Just Want To Sing
By Gordon “Gordo” Durich
Thousand Oaks, CA (The Hollywood Times) 8/19/25 – Keb’ Mo’ and Shawn Colvin, acclaimed Grammy award-winning and influential musical artists brought their unique blend of blues and folk to the Fred Kavli stage… Thousand Oaks was ready to be blessed.
Among the most creative and commercially successful music acts in the US, the duo has achieved critical attention in their own right, and by collaboration. Sting, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Marc Cohn and Suzanne Vega are just some of Colvin’s previous collaborations. Her “Sunny Come Home” a searing ballad scored song and record of the year at the 1988 Grammys. The lyrically dark work in the vein of Suzanne Vega’s “Luka” is a favorite of this writer).
Colvin was cool and contained for her opening set. Solo, she played earlier material such as “Trouble” from the great “A Few Small Repairs” album. She was then joined by Mo’ and his sensational band, launching into “Sunny Came Home” (which would have been a perfect encore offering had she done one).
Compton native Keb’ Mo’, now of Nashville, prolific collaborator (with Taj Mahal, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt and many more) was warm and fun, delivering his “Good To Be (Home Again)”a nod to Southern California and “She Just Wants To Dance” along with other bluesy bluegrass songs written and played with passion.
My photographer marveled at the cavalade of guitars Colvin and Keb’ switched out during the two hour show.
Keb’ and boys played a rousing, standing ovation encore. Colvin left the building.
Keb’ Mo’ and Shawn Colvin are on tour in the US currently, together and separately.
(Also, she plays some dates with Marc Cohn).
