Joanne Shaw Taylor – North Shore Center, Skokie, March 18, 2026

By Mark Plotnick

Photos: Jim Summaria

When Joanne Shaw Taylor (JST) was fourteen years old, her dad took her to a B.B. King concert in Birmingham, England. After King’s set concluded, she approached the stage for a souvenir guitar pick. King had none left, but he knelt down to chat with the diminutive fourteen-year-old girl who told him, “I think I’m going to be a blues woman. I’ve been listening and studying hard.” Eighteen months later, she was opening for the Beale Street Blues Boy in Switzerland!

Such is one of the many signature moments (not all good) in the life and career of this award-winning and acclaimed singer, songwriter and guitarist born and raised in the Black Country region of England.

On March 18, 2026, Joanne rolled into Skokie, IL to kick off her twelve city U.S. tour at the Northshore Center for the Performing Arts, a venue she played two years earlier. Following her band’s sound check, I asked what she’d been up to earlier in the day and she replied, “took a little run in a Skokie park.”

During our chat, it felt like I was talking to my next-door neighbor. But when Joanne took the stage with her band, she transformed into a charismatic, high energy rock star.  The band’s seventeen song set (including encore) was spread among her ten albums: from the 2009 debut LP White Sugar to her latest titled Black and Gold.

And despite her early-in-life proclamation about wanting to be a blues woman, the singer, songwriter and guitarist demonstrated her versatility and growth by also embracing hard rock, pop, soul and rhythm ‘n’ blues.  She describes herself as a blues guitarist who’s a soul singer who likes to write pop songs. Her voice is authentically soulful and smoky, her lyrics meaningful and relatable and her music packed with hooks built around enticing guitar riffs, chord changes and addictive melodies.

A Hell Of A Good Time

The house lights dimmed as the pre-recorded song “Gimme Shelter” primed the audience. Silhouettes sauntered over to their stage positions. The crowd roared in anticipation. The spotlights shined down and the band tore into the opening song “In the Mood” from her 2019 album Reckless. 

“Turn up the volume and change up the game. I’m in the mood, how ‘bout you?

JST and her fans were in the mood to rock ‘n’ roll!  She looked every bit the rock star with silvery stars embroidered on a black vest worn over a black t-shirt and black sequined slacks flaring at the knees and terminating with fringe. Slung from her shoulder was her treasured blonde Fender Esquire guitar nicknamed “Junior.”

Both Taylor and her drummer had large fans cooling them down, blowing their blond locks like hair models demonstrating the benefits of Garnier hair products. But Joanne and drummer Katelynn Corll (a Detroit based singer and multi-instrumentalist) are no pampered models. These industrious musicians exuded endless amounts of joy, energy and passion throughout the concert.

The Englishwoman’s band also included Nashville based guitarist Shane Saunders, Chris Alexander on bass wearing a Billy Jack hat, and Jackson Dyson on keyboards. This was a well-synced unit and all members had their moments on backing vocals.

The high energy music continued with the 2025 single “Hell of a Good Time,” a warm weather rocker with crushing guitar chords and riffs. Joanne’s lyrics and vocal revealed a woman ready for some good times, if only for a short time:

What kind of trouble would you like to get in, Think it over and I’ll ask you again. It’ll be alright, I’m only here for the night.

“Sweet Lil’ Lies” followed from her 2024 album Heavy Soul. Joanne wrote the song on piano, an unfamiliar instrument that enabled her the freedom to musically go places that surprised her.

Then came the night’s first performance pause. She talked about returning to Skokie following a two-year absence and amusingly reminded attendees about merchandise awaiting them in the lobby after the show, including adorable t-shirts she designed with the face of her beloved Hank. The mini dachshund travels with her and frequently appears in social media posts.

The band tamped down the energy with the next song, “Wicked Soul,” from Taylor’s 2014 album The Dirty Truth. Keyboardist Dyson Jackson contributed warm organ swells as Joanne fired off soft but aggressive bursts of pentatonic blues licks while striking the strings Stevie Ray Vaughn style (one of her guitar influences).

