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By Maria BAINER
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Photos by Rebecca LeMesnager, Maria Bainer and Brad Day
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FESTIVALS
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There were several festivals in the nearby areas and more over the state. The Hayward-Russell City Blues Festival was held for two days in Hayward in July. Saturday’s Lineup included Endurance, Little Jimmy Reed, The Russell City Memorial Band, Caravan of Allstars, Sherman Robertson, and Guitar Shorty. Sunday’s performers were: Stars of Glory, Tom Rigney and Flambeau, Ron Thompson & The Resistors, Curtis Salgado, Caravan of Allstars, Lenny Williams, and The Bobby Rush Revue Show. The 26th annual Sonoma County Blues Festival was held the first week in August in Santa Rosa. It featured: Eddie Turner, Nick Moss & The Flip Tops, Earl Thomas, Cafe R&B, and Lydia Pense and Cold Blood. The eleventh annual free California Blues Festival was postponed from Memorial Day to the first part of August. It was again held in the Civic Center Area. Bobbie Webb and the Smooth Blues Band backed most of the groups, including the headliner. Some of the performers included Fillmore Slim, who has been at all the festivals; Sacramento Red, Nat Bolden, Richmond Kings, Keren Gaiser, Paula Caddie, and Rose Eger. Many others dropped by to play. The headliners were The Coasters, who arrived in a stretch Hummer vehicle. Carl Gardner, son of an original Coaster, the 77-year-old Paul Gardner, is now the leader. He will try to get back to what the original group was like, so that they become a household word again with such songs like “Yakkity Yak” and “Charlie Brown.” A new CD is in the making with old Coaster songs and new ones too. Eventually there will be a CD released on forty unreleased songs from the original Coaster days. |
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THE GRANDDADDY OF BLUES FESTS
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 The San Francisco Blues Festival (SFBF) is one of the oldest, continuous blues festivals in the United States. This 33rd annual festival was held the end of September in two fine venues in San Francisco. Friday noon’s free concert was downtown in the Justin Herman Plaza in the Embarcadero Center. Some mighty fine, melodic, blues harp music was heard in the hour and a half concert. Some of the best harmonica players on the West Coast blew their harps. Some of the performers were newcomer, John Nemeth, who changed his voice to fit the mood of the tune, but showed that the harp was his forte; R.J. Mischo, who played some very expressive harp; and Lynwood Slim, who played more jazzy jump blues with his chromatic harp.One of the highlights of the concert was the 58 year-old Birdlegg, a.k.a. Gene Pittman, a veteran of the Oakland blues circuit. He was in constant motion and was highly entertaining. He put his all into all his songs, and especially in his great soulful version of “Honest I Do.” His harmonica blues style differs from many others since he has a personable style of self-taught phrasing and note bending. He wore a derby hat like Sonny Boy Williamson did. Each player played a segment of the show, and then they all jammed together on the final number, “When The Saints Go Marching On.”  Saturday’s show in the picturesque Great Meadow had eight acts. The day started with the hot dance zydeco band of Mark St. Mary. Mark is known for his double pump beat accordion style. He was mastering the musical styles of Creole-Cajun zydeco as well as Louisiana blues and R&B when he toured with Clifton Chenier. He also did some blues numbers like “ I’m a Hog For You Baby.” Everywhere Cafe R&B goes, they create a following, and their festival show was no exception. Vocalist, Roach was the center of attention with her constant body movements and her explosive, sensual vocals. She reminded me of Tina Turner. The exciting team of Smokin’ Joe Kubek and Bnois King played some great contemporary Texas blues. Kubek played some deep, melodic solos, especially with his slide guitar. King added his Louisiana blues and jazz guitar techniques, and sang from a whisper to a growl. James Harman was versatile with his harp playing and seemed almost on fire with his hot, westcoast jump blues. His vocals were southern gospel-inflected.  