Kenny Wayne Shepherd to perform July 26 at the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids

Kenny Wayne Shepherd is a throwback in so many ways. The veteran singer-songwriter is a blues guitarist, who not only makes albums but also releases records in a series. "Dirt on My Diamonds Volume 2" is the companion to "Dirt on my Diamonds Volume 1," which dropped in November.

"It’s true that nobody makes two volumes of albums anymore," Shepherd said while calling from Los Angeles ahead of his Friday performance at the Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE in Cedar Rapids. "But I don’t care what anybody else is doing. Both of these albums could stand on their own but there is a common thread. I thought it would be interesting to release a volume 1 and 2."

The collection of songs from "Volume 1" hits listeners in the gut. "Sweet and Low" is a horn driven gem, which is powerful and melodic. “Best of Times" is a showcase for Shepherd’s guitar work. The rollicking cover of Elton John's "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" fits. The grooves are big and the old school feel is welcoming and they continue throughout "Volume 2."

Shepherd comes out swinging with the visceral "I Got a Woman," which kicks off his upcoming album, which will be released Sept. 20 and features a dynamic horn section.

Shepherd's tandem of projects is eclectic as the Shreveport native mixes soul, funk and rock. It's no surprise since Shepherd came of age on a varied mix of music since his father was a radio DJ.

"I grew up around a radio station," Shepherd said. "Due to my dad's job, I went to every radio (sponsored) concert."

Shepherd’s record collection from childhood was vast.

"I had and still have a massive catalog of albums," Shepherd said. "My love of music ran across the board. I loved ZZ Top’s "Fandango," Jimi Hendrix’s "Are You Experienced" and Muddy Water's "Hard Again."

Shepherd, 47, fell in love with the blues even though grunge was breaking as he entered his teenage years.

"I grew up when hair metal was ending and alternative was happening but my path was the blues. That's what I was drawn to."

It's an era of the single, which bums out Shepherd. "I love listening to albums in their entirety," Shepherd said. "Maybe I'm a dinosaur. It's about one song now and that feels incomplete to me. Making an album is like making a film. You take the listener on a journey. One song is not a journey, it’s one scene. I love taking the journey but like I said, maybe I’m a dinosaur."

It’s odd to describe Shepherd as a figure from the Paleolithic era since it wasn't that long ago the guitar hero was a hyped as the young savior of the blues. "Ledbetter Heights," Shepherd's first album, was released when he was 17 years old.

There was talk then that the blues was dying but the genre survived.

"There's always been talk about the blues going away but it's here to stay," Shepherd said. "There is nothing like the blues."

It’s the same conversation regarding guitars. There’s been much made of the decline of the guitar but Shepherd doesn't believe it.

  Buy Photo

"I see what's been written about that as well but if it were true, why did Fender sell more guitars in 2020 than in any other year in their history," Shepherd said. "During the pandemic a lot of people who never played the guitar had the time to learn how to play it, and they did it. The guitar isn’t going away. If more people than ever are picking up guitars, there will be more music by guitars."

Shepherd wishes there were more guitar solos.

"The music industry is trying to push guitar solos out of music" Shepherd said. "That's a shame. About the only genre you hear guitar solos is country. There just aren't guitar solos in mainstream music."

However, Shepherd still is shredding onstage.

"I'm not going to change what I do," Shepherd said. "I love playing the guitar. Call me old school. I love the blues and have no problem releasing volumes of albums."

Shepherd and his band, which includes vocalist Noah Hunt, drummer Chris Layton, bassist Kevin McCormick, keyboardist Joe Krown, trumpet player Mark Pender and saxophonist Joe Sublett, has no problem slipping covers into his set. When Shepherd tips his cap to a recording artist he respects by rendering their songs, he puts his stamp on it.

That's what Shepherd does when he renders the Buffalo Springfield classic "Mr. Soul."

"A few years ago I was with my other band (The Rides) with Stephen Stills and we did a charity event and Neil Young came out and we played “Mr. Soul,” Shepherd said. "We played that and Neil’s’ 'Rockin' in the Free World.’ I loved it. That night I thought that my band could do a kick ass version of ‘Mr. Soul.’ I love playing songs that I love that were written and recorded by other recording artists. I’m a fan and there's nothing wrong with that when you’re a musician."