“Dyin’ to Know” (from the album Wild) began with drummer Katelynn Corll simulating a heartbeat with her kick drum. Bassist Chris Alexander placed a free hand to his heart, tapped along to the beat and then joined in on bass. Joanne and second guitarist Shane Saunders dueled it out later in the song.

Pulling from the same album, Joanne followed with the organ-rich song “Wanna Be My Lover.” Although anchored in the blues, it featured compositional surprises in the way of tempo and chord changes. Her vocals and lyrics brought to mind Diane Keaton’s “loving dangerously” character in the tense drama Looking for Mr. Goodbar.

I don’t lie, I won’t cry, I’m no stranger to a lonely night. I’m in danger but that’s alright.”

Strong women, taking chances to experience love, and living with and learning from one’s decisions were themes of her next song, “What Good is My Love.” Released as a single in 2026, the studio version featured Orianthi as a guest musician.

I don’t care that you changed your mind, Baby that what lovers do all the time. But maybe next time around you can save somebody the fall. For now, I’ll take the hit and just call it another close call.

The blues woman returned to her 2024 Heavy Soul album with her own Ann Wilson “Magic Man” style song titled “Black Magic.” This number was originally intended as an acoustic song for The Blues Album, but after putting lyrics to it, the tune became something else. She infused the song’s slow, swampy groove with all the soulfulness she could muster. Is the protagonist Joanne or someone else?

Tell me to quit it or cool it. I’ve tried to talk myself around. But I’m so damn tragic, Since he came to town…I swear that boy’s black magic. He swears he didn’t do a thing but he’s got my heart on a string and I’m so far gone.

“Wild in the Wind,” “Diamonds in the Dust” and “Fade Away”

The music and the mood shifted dramatically across the next three songs. She strapped on a sunburst Gibson Les Paul (a model she once told Joe Bonnamassa she hated) and covered one of her favorite David Bowie songs, “Wild in the Wind.” Joanne and her band delivered a gorgeous interpretation. During her solo, she  pushed aside a broken string, unfazed by the inconvenience.

“Diamonds in the Dust,” followed from the 2010 album of the same name. Themes of love, lust, loss, strength and healing are never far from this songwriter’s mind. While playing a passionate guitar solo, Joanne’s left foot pounded the stage as if an escape route for uncontainable emotion.

The West Midlands guitar slinger switched out her electric for a Taylor acoustic guitar to perform “Fade Away,” a song about losing her mom to cancer and working through the emotions that followed. She told concertgoers how grateful she was to have parents so supportive of her career and wondered what her mom might say to her today.  This song is therapeutic - not only for herself - but for others who relate to loss for whatever reason. 

“Fade Away” featured drummer Katelynn Corll leaving her drum kit and walking to the edge of the stage to sing heavenly harmonies with the bandleader. Second guitarist Shane Saunders provided subtle and atmospheric slide guitar notes.

When Jim Summaria and I interviewed Joanne for That Rock Show with Jim and Mark, she explained, “At the end of the day, I get to write songs and process my emotions through my music and sing them to people who clap loudly for me. Not a bad way to make a living!” 

The music took another mood turn with a selection from the Black and Gold album titled “Look What I’ve Become,” a song reflecting the artist’s 1970s rock guitar leanings. The lyrics reflect on addiction, isolation and choosing whether to fight back. Interestingly, this song was originally written as a flamenco piece years ago, but Joanne struggled to complete it until her producer Kevin Shirley encouraged her to slow it down and make it a slow blues.

From Originals to Cover Songs

One of the evening’s highlights came not from one of her own compositions, but from George Gershwin and the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. “Summertime” has been performed by countless artists and often draws comparisons to the Janis Joplin version with Big Brother and the Holding Company. At first, Taylor was not keen on covering this song for this very reason, but producer Kevin Shirley encouraged her to keep the Joplin feel while putting more focus on guitar. 

