UPDATE: Irma Thomas at the BB King

Irma Thomas packed the house and got several fired-up standing O’s at BB King’s in Times Square last night. She brought her fat songbook and, as always, invited fans to suggest away-which they did, offering everything from obvious classics like “It’s Raining” to songs so obscure that Irma had a hard time finding them in her fake book. Her band, The Professionals actually kicked off one tune, that Irma started singing as her fingers searched the song book and search she did, through the entire tune—never locating the sheet music, but smiling as she found enough of the words in her 68-year-old memory to please that fan and the crowd.

Like some of New Orleans best chef’s…Irma does not scrimp when it comes to portions. Despite having to fight off a cough, and brief but classy brush off with some geek making an “unauthorized live performance video”—Irma still gave her all for a two hour plus performance capped by an encore which included a tribute to Etta James, who will follow her next month at the same venue.

Last night, was my first experience at BB King’s. Seating is first come first served, and we got there early and ended up in the first three rows. The sound system is excellent, the sightlines great, and it looked to me that even folks standing which lines the back wall, still had a good view. The waiter suggested Steaks, the smallest of which topped 30 bucks- we opted for the Warm Roquefort Wedge Lettuce Salad with a Side of Gulf Shrimp which gets the tab into the 20 dollar range and was quite good for club food. (Click here for menu.)

The emotional high point of the night came when she sang Backwater Blues which she says she avoids singing too often…and as you heard her bend the lyrics of this Bessie Smith tune you knew exactly why. It’s because this song from the 20’s cuts too close to the wounds New Orleans still carries from Hurricane Katrina.

She got the crowd to do a reasonable version of a second line (no mean feat in NYC) with a medley of Mardi Gras tunes and wowed your humble reporter, as she always does with her rendition of Simply the Best.