Striking the Delta roots, the humble swell, and the fire-fueled flourish, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram brought a night of intense blues communion.
In a packed house where reverence and anticipation mingled in the air, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram’s Hard Road Tour arrived in San Diego. When Kingfish finally took the stage at The Observatory North Park – after opening sets from Dylan Triplett and Mathias Lattin – the night unfolded like a carefully charted ascent. Triplett opened, Lattin followed, and Ingram crowned the evening, each performance deepening the immersion into a modern blues revival that felt both anchored in tradition and boldly forward-looking.
Dylan Triplett opened with a smooth yet commanding presence, a voice textured with warmth and grit. His set leaned into the soul-blues intersection, his phrasing recalling classic St. Louis crooners but shaped with youthful ease. Triplett carried himself like an artist intent on proving that emotional honesty still matters more than flash. Songs swelled, then simmered; a few leaned toward gospel cadences, giving the room its first true lift of the night. By his closing song, applause had shifted from polite recognition to real enthusiasm. The crowd understood: this was a singer to watch.
Mathias Lattin took the baton and raised the temperature. At only 22, Lattin already plays with the restraint and phrasing of a veteran. His clean guitar tone and intricate fretwork spoke to an understanding that blues is about space as much as notes. Between songs, he was easygoing and humble, but the moment he leaned into a solo, a spark ran through the room. His original material balanced swagger and substance, each tune carrying a modern sheen while paying quiet homage to the genre’s lineage. Lattin didn’t need to say he respected the masters – it was clear in every measured bend and call-and-response riff with his band.
Next came Ingram. The house lights dropped, the first few notes rang out, and suddenly the energy in the room shifted from admiration to awe. At 26, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram is no longer the prodigy – he’s the standard bearer. His playing remains technically flawless, but it’s the emotional clarity that separates him. Every note seemed carved from feeling, every solo a conversation between past and present. His band, tight and instinctive, followed him through moments of near silence into roaring crescendos that shook the rafters.
Between songs, Ingram spoke little; the guitar did most of the talking. Tracks from his latest album Hard Road, as well as 662 and Live in London, drew cheers, but it was the slow burn of “Outside of This Town” that landed hardest – his tone equal parts fire and forgiveness. The audience stood transfixed, some shouting encouragement, others motionless, taking it in.
By the encore, the room was united in shared release. Ingram brought out Triplett, Lattin, and members of their bands for a final jam session, and they offered a final blistering run that dissolved into stillness. The ovation was immediate and deserved.
The night was more than a concert – it was a reminder of where the blues is headed. Triplett brought the soul, Lattin brought the polish, and Ingram brought the fire. Together, they made clear that the blues aren’t surviving. They’re thriving.
CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM
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MATHIAS LATTIN
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