POP MUSIC REVIEWS : John Campbell Brings Back ‘60s Blues at Troubadour

The almost obsessive passion that ignited the ‘60s white blues movement and sparked that era’s blues/boogie bands lives on in singer-guitarist John Campbell, who turned back the clock Tuesday at the Troubadour, recalling the days when blues was a dominant, inspirational force in rock.

Campbell’s obvious dedication to blues is almost as endearing as his music. His set was mostly joyous and precisely performed, a feast for fans of a style of music that has drifted to underground cult status.

With an admirable blend of passion and skill, the Campbell quartet came at the blues from all angles, from roots music to the agonized musings of Tom Waits’ “Down in the Hole” to the riff-laden blues-rock of Led Zeppelin’s “When the Levee Breaks.”

Like most of the white bluesmen of the rock era, Campbell’s weakness is his voice. Enthusiasm is one thing, but vocal skill is another. His tortured, monotonic growls didn’t illuminate the lyrics and seemed mannered. Fortunately, most of the numbers didn’t rely heavily on lyrics but were mainly extended, dual-guitar instrumental jams that reworked blues riffs in myriad intriguing ways.