Mark Knopfler’s 2019 world tour is coming to a close, and Santa Barbara was gifted a spot on his calendar.

The crowd at the Santa Barbara Bowl on Sept. 20 reveled on a warm night under the stars as Knopfler and his band took the stage. He had a Les Paul guitar strapped over his shoulder and was wearing an understated flannel shirt, jeans and a black baseball cap.

The early arriving audience, with libations in hand, was ready for an intimate evening of music.

Knopfler greeted the sold-out crowd with “Why Aye Man,” a song from his 2002 album, “The Rag Picker Dream.” The sound emanating from the tour setup was clean, crisp and loud as Knopfler picked his six-string. His enticing vocal delivery was casual and effortless.

His career is long, winding and steeped in success.

He was the driving force behind Dire Straits, whose “Brothers in Arms” album sold more than 30 million copies and put the band on top of rock music’s charts.

His band was revered for their songwriting prowess and popular stage shows. At the peak of their success, in 1995, he disbanded the group and moved into the solo and collaboration phase of his career.

Knopfler is a musician who has never sought the fame but always had the need to create music; maybe it's just an obsession.

He is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame artist who didn’t show up for his own induction.

His solo career has been stunning. He has produced a catalogue of material that would make any artist proud. He is a gifted wordsmith with the ability to craft a song into a story.

In Santa Barbara, he was supporting his latest album, “Down the Road Wherever,” recorded in his London-based Groove Studio.

He played only two songs from his latest album, “My Bacon Roll” and “Matchstick Man.”

He told the crowd a wonderful story before playing “Matchstick Man,” revealing his dry wit and clever sense of humor. His stories between songs were as entertaining as the music itself.

He talked often about the talent of his backup band, saying, “They are 11 players who play 49 instruments and I only play one.”

The set included five Dire Straits songs, including “Once Upon a Time in the West,” “Your Latest Trick” and “On Every Street.”

The epic ballad “Romeo & Juliet” was delivered flawlessly and gave the crowd a chance to connect with the older material of Dire Straits.

The 70-year-old Knopfler’s set was soothing, gentle and flowing. That all ended when he rocked out the final Dire Straits song of the night, “Money for Nothing.”

The crowd got into it, standing and dancing to the 1980s anthem, a song that symbolized the MTV generation.

He closed the show with the triumphant instrumental “Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero.”

Knopfler has stated that this might be his last world tour. If that's true, his sterling guitar tone, captivating vocals and humble demeanor on stage will be missed.

Although he is small in stature, his voluminous archive of material will carry on.

— Steve Kennedy is a Noozhawk contributor. The opinions expressed are his own.