The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

In a haunting scene from the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, a bluesman serenades a trio of escaped convicts with Skip James’ “Hard Times Killin’ Floor Blues” along the way to selling his soul to the devil in exchange for guitar immortality. Credit filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen...

By Jay Bennett

March 19, 2009

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In a haunting scene from the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, a bluesman serenades a trio of escaped convicts with Skip James’ “Hard Times Killin’ Floor Blues” along the way to selling his soul to the devil in exchange for guitar immortality. Credit filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen for giving the role of Tommy Johnson to a real-life bluesman, Chris Thomas King, who left an indelible impression in the movie.

Guitar immortality may not await the Louisiana-born musician/actor, but at least King can claim a successful, award-winning career and a rabid, if not household-name-size, following. King brings his guitar to Phoenix for a concert of electric blues. Along with bassist CuJo and drummer Darryl White, King will likely focus on tunes from last year’s Live on Beale Street disc and the 2006 release Rise, a selection of songs about and recorded in his hometown of New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastated the blues-rich city.

Thu., March 19, 7 p.m., 2009

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