If one chooses to pursue a career singing rhythm & blues, it damned sure doesn't hurt to have a voice like Delbert McClinton. So it is for Alabama native Anderson East, who performs a free show Saturday at the Mohegan Sun Wolf Den.

But East is no mere mimic. As per his impending "Encore" album, East, who now lives in Nashville and, incidentally, dates Miranda Lambert, is very much his own artist. His tunes emotively reflect the gamut of emotions, chiefly in the context of romantic relationships, and East can without question sculpt and deliver dynamic hooks.

It's also worth noting that East is part of a songwriting collaborative with Chris Stapleton, so if those two are on a similar wavelength, that's a damned solid indication of quality. I suspect East won't be playing venues the size of the Wolf Den long; he's destined for bigger venues sooner rather than later.

Anderson East, 8 p.m. Saturday, Mohegan Sun Wolf Den; free; 1-800-745-3000.