Kevin Gordon.
KEVIN GORDON
10 p.m., White Water Tavern. $5.
Kevin Gordon comes to White Water with a surfeit of bona fides. A published poet, with an MFA from the University of Iowa, Gordon’s written vivid story-songs for the likes of Irma Thomas, Webb Wilder, Ronnie Hawkins and Sonny Burgess. Keith Richards, who recorded Gordon’s “Deuce and a Quarter” with Levon Helm in 1996, used some colorful English himself when he called the songwriter a “fucking bloody William Shakespeare.” Gordon’s last album, a strong collection of literate swamp blues called “O Come Look at the Burning,” picked up critical acclaim from Playboy and No Depression, and one of the album’s stand-out tracks, “Watching the Sun Go Down,” is slated to appear in HBO’s new vampire drama, “True Blood.” This show marks a break in recording for Gordon. Earlier this week, he went into the studio with producer (and Hot Springs native) Joe McMahan to record his first album in three years. Look for Gordon to try out some new songs on what’s been, for the singer/songwriter, a reverent audience in the past. Charming folk singer Samantha Crain also performs along with one of our finest local acts, the Boondogs.