But it was a hit. But it was not the way we cut it. I cut it just a little bit slower and my voice sounds more like this. I heard it and thought that doesn’t sound quite like my voice. Then I found out later they sped it up. I said, ‘You son of a b----’ (laughs). But they do that (stuff) to you.”