Maurice John Vaughn

[Tickets $20; $15 if you say you saw this on CityWeekly.net] Maurice John Vaughn is a true blues original. A triple threat on guitar, saxophone and vocals, Vaughn writes powerful, innovative and often humorous songs that spring directly from his vast musical experience. His soulful and passionate vocals are convincing because they are earned -- Vaughn means what he sings. Coming out of the streets of Chicago, Vaughn was raised on Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, black Top 40 and James Brown. Like the greats who have come before him, he has incorporated his various influences into a blues and R&B style that is completely his own. Vaughn's most recent Alligator recording, In The Shadow Of The City, is a collection of mostly original songs covering all the emotional bases. From the good-time fun of Can't Nobody to the soul searching of Suicide Is Not The Way, Maurice displays his singular musical vision. He moves effortlessly from the full funk of (Everything I Do) Got to Be Funky to solo acoustic blues on Treat Me So Bad. According to Vaughn, it's important to mix things up musically and stylistically. "I don't want to be known as a 'heavy,'" Vaughn says, "but rather as someone who understands pain, can deal with it, and can also have a good time."