John Németh @ Biscuits & Blues Club, San Francisco, CA, USA, 02/28/2025

I hadn't seen John Németh since 2016. In that time, he was diagnosed with ameloblastoma — a benign but aggressive tumor in his lower jaw — underwent a transplant from a deceased female donor, and now he's back in top form!

At Biscuits & Blues, he was joined on stage by The Blue Dreamers, a band featuring a tight rhythm section and a guitarist who stood out with crisp, expressive instrumental work. The set was packed with some of Németh's best blues and soul songs, elevated by John's fantastic harmonica. Standouts included the hits Elbows on the Wheel and Kool Aid Pickle, along with covers of Shake Your Hips by Slim Harpo and Sittin' and Cryin' the Blues by Willie Dixon.

Toward the end of the set, Alabama Mike stepped in for a vocal duet on The Last Time. It was a thoroughly entertaining evening of blues and soul — nothing groundbreaking, but the music was solid, and the food was just as satisfying. I enjoyed a rich, flavorful gumbo and a hearty jambalaya, both absolutely delicious and packed with bold, authentic flavors. Nearly all tickets for the first set appeared sold out, and there was no invitation to stay for the second, but that was fine — an hour and a half of music was plenty.

Set list (6:30 PM — 7:58 PM): Come and Take It, I Can See Your Love Light Shine, Work for Love, Elbows on the Wheel, Sweep the Shack, Country Boy, If It Ain't Broke, Kool Aid Pickle, Shake Your Hips, Sittin' and Cryin' the Blues, I'll Be Glad, The Last Time (with Alabama Mike), Testify My Love
( Few more pix... )