Jeff Beck performed a tribute to guitar legend Les Paul with the Imelda May Band to a sold-out crowd at the 9:30 Club March 24. He performed songs from their most recent release, “Rock and Roll Party Honoring Les Paul.”

After playing two invite-only shows at New York’s Iridium Jazz Club following the death of jazz guitarist Les Paul, Beck and company decided to take the show on the road.  The set list included Les Paul tunes and other ’50s songs that showcased Les Paul’s influence on the music industry.

The show began with Beck and guitarist Darrel Higham sharing the stage as they covered Elvis Presley’s “Baby Let’s Play House” and two Gene Vincent songs, “Double Talkin’ Baby” and “Cruisin’.” Higham had a very nostalgic quality to his singing and his style, evoking both Presley and Vincent.

Beck, Higham and the rest of the band all seemed to enjoy performing, trading smiles and laughs for the duration of the concert.

Imelda May came on towards the middle of the set and performed Les Paul and Mary Ford songs like “How High the Moon” and “The World is Waiting for the Sunrise.” May used the multi-track vocal technology that Les Paul invented.

For the encore, the band performed a variation of “Danny Boy,” highlighting May’s vocal perfection and Beck’s beautiful guitar playing, before doing a rousing take of “Hound Dog.” Higham’s vocals were reminiscent of Presley’s, and the song got the crowd dancing and singing along to every word.

The show was disappointingly short, as it would’ve been nice to hear more covers and some of May’s solo material.  Yet as advertised, Beck and the Imelda May Band gave the sold-out crowd a show that was a rock ’n’ roll party.