The Jimmy Dawkins Band with Nora Jean Bruso was next. The two have been working together for several decades. Bruso was a belter with often rough, grating vocals. Dawkins carried on the tradition of Chicago Westside blues guitar. Angela Strehli traded licks with her guitarist, Mike Schermer. Her vocals did not seem as emotional as usual. Howard Tate‘s piercing falsetto and tenor style have made him an entertaining soul master. Huey Lewis & The News started off on the R&B and soul side, and then branched out to more of his hits. There were seven acts on Sunday’s show. Kenny Blue Ray played an impressive guitar. His friend, Charlie, played harp and sang. The Delmark Blues Revue featured guitarists, Dave Specter with his Chicago Westside style, and Steve Freund who was with the Sunnyland Slim Band for fifteen years in Chicago; Ken Saydak, who is one of Chicago’s best blues pianist; and vocalist, Shirley Johnson. Shirley’s deep alto vocals were powerful and soulful.Basically the Campbell Brothers are a gospel group who play a new steel guitar sound in churches. However, the unique tuning for their steel guitar created a biting edge for the sound and some spacy sounds which were very far out. The North Mississippi Allstars are from the hill country in Mississippi.Their band was a mix of blues, soul, hip-hop, rock and funk. Their closing number was way out there with offensive sounds. |
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Mavis Staples sang like her old exciting self. She is always a spirit-chilling, emotional vocalist. The Fabulous Thunderbirds put out lots of high energy, including dramatic harp solos by original co-founder, Kim Wilson. There were two upcoming, young guitarists, Kirk Fletcher and Nick Curran, with their punk rock look but gentle vocals. The guitar solos were also good and the piano playing of Gene Taylor was hearty. The Legends of Chicago group included some excellent musicians, and was one of the highlights of the festival. Featured performers were guitarist and vocalist, Hubert Sumlin, this year’s “poster person;” drummer, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith; bassist, Bob Stroger; guitarists Ron Thompson and Elvin Bishop, and harpist James Cotton. Cotton blew a dynamic harp, and seemed to make the sound come out by hitting the harp. Charlie Musselwhite blew his harp with the group in the finale. Thanks to Tom Mazzolini for producing such an enjoyable show. |
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NEWS FRONT
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Eli’s Mile High Club has opened again, and seems to have more blues acts. It is now called Oakland Mile High Club and the website is www.oaklandmilehigh.com . It is owned by Sam Marshall, whose blues band is called Marshall Law. Sam has been observed for many years thoroughly enjoying himself by dancing in the front row of the San Francisco Blues Festival. In addition to his blues radio show, Bobbie Webb will be the MC for a local TV show (Channel 29) called, “Keeping The Blues Alive.” B.B.King celebrated his 80th birthday by playing several California venues on his tour with Kenny Wayne Shepherd. A former Bay Area resident, organist, Deacon Jones, has his new book out called, “Forty Years With The Blues Legends.” |
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BAY AREA ENTERTAINERS | ||||||
| The Bay Area is always a popular touring spot. Musicians performing included: Marcia Ball, Bobby Warren, Theodis Ealey, Sweet Ida, Lara Price, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Joanna Connor, Duke Robillard Band, Freddie Hughes, Backburner Blues Band, Terry Hanck, Otis Taylor, Alberta Adams, Sam Lay, Barry Goldberg, Tracy Nelson, Corky Siegel, Denise LaSalle, Sonny Rhodes, Robben Ford & The Ford Blues Band, Buckwheat Zydeco, Bo Diddley, Jackie Greene, Candy Kane, Long John Hunter, Chuck Willis, Betty LaVette, Henry Butler, Johnny Rawls, Lil’ Brian & The Zydeco Travelers, and Ronnie Baker Brooks. |
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CD RELEASES
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Blind Pig Records has three albums out: Elvin Bishop: “Gettin’ My Groove Back,” Renee Austin: “Right About Love,” and Magic Slim and the Teardrops: “Anything Can Happen.” Maria Muldaur’s new CD, “Sweet Lovin’ Ol’ Soul” salutes women blues singers of yesteryear. Bonnie Raitt’s newest is called “Souls Alike” and is on the Capitol label. Rod Piazza has a new CD with a DVD included in the packaging. It has special guest artists and is entitled, “For The Chosen Who” on the Delta Grove Productions label. “Zinfidelity, Vol. 1” is the title of Rusty Zinn’s latest. It is on the Bad Daddy label. The Acrobat label has issued two CDs based on live performances and studio sessions from the sixties. One is: Lightnin’ Hopkins: “King of The Texas Blues,” and the other is: John Lee Hooker: “Rock With Me.” My folder is empty so it is time to quit for now. Enjoy those blues!!! |
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Maria Bainer, October, 2005
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