I have to be honest: Coachella left me a little flat. That’s why I loved that Nick Waterhouse and the Turn Keys, fresh off a blowout performance at SXSW, gave Deutsch LA a private show to teach us a little something about modern blues—and to remind me that true music still exists.

This soulful blues band with Motown undertones combines the best sounds of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.  Nick Waterhouse may look like a 1960’s financial analyst, but hearing him yell at the room was a sure hint not to pick on this former prom king. Education is a little overrated anyway for Nick, who pulled his 20- year old saxophonist out of school to go on tour.

Ending their set on “Time’s All Gone,” the title song off their new album, Nick Waterhouse and the Turn Keys sent me walking back to my cube with a little skip in my step.  Next year I’ll skip the festivals—I’ll just have to make sure they come to us, instead.

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