Although positioned far back on the stage, keyboardist Jackson Dyson made his presence known with some tasteful piano playing.  Joanne delivered a sensitive and stirring vocal.

The guitarist and her band then returned to cover version territory with a moving rendition of the classic Fleetwood Mac song, “The Chain.” Drummer Katelynn Corll kicked off the song like a time keeper hammering  slow constant beats on a slave ship. I kept one eye on Corll’s riveting stage presence.

For the record, JST’s contemporary vocal inspirations include Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks and Joan Jett as well as a lengthy list of soul, jazz and gospel greats.  Her musical tastes are quite eclectic.

Up until now, song selections steered away from traditional eight and twelve bar blues territory. But then Joanne metaphorically put on her blues hat and again dove into Fleetwood Mac territory, but this time Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac with the song “Stop Messin’ Round.” 

Built around a powerful repetitive guitar hook, this Peter Green number appeared on Joanne’s No. 1 Blues Chart album The Blues Album recorded in Nashville in 2020. It was co-produced by Joe Bonamassa and guitarist Josh Smith for the former's record label KTBA (i.e. Keeping the Blues Alive).

Second guitarist Shane Saunders delivered a nice lead but then the evening’s star stepped forward and, to borrow a line from a Jimi Hendrix song,” “Move over rover and let Joanne take over – here I come baby.”  She was on fire, which happens to be the title of that Jimi Hendrix song.  

When the song ended, Joanne introduced bandmembers and thanked everyone for coming out despite the crappy weather. She has a much lower bar for crappy winter weather than I do as a native Chicagoan.

Can You Top This?

Following the melodic and radio-friendly chord changes of  “Change of Heart,” from Heavy Soul, Joanne unplugged and left the stage as the band played on before following suit.

The venue’s patrons loudly beckoned for more and they got it with the sweat worthy encore, “Watch ‘em Burn” from her debut 2009 album White Sugar.  The song was written and first played when Joanne was 22 years old. But now eighteen years later, she approached the song from a more mature perspective.

Built around foreboding and descending chord patterns, the song hits hard like a howitzer. When it was Joanne’s turn to solo, she mouthed her guitar licks with her head cocked to the side and held skyward. Her eyes closed, hair tossed and an ecstatic grin took over her facial expressions. It was inspiring to watch and listen.

She once told a reporter, “It’s a magical experience getting to sing and pay loud guitar and scream into a mic. It’s great therapy. Seeing audiences react positively to your performance is immensely rewarding.” 

As the lights came up, the house loudspeakers played the Stone’s “Start Me Up,” an odd choice for a cool down song.  But hey, there are only few mid-sized venues where I’d rather see live rock music performed than at the Van Dusen Theatre in Skokie.

Joanne Shaw Taylor is a complete musician. Like many roots music artists, she sustains herself by playing live…so when she comes your way, buy a ticket and witness a musician who loves playing for people in a live setting. Or pick up one of her albums and just marvel in your easy chair.  She’ll take your breath away.

SIDEBAR STORY:  Prior to the show, Jim and I chatted with Joanne’s tour manager who told us a good story. For this tour, he discouraged Joanne from handing out guitar picks because the particular size and thickness she favors is no longer in production. He bought up what he could and put them in a big bag hoping they’ll last through the tour. Who knew a little piece of plastic took on such importance!

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: 

Jim Summaria began professionally photographing rock concerts in 1973 at the age of 19 when he became the staff photographer for the Chicago rock concert promoter Flip Side Productions. Jim's photos have been published in numerous books, magazines and CDs. His rock ‘n’ roll photos have been viewed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum and Hall of Fame on Rt.66 and the Grammy Awards. Jim and writer Mark Plotnick co-authored the books Classic Rock: Photographs From Yesterday & Today and the October 2024 release ‘70s Chicagoland Rock Concerts, available on Amazon. Jim and Mark also co-host the radio podcast That Rock Show on the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum platform.

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