The Jamie McLean Band at Nod Hill Brewery

A musical gumbo is the band's own phrase, and for once it is not a stretch.

The Jamie McLean Band folds New Orleans soul, middle Americana roots, Delta blues and a New York City swagger into one sound. McLean's guitar has put him on stages with Derek Trucks, Gregg Allman, Aaron Neville and Dr. John, from Madison Square Garden to Japan's Fuji Rock, and his vocals carry a blue-eyed southern soul that sounds like it costs him something. The songwriting is the third leg: direct, honest songs that tend to feel as though they were written about whoever is listening.

Guitar World has described him as having soaked up a good deal of America's musical DNA, merging the yearning of Tom Petty with Nashville's instrumental precision and an alt-country independent streak. Jambase went for the Rolling Stones' swagger crossed with Ryan Adams' songwriting.

Good to know. This is a ticketed show in the Backspace. Doors at 6:30pm, music at 7pm.

Where to go. Nod Hill Brewery sits on Ethan Allen Highway in Ridgefield, an easy run for anyone in lower Fairfield County.