 March 17, 2004By DEBRA LO GUERCIO ©Copyright 2004, Debra Lo Guercio, all rights reserved
SHE MAY LOOK LIKE your 7th grade biology teacher, but don't be fooled. Marcia Ball is so hot on the keyboard, it's a surprise it doesn't spontaneously combust. Pounding out a steady stream of her own original blues numbers, Ball's fingers fly so fast, they blur like a bird's wings in flight. As a piano player myself, I was astonished that her fingers could hit the keys with any accuracy. But she does, and then some. Before Ball even stepped on stage, her band started warming up with a bouncy number. Right out of the gate, when the backup band makes you want to get off your seat and move your feet, you know it's going to be a great show. Ball appeared on stage to whoops, hollers and thundering applause from her fans, who filled The Palms in Winters on Saturday, March 13. The sold-out room was packed from wall to wall, but even the tight conditions didn't stop people from tapping their toes and bobbing their heads. Hailing from Louisiana, Ball has honed her own funky, romping, New Orleans blues repertoire, and you can hear twinges of Bonnie Raitt in her smoky, slightly gravelly voice. From time to time, you can detect a little Maria Muldaur sass as well, but even with those comparisons, Ball has a style all her own. It's called "Wow!" Her loyal fans obviously appreciate that style, particularly when Ball plays the crowd pleasers like "Let Me Play With Your Poodle." Even the most tightly-packed folks were bopping in their seats, as she ended her first set with that snappy number. Missed the show? Don't despair. If you can't wait until Ball returns to The Palms, get your hands on her new CD, "So Many Rivers." Previous Quique Critique 
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