Taj Mahal\u2019s new album, \u201cTime,\u201d marks the first with his celebrated Phantom Blues Band since 2008. But the genre-exploring icon says the interlude was intended to be considerably shorter.<\/p>\n
\u201cTime,\u201d he says, started before COVID, but was impacted by the pandemic shutdowns. \u201cWe kinda ducked in and out of different people having to deal with their health and stuff like that,\u201d says Mahal, 84, who was born Henry St. Claire Fredericks Jr. in Harlem and began recording during the mid-1960s with the band the Rising Sons. He went on his own in 1968 and has won five Grammy Awards, as well as Lifetime Achievement honors from the Recording Academy and the Americana Music Association.<\/p>\n He formed the Phantom Blues Band in the early 1990s, and Mahal says little has changed in the group\u2019s working method since then, with \u201cTime\u201d recorded mostly at guitarist Johnny Lee Schell\u2019s Ultratone Studios in Studio City, California.<\/p>\n \u201cWe pretty much hit it every time. It just gets better and better,\u201d notes Mahal, who also appears on actor Morgan Freeman\u2019s upcoming \u201cSymphonic Blues Experience\u201d album, out Aug. 7.<\/p>\n \u201cThose guys are veterans,\u201d Mahal said. \u201cThey know the language. I wouldn\u2019t be playing with them if I couldn\u2019t feel it, and the people that are listening can\u2019t feel it. I\u2019m not up here for show, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTime,\u201d meanwhile, takes its title from a soulful track written by the late Bill Withers that had not yet been released. \u201cI very rarely take outside material from other songwriters \u2026 but this was a special time because Bill was a good friend of mine,\u201d Mahal says. \u201cWe both admired one another for our independent spirit and spirit of coming up with different things. The song is really good and worked for me and worked for us as a band.<\/p>\n \u201cWe received Bill\u2019s blessing, and furthermore, we received his wife\u2019s blessing after he (died) and she heard the recording. So I\u2019m really happy it\u2019s on here.\u201d<\/p>\n Taj Mahal & the Phantom Blues Band perform Friday, July 10, at the Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-399-2980 or royaloakmusictheatre.com.<\/p>\n Other music events of note this weekend (all subject to change) include \u2026<\/p>\n \u2022 Jack Johnson brings his SURFILMUSIC Tour to town at 7:30 p.m. at Pine Knob Music Theatre, 33 Bob Seger Drive, Independence Township. Hermanos Guti\u00e9rrez opens. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Ted Nugent will turn the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre into a Motor City Madhouse at 7:30 p.m. 14900 Metro Parkway, Sterling Heights. Kurt Diemer opens. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Chicago\u2019s G Herbo and Detroit\u2019s Skilla Baby rap at 8 p.m. at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 Atwater St. at Chene, Detroit. 313-393-7128 or TheAretha.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 \u201cMusic From Dimensions Tomorrow,\u201d a new exhibit exploring Michigan music culture from the 1990s to the present, is open at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit. It includes photos, posters, recordings, homemade instruments and other artifacts from artists such as Faruk Z. Bey, Warren Defere, Davin Brainard, Elliot Bergman, Alice Coltrane and Yusef Lateef, as well as a remembrance of Yoko Ono\u2019s 2003 visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts. 313-832-6622 or mocadetroit.org.<\/p>\n \u2022 Paul Oakenfold and the Crystal Method offer a star-packed night at the turntable at 9 p.m. at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 \u201cPeter Asher: Everywhere Man,\u201d a new documentary about the Beatles cohort, record producer, artist manager and more, screens through Sunday, July 12 at the Detroit Film Theatre, in the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave. 313-833-3237 or dia.org.<\/p>\n \u2022 Singer-songwriter Ben Chapman drops in at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Dallas singer and songwriter Novulent and babyteeth join forces at 8 p.m. at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Brooklyn\u2019s Gooseberry visits at 7 p.m. at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. The Steve Dely Band opens. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Alternative hard rock troupe Mella brings its latest tour to TSDMAAC (Catacombs), 15701 James Couzens Fwy, Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. Body Thief and Postdrome open. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 King Serpent, Bastardous and more are part of PRTY Fest at El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-757-7942 or elclubdetroit.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Milford\u2019s Audrey Ray headlines at the Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Taylor Walls and Julian Joel are also on the bill. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Mark Hershberger and the Detroit Jazz Project are in the house through Saturday, July 11, at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, 97 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe. 313-882-5399 or dirtydogjazz.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 The duo Missant plays at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell\u2019s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 The Convalescence from Toledo tops a four-band bill at the Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff, Hamtramck. Doors at 6 p.m. