Keb’ Mo’ shows mastery of the blues in Orono

The people in attendance Wednesday night at the Maine Center for the Arts got the blues. And they loved it.

That’s because the man giving them the blues was two-time Grammy winner Keb’ Mo’, who showed the 1,250 in attendance why he’s one of the modern masters of the blues guitar.

The evening started 10 minutes late, because the flight carrying the veteran musician and his tour mates arrived late at Bangor International Airport. But the performances in this first date of “The Door” tour soon made the crowd forget the minor inconvenience.

Opening the evening was a half-hour set by The Pierces, whose first album was just released by Epic Records. Sisters Catherine and Allison Pierce, supported by guitarist Adam Schoenfeld, offered up lovely two-part harmonies in their seven-song set, earning sustained applause.

After a 20-minute intermission, Keb’ Mo’, sleek in black shirt and slacks and a natty fedora, took the stage with his talented four-member band, ripping into the aching “It Hurts Me Too.”

Mo’, born Kevin Moore, played the bulk of the cuts off his current album, with highlights including “Gimme What You Got,” “Change” and “Stand Up (And Be Strong).” Other crowd favorites from earlier albums included “Dangerous Mood,” “Slow Down,” “Henry” and encore choices “Muddy Water” and “She Just Wants to Dance.”

The versatile musician has been dubbed a bluesman, but there are liberal amounts of jazz, soul and rock in his original music as well. He shined on several guitars throughout, especially on a handful of extended solos, but he graciously shared the spotlight with his band as well.

The OKeh recording artist was a genial host, at one point making fun of the long rows of seating at the MCA, at another time talking with another former resident of South Central Los Angeles. His chat wasn’t forced; rather it was natural and drew the audience into the show.

The only drawback for the two-hour show was recurring technical glitches, to be expected with the late arrival and on the first night of the tour. The goodwill generated by Keb’ Mo’ made that easy to overlook.

The MCA crowd showed their appreciation for Mo’ and his group with two extended standing ovations and even a little dancing in the seats. They had taken Keb’ Mo’s blend of blues and made it their own.