George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers at The Grand Opera House Review and Setlist 03.24.09
For years I have heard stories of the legendary George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers. Stories that include, my grandfather working on George's car while George composed a quick song about it and sang it to my grandmother. The jacket George is wearing on the album inset of Better Than the Rest was from my mother's closet. To the awesome parties thrown with the Rolling Stones. And my mother giving George a Hank Aaron signed ball, to which he still talks about to this day. But you just think this is all hogwash, stories made up of a bygone youth. That is until you see the Destroyers, and George, take time out of their day to sit and reminisce about the "good ol' days" with your parents. They tell stories of how they remember you when you are a child and you are still in shock of meeting one of Delaware's most famous exports. (the first being screen doors).
George Thorogood and the Destroyers played to a hometown and sold out crowd in Wilmington Delaware's Grand Opera House. The crowd consisted mostly of friends and some family, but they were all fans. They had seen the routine for the last 35 years when George was doing it at the Buggy Tavern, or some bar that no longer exists in Arden, Delaware. But that didn't stop them from standing up, dancing around, and singing every single word to every single song.
George had one of his friends open the show, Gary Cogdale, and amazing blues guitarist who dazzled the crowd by showing off his guitar versatility. He started with an acoustic guitar which he picked and plucked so loudly I don't even think it had an amp attached to it. He then moved to a Gibson SG reissue where he could show off his impeccable slide technique. He finally moved on to the coolest guitar I have seen, an original 1956 Les Paul. Gary wowed the crowd for a solid 35 minutes. Sadly, it felt like only ten minutes. I really enjoyed the set of old delta blues covers. I'll be sure to check out Gary locally.
The main event started promptly at 9:00 pm. The house lights dimmed and Eve of Destruction by Barry McGuire blared over the PA. After the full song, the house lights rose as George and his bands walked out. George's arms raised almost in victory as if saying "We did it. We are back where we belong and where it all started." George was clad in his usual black jeans, black shirt, black shoes, black bandanna, black sunglasses....well you get the idea.
"Are we ready for a rock party?" George calmly asks as the Destroyers pound into the first song. Billy Blough (bass) and Jeff Simon (drums/percussion) are amazing with their instruments. They play exactly what is called for and leave out everything that is not. There are no excessive bass solos or rolling around the kit. This is the blues man, there is no time for that! Besides, this is George's show.
Rock Party barely ended when George ripped into the familiar lick of "Who Do You Love?" The older women swooned, the fat women flopped and danced, and the men drank heavily. This is a George Thorogood show and everyone is getting lucky!
The band sounded great. They kept songs that are older than myself fresh, new, and engaging. George's Chuck Berry like duck walk, his Elvis "wipe the forehead and hand sweaty towel to chick" routine, and the Mick Jagger like pointing, felt polished and rehearsed, but no one cared. They laughed and cheered as if it was the first time they had seen it.
The band had a great selection of hits. These are songs you have heard countless times before, but just can't get enough of them....One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer, I Drink Alone, Madison Blues, just to name a few.
George Thorogood has aged like a fine wine. He has perfected his stage show and his antics. If you miss this American classic, you are not an American. Go and support the man that put Delaware on the map before Vice President Joe Biden. But make sure you do it with a beer in one hand and your best friend's wife in the other.
George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers Setlist
Rock Party
Who Do You Love?
The Fixer
Night Time
I Drink Alone
One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
Get A Haircut
Bad to the Bone
Move It On Over
Love Doctor
You Talk Too Much
—Encore—
Gloria with Cogdale
Madison Blues
George Thorogood and the Destroyers played to a hometown and sold out crowd in Wilmington Delaware's Grand Opera House. The crowd consisted mostly of friends and some family, but they were all fans. They had seen the routine for the last 35 years when George was doing it at the Buggy Tavern, or some bar that no longer exists in Arden, Delaware. But that didn't stop them from standing up, dancing around, and singing every single word to every single song.
George had one of his friends open the show, Gary Cogdale, and amazing blues guitarist who dazzled the crowd by showing off his guitar versatility. He started with an acoustic guitar which he picked and plucked so loudly I don't even think it had an amp attached to it. He then moved to a Gibson SG reissue where he could show off his impeccable slide technique. He finally moved on to the coolest guitar I have seen, an original 1956 Les Paul. Gary wowed the crowd for a solid 35 minutes. Sadly, it felt like only ten minutes. I really enjoyed the set of old delta blues covers. I'll be sure to check out Gary locally.
The main event started promptly at 9:00 pm. The house lights dimmed and Eve of Destruction by Barry McGuire blared over the PA. After the full song, the house lights rose as George and his bands walked out. George's arms raised almost in victory as if saying "We did it. We are back where we belong and where it all started." George was clad in his usual black jeans, black shirt, black shoes, black bandanna, black sunglasses....well you get the idea.
"Are we ready for a rock party?" George calmly asks as the Destroyers pound into the first song. Billy Blough (bass) and Jeff Simon (drums/percussion) are amazing with their instruments. They play exactly what is called for and leave out everything that is not. There are no excessive bass solos or rolling around the kit. This is the blues man, there is no time for that! Besides, this is George's show.
Rock Party barely ended when George ripped into the familiar lick of "Who Do You Love?" The older women swooned, the fat women flopped and danced, and the men drank heavily. This is a George Thorogood show and everyone is getting lucky!
The band sounded great. They kept songs that are older than myself fresh, new, and engaging. George's Chuck Berry like duck walk, his Elvis "wipe the forehead and hand sweaty towel to chick" routine, and the Mick Jagger like pointing, felt polished and rehearsed, but no one cared. They laughed and cheered as if it was the first time they had seen it.
The band had a great selection of hits. These are songs you have heard countless times before, but just can't get enough of them....One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer, I Drink Alone, Madison Blues, just to name a few.
George Thorogood has aged like a fine wine. He has perfected his stage show and his antics. If you miss this American classic, you are not an American. Go and support the man that put Delaware on the map before Vice President Joe Biden. But make sure you do it with a beer in one hand and your best friend's wife in the other.
George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers Setlist
Rock Party
Who Do You Love?
The Fixer
Night Time
I Drink Alone
One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
Get A Haircut
Bad to the Bone
Move It On Over
Love Doctor
You Talk Too Much
—Encore—
Gloria with Cogdale
Madison Blues
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