If so who did you see, and where? The good problem is: I'm on the road performing alot, the bad problem is... I'm on the road performing alot.
Unfortunately, I don't get to go to as many concerts as I used to becuase I gig alot, and when I don't gig, my wife keeps me home washing dishes : - )
BUT, I have had the pleasure from time to time of performing at some great shows. I am usually on stage during the show, but the seats are great!
One artist I work with from time to time is "Liz McComb" she is a fabulous Blues / Gospel artist from the USA who performes mostly in Eruope. If you are in Europe, check out her website:
http://www.lizmccomb.com
...and make it your biz to see her live. She is really fantastic, and something a littler different than the usual fare.
Kevin Chisholm - American Guitarist No, but I'd like to....been to a jazz concert in San Antonio, TX. I don't think that counts...oh well. twice ,once in baton rougean again in shreveport,a lot of singin ,pickin laughin,eat just about every thing you could want,from shrimp,crab ,gumbo,crossfish,whoe baked potatoes,baked in hot coals,drinking til dawn,seem like everbody was dancing 1.) B.B King, Buddy Guy and Etta James; The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
2.) Buddy Guy, Fabulous Thunderbirds; Croton Park , New York.
3.) Johnny Winter and George Thorogood; Jones Beach, New York.
4.)Son Seals; Tramps, N.Y.C.
5.)Popa Chubby; Manny's Car Wash; N.Y.C.
6.)Lots of local club shows in the New York City area. yes , I saw "the bad news blues bros" in Durango at a very nice little bar called "scootnblues", best place in town. I am a regular at the King Biscuit Blues Fest in Helena, Arkansas. (I know it's now called the Arkansas Blues Heritage Festival. But it will always be the King Biscuit!) I've seen Robert Lockwood, Pinetop Perkins, Super Chikan. Tons of people. The best part is you camp out on the concert grounds, so you wake up and wander over to the stages.
Also, the Memphis Blues and Heritage Festival in May is incredible, but it's all kinds of music. They have a fantastic Blues tent with tons of great acts. I saw RL Burnside there a few years back! I haven't been to a blue-specific festival, but I have been to some blues concerts. I've seen BB King, Robert Cray, Johnny Winter, Ronnie Baker Brooks, among others. For the past 7 years I have attended the Chicago Blues Festival. The largest free admission Blues Festival in the world. 4 days- 6 stages- almost 100 sets
I have seen:
2001-Eddie Clearwater, Homesick James, Eddie King and
the Swamp Bees, Pinetop Perkins, Ike Turner
2002-Super Chikan, CeDell Davis, Howard and the White
Boys, Rob Stone and the C-Notes, Robert Ross
2003-Phil Guy Blues Band, Roy Gaines, Larry McCray,
Eddie Taylor Jr.
2004-Erwin Helfer, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Robert Jr.
Lockwood, "Honeyboy" Edwards, Homesick James,
Kenny Neal, Robert Stroger, C.J. Chenier,
Michael Burks.
2005-Tommy McCracken, Toronzo Cannon,
David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Kim Simmonds with
Savoy Brown, Detroit Jr., Hubert Sumlin,
Steady Rollin Bob Margolin, Henry Gray, Barrelhouse
Chuck, John Mayall and the Blues Breakers with
Mick Taylor, Buddy Guy.
2006- Dave Specter, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Corky Segal,
Elvin Bishop, Bobby Blue Bland
2007-James Cotton, Jody Williams, Lurrie Bell, Bobby Rush,
Magic Slim, Billy Branch, Phil Guy, Harmonica Hines,
Charlie Love, Vino Louden, Hubert Sumlin I would love to but I can't afford any shows and concerts. Sure. I live in Chicago and have a festival every year. Totaly free. Went to the Crossroads Fest last summer. Clapton and Beck tore it up. No -- I can't say that I'm really that much of a blues fan. Saw
B.B. King,
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Johnny Winter
Les Paul (really more Jazz than Blues)
George Thorogood
Litle Feat
Greg Allman
Allman Brothers
And countless unknowns my first was probably the best. in '92 i think, we went to carowinds amphitheater in sc. it was buddy guy, junior wells, koko taylor, lonnie brooks, n bb king. also, eric johnson was there. although he's a great guitarist, he's never done anything bluesy. anyway, it's probably the best show i've ever seen. since then i've seen bb 8 times, koko twice, n buddy guy 3 times. i've been to so many shows since then and i gotta tell ya, buddy guy always puts on the best shows. it's almost like he's playing just for you. if you've seen him you know what i mean. if not, go see him. many times, I live in an historic area in glendale az, there is a blues & jazz fest right outside my front door in the park every year..... heaven BB King
Robert Cray
Albert Collins
Jeff Healey
Ash Grunwald
& quite a few local Blues festivals in a town near where I used to live.
All these in the country where I live ~ Australia.
Ciao! Yes-
Where?
Chicago-Blues Festival & clubs
San Francisco-S.F. Bay Blues Festival & clubs
Ojai, CA-Bowlful of Blues festival
New Orleans-Jazz & Heritage Festival & clubs
Portland, OR-Waterfront Blues Festival & clubs
Phoenix, Az-many concerts
Yosemite, CA-Strawberry Festival (not strictly blues, but many blues acts. same for Jazz & Heritage fest)
Los Angeles-too many to remember
Who?
B.B. King
Sonny Terry
Brownie McGhee
Lightnin' Hopkins
Muddy Waters
Buddy Guy
Gatemouth Brown
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Junior Wells
Big Joe Turner
James Cotton
Allman Brothers
Rory Gallagher
Fabulous Thunderbirds
John Mayall
Snooky Pryor
John Paul Hammond
Little Charlie & The Nightcats
Rory Block
Marcia Ball
The Mighty Flyers
and several dozen (hundred?) more. I've been to too many to list in my dotage, and stopped going years ago. I now prefer small clubs, or small outdoor events (except the summers in Mississippi and Louisiana are brutal).
I can't take the huge crowds anymore, the violence, the loss of community I used to feel in the 1970s and early 80s.
Had a great time at many of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festivals before it starting drawing crowds way beyond its capacity. It was fun going out at night during Fest time, too, as clubs like Tipatina's and the Maple Leaf always had good acts. Storeyville was good while it lasted. Always another club popping up to take their place.
So, I just catch the occasional local greats like Eddie Cotton Jr. or King Edward when I can. Blues is blues. i've never been to any of their concerts. |
