Thorogood Blazes Through Bar Blues At Parx Casino Show: Review

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA — He's still the King of Cool.

Since the 1970s, George Thorogood and his (original Delaware) Destroyers made their name on the college circuit, playing bars throughout the country where the blues and songs about drinking drew a loyal following.

As Thorogood climbed the charts with a few hits over the decades, his reputation grew as an entertainer who could play to the crowd by prancing around the stage wearing a bandana and sunglasses, and banging out the blues with guitar licks as electric as they are memorable.

The sold-out crowd at the Xcite Center at Parx Casino on Friday night would certainly agree.

The 76-year-old Wilmington, DE., native has his act down pat.

He growls in that deep voice. He chats with the crowd. He asks for applause during and after a song. He basically has a lot of fun.

Thorogood is out and about on a summer tour billed as "The Baddest Show on Earth," two years after the band's 50th anniversary, offering his blend of the bar blues from original songs, classic covers, and deep cuts.

In a 15-song set, Thorogood got the party started with "Rock Party" before swinging into the classic cover "Who Do You Love."

Then the booze blues started pouring.

First came his classic "I Drink Alone" followed by the rap of "House Rent Blues" leading into the crowd-pleaser "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer."

The crowd, though, was really roaring when he played "Cocaine Blues," dedicating the song to the late great Johnny Cash.

All his songs kept up the high energy with "Mama Talk to Your Daughter," "Gear Jammer," and "Get a Haircut" with Thorogood frequently playing guitar solos.

He even let the Destroyers — anchored by original drummer Jeff Simon — take a turn with "Steppin' Out."

His last four songs were the monsters.

"Bad to the Bone" is still as strong as when it first hit the charts in 1982.

A cover of the classic "Gloria" by the Van Morrison-led Them had Thorogood moving along the stage without his guitar, getting the crowd to sing along with him.

"Move It On Over" finished the set before "Born To Be Bad" served as the show closer, a perfect song to seal Thorogood's reputation as a rocker who still enjoys the stage as much as he did on the bar scene decades ago.