"One for the Road:" Koko Taylor

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 24, 2011 10:30PM

The first time we saw Koko Taylor in concert was in the late 80's. Over the next two decades until her death, we saw her at least a half-dozen times; she played the same set every time.

That isn't a knock on Koko as much as it is the Pavlovian response of Chicago blues fans to not want her, Buddy Guy, Lonnie Brooks and the rest to deviate from the hits and the requisite cover of "Sweet Home Chicago." But when you have a signature tune like "Wang Dang Doodle," we can see why fans never minded hearing the same songs over and over.