JD McPherson Takes Cambridge Back to the Rockabilly Era

Tyler Lavoie ’16 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

Have you ever listened to contemporary music and thought, “I wish this sounded more like the 1950s?” Oklahoma rocker JD McPherson has. On Wednesday, armed with an antique setup and a flawless band, McPherson transported The Sinclair back in time.

From his dance moves to his jeans, everything about JD was vintage. His fans followed suit: women wore their hair in ribboned ponytails, accompanied by men in denim jackets. They were too young to jitterbug, but they danced and sang as if techy, hipster Cambridge was 1950s Memphis.

The performance itself was flawless. McPherson’s live vocals retained every bit of the roughness they exhibit on record, and his guitar riffs were as fiery. Every improvisation was tight. The mix itself was crystal clear; upright bass thumped under saxophone and organ as the band members stomped across the stage and vibed with each other.

Overall, McPherson rocked the night away. His style, though borrowed, was authentic. With a fanbase as devoted as his, and in a venue as chic as The Sinclair, it was a truly incredible experience.