It took Marc Broussard three tries to bring his tour to Florida. The January shows were canceled due to the historic snowstorm in Louisiana, which made travel impossible. The shows were canceled again in May. But in October, Broussard finally hit the Sunshine State for three shows, culminating with a set before a sell-out crowd at Tuffy’s Music Box in Sanford on Sunday night.
Americana artist Kristopher James opened the show with a 40-minute set of grooving, soulful tunes that showcased his strong voice. Backed by a four-piece band, the Bradenton, Florida, songwriter sang in a velvety croon, joked with the crowd, and told atypical tour stories, like the struggle of trying to eat chips and salsa while diving down I-75. Whether singing in falsetto or his smooth baritone, James’s impressive vocals previewed the headlining set.
After a short changeover, Broussard took the stage backed by a quartet that included Joe Stark on lead guitar, Devin Kerrigan on bass, and drummer Terry Scott, Jr. Together, the band played a set of Broussard’s distinct brand of bayou soul. Thick grooves blending funk, blues, and R&B laid the foundation, supported by Broussard and Stark’s twangy guitar licks. As with the opening act, the vocals were the main attraction. Broussard’s voice was pristine as he sang with a gritty drawl, impassioned croon, and occasional bursts of raspy intensity.
The set heavily favored songs from last year’s Time is a Thief, 2004’s breakthrough Carencro, and a handful of covers. The southern ballad “Lonely Night in Georgia” opened the set, followed by the midtempo crooner “Never Should Have Left You in Baton Rouge.” The show balanced the soft ballads with upbeat, funky songs like “Fire” and “Time Is a Thief,” built on danceable grooves.
It was an intimate performance. Broussard and the band played joyfully, telling stories as if they were hanging out with a few hundred friends at a local bar gig. Broussard discussed how he wrote “Carry My Name” for his father and why they released a covers album to benefit a charity, as the band was “too broke to give anything away.”
Stark, in addition to his guitar work, added additional vocals. He and Broussard sang a duet on “Easy to Love,” a song Stark wrote for the band inspired by his girlfriend’s dog. Stark sang lead vocals on “Tambourine,” a cover of Stark’s band Baby Bee.
After ending the regular set with the thick, swampy funk of “Home,” Broussard and company returned for one more song, leading the crowd on a sing-along of the Solomon Burke soul tune “Cry to Me.” Over the last two decades, Broussard has carved out a niche for his soulful roots music, which combines numerous southern influences found in Louisiana. For those into that musical amalgamation, Marc Broussard’s show was worth the wait.
