COURTESY PHOTO: MARQUESGUITARS.COM
Brooks Young and his band will open for George Thorogood and the Destroyers Wednesday night at Lynn Auditorium.
By BILL BROTHERTON
The date was Sept. 11, 2001 and Brooks Young was sitting on B.B. King’s tour bus, chatting with the blues legend about Gibson guitars — especially Lucille, King’s Gibson ES-355 — and their shared love of Eric Clapton’s playing.
Eventually, the conversation switched to the events of that day, the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil by al-Qaeda.
“My producer friend, Brit Johnson, had invited me to see B.B., and it just so happened I was on the bus with him the day the towers fell,” said Young, a North Shore-based guitarist/singer. “B.B. said to me, ‘We need to be strong and keep living each day to the fullest,’ and I still think of that every single day.” A friendship developed and Young would go on to open for King at many of his New England shows.
Young, who lives in Marblehead, and his band will open for George Thorogood and the Destroyers Wednesday night at Lynn Auditorium. The Brooks Young Band has opened for some heavyweights through the years, including REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, The Wallflowers, Styx, Huey Lewis and the News, Southside Johnny, Bryan Adams.
Oh, yeah. And Vice President Joe Biden.
“I was asked by Joe Biden to perform for him back when he and President Obama were running for their second term,” said Young. “It was a great honor, and he and his wife were so nice. We performed for about two hours prior to his speech at the State House in Concord, New Hampshire. We were invited to hang out with him after his speech.”
Young grew up in Concord, N.H., and caught the music bug early in life, influenced by his grandfather who played guitar in a country band. “I watched him while I was growing up. He bought me my first guitar. He’s passed away, but I’ve kept it going. I started to get serious about guitar when I was a senior in high school. If there was an open mic blues jams in New Hampshire, I was there.”
“I’ve worked hard, from the bottom up,” Young continued. “It’s difficult making a go of it, being in a band that plays originals. But the guys in this band are committed and love to play.” Young’s bandmates are Mike Liane (guitar, vocals), Joel Morse (keyboards), Dave Leonard (drums) and Rachel Green (bass).
Young has just signed to represent Marques Guitars. They are made in America, right up the street in New Hampshire.
Young, who has released two albums and a couple of EPs of bluesy rock and roll, has performed at Lynn Auditorium before. In 2011, he and his band were part of a blues summit that included Rick Derringer, Edgar Winter, Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford, local harmonica legend James Montgomery and others. “It’s a beautiful venue and the audience was really into the show. I’m looking forward to playing there again,” he said.
He’s also excited about opening for Thorogood. “He’s one of the guys who took those old blues songs, like ‘Move it on Over,’ and made ’em young again. He’s a great guitarist. I hope I get to sit in with him for a song or two.”
George Thorogood and the Destroyers, with the Brooks Young Band, at Lynn Auditorium Wednesday night. Tickets, $29-$61, at lynnauditorium.com, 781-599-SHOW or at the box office at Lynn City Hall.
Bill Brotherton is the Item’s Features editor. Tell him what you think at [email protected]