Two of today's fast-rising blues-rock stars – Marcus King and Grace Bowers – recently joined forces at King's show at the Brooklyn Paramount in New York on October 13 for a blistering rendition of Kris Kristofferson classic Me & Bobby McGee, alongside Brittany Spencer on vocals.
“If you know this one, feel free to sing along,” King told the audience as the guitarists launched into the track, paying tribute to the country music legend, who died last month.
King wielded an acoustic guitar – specifically, a prototype of the Epiphone El Dorado rumored to be his potential signature model – while Bowers brandished her trusty Gibson SG, treating the audience to multiple solos throughout the six-minute performance.
Speaking about her affinity for Gibson SGs and how the model became her go-to guitar, Bowers told Guitar World, “I have three SGs. Gibson sent me two new ones a month ago. I have a 1961 SG, and that’s my favorite.
“At first, I started playing SGs because they look cool and they’re lightweight. But then I discovered how I had full access to the neck, which I didn’t have on a Les Paul. I think they sound good, too; those P-90 pickups are something else.”
During the same week as her surprise appearance with Marcus King, Bowers also sat in with Louis Cato and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's house band, further solidifying her rising star status.
Meanwhile, King has been on tour since the release of his Rick Rubin-produced album Mood Swings in April, and recently spoke about the experience of joining his hero, Gary Rossington, at the late Lynyrd Skynyrd legend’s final show.
