My introduction to slide ironically came when I bought an Elmore James record and not through anyone local. Hound Dog Taylor and Earl Hooker only fanned the flames of my obsession. Playing in the same vintage manner of these electric pioneers is Nick Vigarino. But the Seattle-based slide player digs deeper to include acoustic influence from Robert Johnson and Blind Willie Johnson as he and his long-time percussionist, Chris Leighton, perform as a duo playing what they call slop-jar delta funk. Rather than relying solely on covers from blues greats from the past, Vigarino pens his own masterpieces as well.

Nick’s introduction to the guitar came by way of Bill Dogget, Ry Cooder, and Leo Kottke while still in elementary school. Later, his interest in the blues was fueled by way of the British invasion of the late ’60s and early ’70s. After tracing back the songwriting credits of tunes recorded by likes of The Yardbirds, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin to Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, so began his explorations into the origins of the blues. To date, Vigarino has released three masterful discs. His latest, 2006’s Temptation Road, proves to be his most comprehensive to date. — Tony Engelhart



[The Spar, 7 p.m., no cover, 2121 N. 30th Street, Tacoma, 253.627.8215]