When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. ~Hunter S. Thompson
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| Five Days with the Chicago Blues! |
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| Written by John Abbott | |||
| Monday, 09 May 2011 20:13 | |||
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I have been a blues fan, and have heard blues music all across the country. But there is one city in this country that is mecca to the blues, Chicago. And, for good reason. Though the second set of Toronzo Cannon at B.L.U.E.S. was for me, the high point of the week, none of it was bad. Even the third set stage-walk-ons were fantastic. I love the city of Chicago. I met some super friendly people. And it was really outstanding to be visiting a town where everyone I asked for directions, every cab driver we hailed, and everyone we met was great to us! This might be the longest Freak and Geek post ever. Five nights of fun condensed down to one post. On occasion, my employer, long live IT, springs to send me to various places around the country to learn new things. It doesn't happen often, two years ago was my last trip. This time though it was five nights in Chicago. And, it wasn't even a solo trip, I had several coworkers who got sent as well. At the last minute The Wife decided to join in on the fun. What The Wife and I didn't realize until this trip, we had a kindred spirit amongst us, one of the coworkers, The Brain, who was also a huge blues fan. So it was our group of late nighters haunting the bar.
Sammy Fender steps up on stage at B.L.U.E.S. to play with Toronzo Cannon. May 2011
It isn't just about blues though. It is about Chicago style pizza and some of the finest Indian food in the country. Saturday night, after our arrival, we had some Due's Pizza and headed out to Blue Chicago where we saw Charlie Love and the Silky Smooth Blues Band. They put on a good if not particularly original couple of sets. If you want to stay in downtown the Blue Chicago stages some good music. The bar has a reputation of favoring female blues singers. Joining Charlie Love was Big Time Sarah.
Night number two in the big city of Chicago. After a terrific meal at Klay Oven, Indian restaurant in downtown, we caught Toronzo Cannon at B.L.U.E.S on 2519 North Halsted. Toronzo plays a great heavy guitar blues. A left hander, he plays a righty guitar strung backwards, obviously channeling Jimi Hendrix he played some outstanding blues'd up Hendrix renditions. Vocally, the band is nothing special by Chicago standards. But really every song Toronzo played had that "guitars first" feel. The sound from his hollow body guitar was bright and clear, incendiary. Toronzo will be leaving for a blues tour in France in a couple of weeks.
The whole trip was resplendent with surprises. The great thing about going to a blues show in Chicago is you never know who is going to end up on stage. Blues bars often have a fairly heavy contingent of well known musicians in the crowds and so the final set of the night often turns into a unique experience. Toronzo's show was no exception. Not long after arriving at B.L.U.E.S. the barstool next to me was occupied by Chicago blues singer, Big Time Sarah, whom I had seen performing the night before on stage at Blue Chicago performing with the Charlie Love Blues Band. I leaned in to tell her she did a fine job. She thanked me, but followed up with "Did you buy my CD?" I confessed I had not, claiming a lack of funds the night before. I thought I had wiggled free until she said, "That's OK, I've got them tonight". Knowing I was beaten, I forked over $20 for what turned out to be a compilation CD containing only two Big Time Sarah songs. Ahh well, supporting the arts is never cheap and she left the bar at the end of the night with two Miller High Life 40oz'rs.
Charlie Love and the Silky Smooth Blues Band on stage at Kingston Mines, May 2011
Sitting next to Sarah was Sammy Fender, all decked out in red, white and blue. It wasn't long until they were each called upon to sing a song with the band. The first Sammy Fender song was heading down this great direction when a broken string intervened. Sadly their second song didn't have the same fire. It was quite interesting seeing Fender, who had an aura of band director to him, put together a blues song. Pointing to the instruments he wanted to jump in.
During the show break The Wife and I strolled down to Kingston Mines where our Sunday night paid admission to B.L.U.E.S. gave us free admission. We were somewhat disappointed to see Charlie Love, our show from the previous night on stage there. The difference from the previous night's show was at Kingston Mines, the band was working the CD sales angle much harder than the music. The last couple of songs, I didn't quite catch the title. I think it was something like "Buy our CD" followed by "Buy our CD redux". The musicians came right out into the crowd to put the bite on face to face. Now, I realize times are tough. With the smoking ban, attendance in many bars is down. Coupled with the general economic downturn I expect musicians are feeling the pain. But I am not sure aggressive sales confrontations do better than good music at bringing in money.
