By JACKIE MOE
Nearly five decades after Silk Degrees made him a household name, Boz Scaggs is still finding new ways to keep the groove alive.
The Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and guitarist will bring his Rhythm Review tour to Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa on Oct. 24, promising a night of classic hits and fresh takes on the songs that defined an era.
A former bandmate of Steve Miller, Scaggs helped shape the sound of the 1970s with a blend of rock, soul and blues that produced enduring tracks like “Lido Shuffle” and “Lowdown.”
His influence stretched beyond his own career, paving the way for future acts including Toto. Fans can expect both the nostalgia of his signature songs and the artistry of the musicians who share the stage with him.
From jamming with legends to reliving the magic of Silk Degrees, Scaggs gave the lowdown (pun intended) before his Segerstrom concert.
Your album Silk Degrees is still a touchstone nearly 50 years later. If you could go back to the sessions for that record, what’s one moment you’d relive?
Scaggs: The first evening David Paich and I got together to write a song. It turned out to be “Lowdown” and started a chain of events.
You’ve collaborated with so many legendary names. Who surprised you the most in the studio with their creativity?
Scaggs: Marcus Miller in the making of the album “Other Roads”. He was just getting into synth work and we could see his genius as a creator vividly unfolding in arrangements and as a pure musician.
How has the meaning of a song like “Lowdown” or “We’re All Alone” changed for you personally over time?
Scaggs: Great question. It can be said that in the creative process, the subconscious is at work sometimes more than one might imagine, and that as time and life unfold the imagery can be seen as prophetic and more personal than we might imagine. “Lowdown” was revelatory for me. “We’re All Alone” was to become something of a wonder as a the years of performing it rolled out. I love some of the imagery it presented and the way it affected some listeners. I didn’t see it when I composed it.
If you could invite three artists from any era to join you on stage for the perfect jam session, who would they be and why?
Scaggs: Oh lord! This is a tough one. That’s a question I might have jumped on at a younger age when I was a more adventuresome guitarist. Now I’d have to say my interactive music is with my friend, Seth Asarnow, the pianist I collaborated with making my current album, “Detour” in which we pull a song out of the air and see what happens.
When fans come to see Rhythm Review, what do you hope they take away from the night beyond just hearing the hits?
Scaggs: The brilliant musicians who give me the wide ranging repertoire we’ll be performing.
“Lido Shuffle” and “Lowdown” get crowds on their feet every time. Do you still get the same energy rush performing them as you did in the ’70s?
Scaggs: It’s different each time we play it. They’re good songs in that respect. There’s room to feel our way through its parts and get a buzz with each unique setting and audience.
When people look back on your music years from now, what do you hope they feel when they hear your songs?
Scaggs: I get, you know, a thrill when I hear and connect to a song or an artist I dig. It can be transcendent. And I know that thing they hit on, really moves them as well. So it’s a great feeling when you hit on something that moves you, and even better when you can reproduce it, and even better when you can pass that on to others.
Boz Scaggs Rhythm Review
WHERE: Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24
MORE INFO: https://www.scfta.org/events/2025/boz-scaggs
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