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Cherry Drop, Ficus, Simulation and Andrea Doria rock at Small\u2019s, 10339 Conant, Hamtramck. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-873-1117 or smallsbardetroit.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 The Roxy is in tribute mode this weekend, with Thunderstruck (AC\/DC) at 8 p.m. and, on Saturday, July 11, Hynde Sight (Pretenders), also at 8 p.m. 401 Walnut Blvd., Rochester. 248-453-5285 or theroxyrochester.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Veteran troubadour Howie Day is on at 8 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Max Bartos opens. 734-761-1800 or theark.org.<\/p>\n \u2022 Guitarist Noah Hogan and his Quartet occupy the Blue Llama Jazz Club at 7 and 9 p.m. 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Virtual: Alejandro Escovedo performs at 7:30 p.m. from Jimmy\u2019s Jazz and Blues Club in New Hampshire, via veeps.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Country star and \u201cAmerican Idol\u201d co-host Luke Bryan plays at 7 p.m. and again on Sunday, July 12, at Pine Knob Music Theatre, 33 Bob Seger Drive, Independence Township. Shane Profitt, Lauren Watkins, Raelynn and DJ Rock are also on the bill. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 The Detroit Symphony Orchestra goes into movie mode, accompanying \u201cJurassic Park\u201d at 7:30 p.m. and, on Sunday, July 12, \u201cBack to the Future\u201d at 3 p.m., both at Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.<\/p>\n \u2022 British R&B singer Ella Mai asks Do You Still Love Me? at 8 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit. AMA and Girlfriend also perform. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Atlanta rock troupe Drivin\u2019 N Cryin\u2019 flies courageous into the Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. Laid Back Country Picker opens. 248-544-1991 or themagicbag.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Trumpeter Alan Dennard presents \u201cSwing, Rhythm and Flow,\u201d blending hip-hop, jazz, poetry and spoken word at 8 p.m. in The Cube at the Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.<\/p>\n \u2022 Rock trio King\u2019s X headlines at the Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Road, Westland. Doors at 7 p.m. 734-513-5030 or tokenlounge.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Flamenco guitar specialist Roni Benise celebrates \u201c15 Years of Passion!\u201d at 7 p.m. at the Macomb Center, 44575 Garfield Road, Clinton Township. 586-286-2222 or macombcenter.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 The New York duo Memba mans the decks at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 8 p.m. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 White Lion\u2019s Mike Tramp returns to the Diesel Concert Lounge, 33151 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield Township. Doors at 7 p.m. 586-933-3503 or dieselconcerts.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Chicago\u2019s DemFightinWords puts its dukes up TSDMAAC (Confessional), 15701 James Couzens Fwy, Detroit. Doors at 6 p.m. Keep, Krooked and Barefaced also perform. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 The Bob Mervak Trio is on stage at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell\u2019s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Singer, songwriter and guitarist Brian McKee plays at 8 p.m. at Aretha\u2019s Jazz Cafe, 350 Madison St., Detroit. 313-887-8500 or jazzcafedetroit.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 The Dusty Rose Gang rocks at 9 p.m. at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. Dream Shoppe and Zinc Vacuum are also on the bill. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Britain\u2019s James Hunter Six brings its Grammy Award-nominated brand of R&B for an 8 p.m. date at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. McKinley James opens. 734-761-1800 or theark.org.<\/p>\n \u2022 Drummer Sean Dobbins and his Organ Trio, featuring Rob Dixon, works at 7 and 9 p.m. at the Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Virtual: Straight No Chaser streams live from its summer Beach Bash Tour! at 7:30 p.m., via veeps.com.<\/p>\n \u2022Virtual: \u201cThe Rose: Come Back to Me,\u201d a documentary about the Korean indie rock band the Rose, premieres at 9 p.m. along with an online Q&A, via veeps.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 The Detroit rap duo D12 will sign copies of its new album, \u201cD12 Forever, Volume One\u201d from noon to 2 p.m. at the Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale.<\/p>\n \u2022 Babyface brings his hit catalog to the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre for an 8 p.m. Show. 2600 Atwater St. at Chene, Detroit. Jane Eugene opens. 313-393-7128 or TheAretha.com.<\/p>\n \u2022 Mike Campbell of Tom Petty\u2019s Heartbreakers and his band the Dirty Knobs turn at 8 p.m. at the Flagstar Strand Theatre, 12 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Sarah Lee Guthrie opens. 248-309-6445 or flagstarstrand.com.<\/p>\n Tom Petty\u2019s guitarist keeps turning his Dirty Knobs<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nFRIDAY, JULY 10<\/h4>\n
![\"Skilla](\"https:\/\/www.macombdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/TOP-L-GoDo-0710-03.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1\")
SATURDAY, JULY 11<\/h4>\n
![\"Luke](\"https:\/\/www.macombdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/TOP-L-GoDo-0710-01.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1\")
SUNDAY, JULY 12<\/h4>\n
\n