Jack Whites need to live in some retro-fantasy where the 70s reign supreme seems to have infected artists far removed from indie rock. Had White never come along, would guys like Donavon Frankenreiter and Ray LaMontagne still sprout classic rock facial hair and play Stephen Stills, Jr.? Or would they be imitating John Mayer? The same question can be asked of Marc Broussard. He started his career busting vaguely funky adult contemporary. But on his last two albums, S.O.S.: Save Our Soul and Keep Coming Back, the Louisiana native has also traveled back in time. Hes now a denim-clad country-soul crooner surrounded by funky horns and honey-glazed backup singers. Dude even uses two-inch analog tape. Some critics find his born of the Bayou shtick a bit much. But hell, Ill take retro over Mayer any day.
Sat., Jan. 24, 7 p.m., 2009
