Credit: Todd V Wolfson
Credit: Todd V WolfsonDerek and the Dominos co-founder Bobby Whitlock and his wife and longtime collaborator, CoCo Carmel, kick off a new U.S. trek dubbed The Sparkly Shoes Tour tonight in Memphis, Tennessee. The 10-date outing, which winds down July 1 in Houston, will feature a local guest guitarist joining Whitlock and Carmel at each show. The duo also will play a July 8 club gig in their hometown of Austin, Texas.
The concerts will feature the couple playing an all-acoustic set focusing on songs from the classic 1970 Derek and the Dominos album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs that Whitlock wrote or co-wrote. They include “Bell Bottom Blues,” “I Looked Away,” “Keep on Growing,” “Tell the Truth,” and “Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?,” all of which Bobby co-wrote with Eric Clapton. The shows also will feature songs from Whitlock’s work with Carmel.
Guest guitarists playing with Whitlock and Carmel during the trek include ex-Joan Jett and the Blackhearts member Ricky Byrd, who will appear at two New York City-area concerts.
Besides his stint with Derek and the Dominos, Whitlock also has worked with Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett, George Harrison, The Rolling Stones and Dr. John, while Carmel — who previously was married to Delaney Bramlett — has performed with Dr. John, Billy Preston, Jon Bon Jovi and Phoebe Snow.
Whitlock and Carmel are working on a new studio album that will include contributions from Rolling Stones touring bassist Darryl Jones and a number of other respected session musicians.
Here are the dates for the duo’s Sparkly Shoes Tour, along with the guest guitarists on each stop:
6/2 — Memphis, TN, The Warehouse (guest guitarist Colin Linden)
6/4 — Nashville, TN, City Winery (guest guitarist Colin Linden)
6/6 — Decatur, GA, Eddie’s Attic (guest guitarist Moses Mo)
6/10 — Shirley, MA, Bull Run (guest guitarist Mark Newman)
6/11 — Pawling, NY, Daryl’s House (guest guitarist Ricky Byrd)
6/13 — New York, NY, B.B. King Blues Club and Grill (guest guitarist Ricky Byrd)
6/14 — Sellersville, PA, Sellersville Theater (guest guitarist Lou Maresca)
6/16 — Albany, NY, Swyer Theatre (guest guitarist Reuben Chess)
6/24 — Denton, TX, Dan’s Silverleaf (guest guitarist David Chappell)
7/1 — Houston, TX, McGonigels Mucky Duck (guest guitarist Nick Michael Taylor)
7/8 — Austin, TX, Saxon Pub
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