I was somewhat lukewarm on going to Kingston Mines to begin with. Through past experiences, culminating in my last trip, I had just gotten sick of how unfriendly and really outright abusive the employees are in this bar. I was just sick of it. I had in the past written Kingston Mines had to rank as the number one unfriendliest bar in Chicago. From the grumpy doorman, to the staff that aggressively enforces where you can stand and where you can't (check the lines painted on the floor). I had told myself I had darkened the door of the Mines for the last time. But, that was two years ago since I was last in Chicago and the music was again calling. What I found there on this trip was a much improved experience. The atmosphere had changed. So much so, that I am unwilling to fully believe it. and I am going to add a caveat. We were only at the Mines on slower nights. I am not totally willing to believe the bad mood doesn't return on Friday and Saturday nights. Two years ago a friendly hello to the doorman would garner you a grunt and a look like you might be in line for an ass-kicking. This year, the doorman spots my Harley patch, asks if I ride, and complements The Wife on her hair "Dat shits bad-ass, man". The same friendly mood was on the inside of the bar as well. And so rather than the bad experience I was expecting, we spent the majority of our nights revolving somehow around Kingston Mines.
The Dub Currents on stage at Tommy Nevins Pub, May 2011
Eric Davis and the Troublemakers on stage at Kingston Mines May 2011
Additionally, Buddy Guy's employed the camera police. Mere moments after pulling out the video camera I had someone threatening to confiscate my camera and evict me from the premises. First stating the musician's union prohibited it, and then eluding to state law that specifically prohibits video taping bands inside of bars. Though, video taping could occur --but only after gaining the approval of the bar manager (who alas, had already left for the day). I thought it interesting state law could be broken, simply by gaining the approval of the bar manager. I might have to stop back and have him fix some parking tickets too.
Later, talking to the sound man, I learned that taping could occur but only after getting the approval of Buddy Guy himself. "The man is crazy about his logo being published without his approval." he told me. (The backstage contains a 20 ft tall bar logo) and the bar also employed closed circuit video cameras. The soundman told me, "If I let you shoot video, Buddy would see me on the cameras and fire my ass. He could be watching us right now." I had always wondered what the life of famous blues artists are like. Now I know. They sit at home at night and spy on their employees by watching the video feed from their own clubs.
However, we were lucky to make the decision to cut our losses at Buddy Guy's and head north. We didn't get to Kingston Mines until late, just in time to catch the final sets. Kingston Mines is open late, and we took full advantage of 4am bar time. We saw a couple of songs by Mike Wheeler on the North stage and then moved to the South stage where The Brain seemed very happy to have caught the one set by Eric "Guitar" Davis. He and I are both big fans of Jimmy Hendrix music not performed by Jimmi Hendrix. Eric's version of the Hendrix song, Voodoo Child was a stunning example of that style. High energy, and a great blues experience.
At the periphery of my vision there was a young white kid hanging out with a guitar case. He looked somewhere between scared, nervous and excited. At one point I popped outside the front door to catch a little fresh air and the stage manager was running down the rules with him. "It's totally up to the band if your ass ends up on stage or not, etc…" later when I went to the bathroom, he was pacing and I felt like I had suddenly been dropped into the movie _8 Mile_. On the dance floor he was hanging out on the edge, his intensity and desire to be called to the stage peaking between each song. Looking over at him at one point, he was bouncing on the balls of his feet trying to make eye contact with Eric Davis, The Brain said "There is NO WAY the band is going to let him up on stage" but then, after taking a bit of ribbing from the band his time finally came. Watch the video, he starts rough and kudos to Eric Davis to be patient enough to get this kid calmed down enough that when his time came he was able to perform exceptionally. It was my high point of the night when this kid got calmed down and focused on his solo.
Jimmy Burns on stage at Kingston Mines May 2011
Sammy Fender along with an un-named flutest taking over Jimmy Burns stage at the Kingston Mines. May 2011
Kid Dynamite performing a great second set, on stage at Kingston Mines, May 2011
All in all, it was an excellent five nights in the windy city. I got lots of good information from the conference during the daylight hours, and got to prowl plenty of blues at night. The perfect mix!
One bit of sad news locally, during the time I was gone, "Schmengie" Mike Oliver, former lead guitar in the Bear Creek Band died in an Eau Claire hospital. There will be a remembrance gathering at The Eau Claire Firehouse, 2:30PM Wednesday, May 11th. It has been a rough month on local musicians!
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| Last Updated on Thursday, 13 October 2011 15:04 |
