Any Ann Arbor townie will tell you there’s one place to be at 12 noon on Thursdays in late spring through the end of August: at Liberty Plaza for Sonic Lunch

On June 1, Sonic Lunch kicked-off its 10th year of free, live music events, and it had one of its local stars opening the season: Laith Al-Saadi, an Ann Arbor “hometown blues-rock hero,” in the words of Martin Bandyke from local radio station 107.1.

When I made my way past some roadblock barriers and into Liberty Plaza, I’d shown up just 5 minutes before noon and the place was already packed. I should have predicted as much with the gorgeous weather that day, not a cloud in sight. What I didn’t predict was no open spots or shade in sight, either. This poor ginger didn’t even think to bring her sunblock as she stood in the midday rays for an hour, but the chance to hear Al-Saadi’s performance was worth the sunburn.

The Laith Al-Saadi Trio consists of its namesake on vocals and guitar, David Stearns on bass, and Mark Damien on drums. The crowd went wild as soon as the group got on stage, keeping the applause going until the first notes rang through the air. Starting the show was Cream’s “White Room,” which highlighted Al-Saadi's flair for soulful vocals and unbelievably virtuosic guitar solos. Plus, you can’t help but be put in a good mood when you see the unapologetic joy Al-Saadi shows each time he performs.

It wasn’t 'til after the first song that Al-Saadi took to speaking: "It’s great to be here, and this is a great thing to be a part of.” Al-Saadi's performance was his 11th appearance at Sonic Lunch, getting the opportunity to play twice one year. He truly is an icon for this event, and it was a great way to start the season.

The first part of Al-Saadi's set was filled with covers, adding his own spin to songs that he’s loved and been influenced by. The set included “Born Under a Bad Sign” by Albert King and “I Know You Rider” by The Grateful Dead. Not being familiar with many classic rock tunes, I found Al-Saadi's rendition of the latter incredibly enticing. The opening featured three-part harmony between Al-Saadi, Stearns, and Damien, giving the song a sweet and sincere character I hadn’t expected before getting into the core of the music. But it wasn’t too far into the song before I saw audience members literally jumping for joy. Clearly, this is a favorite of his fans.

But it seems that his fourth song of the set, “One Way Out” by The Allman Brothers Band, was one of Al-Saadi's favorites. As he finished it, he told the audience that The Allman Brothers probably changed his way of playing music the most, next to The Beatles.

With a change of guitar, the second half of the set featured Al-Saadi’s originals, starting with the Chicago-inspired “How It’s Gonna Be.” Also by this time, I’d noticed that people from buildings a block away were perching on their balconies for a better listen. The second original was “Complete Disgrace,” which is a personal favorite of mine. It began with a soulful guitar-solo entrance that isn't on the recording, and Al-Saadi’s solo showcase in the middle of the song was played with even more elaborations than I expected. These moments prove that Laith is an artist who lets the music move him in new ways every time, making each performance a real treat for the fans.

The next two songs, “Gone” and “What It Means,” Al-Saadi wrote in New Orleans. "Gone" is another favorite of mine and each time I’ve heard Al-Saadi play it, he encourages the audience to clap and sing along to the chorus. It’s a heartbreakingly sad tune that features a beautifully lilting guitar line and a chorus you can barely help yourself from singing. By the last chorus, Al-Saadi asked everyone to sing and clap, and as the instrumental accompaniment was taken away, he led hundreds of music-lovers singing his song.

Al-Saadi's enthusiasm for music and also for the audience is what draws us all to his shows. His talent is undeniable, so it’s always a pleasure to hear him play, but he’s also such a devoted performer. For as long as Al-Saadi’s played, he still comes back to Ann Arbor and enjoys the people here as much as ever -- and the feeling is mutual. This town loves him, from the grey-haired to the newborn: Laith Al-Saadi’s music appeals to all.

Even after the “last song,” Al-Saadi said, “I’ll keep playing if you don’t mind,” and clearly nobody did. By the time I had to leave -- past the hour mark assigned to the Sonic Lunch standard -- the same huge crowd remained, clapping and cheering for more.

Liz Grapentine is a desk clerk at AADL. A graduate from Oakland University with a major in Music Education and a minor in English, Liz enjoys all the arts in every form. Liz is also a true Ann Arbor townie and a proud patron of the library since 1995.

Sonic Lunch continues on Thursdays at 12 noon through August 31. Click here to see the rest of the concerts.