MUSINGS & RAMBLINGS

I decided that it's really time to get back out on the blues scene and hit it hard this time. I have missed it and lots has changed in just these past two years while I've been kinda layin' low.
New bands and musicians have emerged or moved away, venues opening, closing or just changing their format. Even the whole dynamics on stage has changed in some bands. I've also noticed that there are many jams everywhere which is cool. As long as they stay at jams and don't start jammin' at shows.

I missed the Sonoma County Blues Fest last year and I even heard they opened up the front and center of the stage for dancing at that one!
Really sorry to have missed that.
Even so, there's always a dance area set up not to far from the stage to the side. It's always used and most the day it stays filled with bouncin' heads not just gawkers.

The first thing I noticed when I arrived was the lack of security. Not that this an open invitation to terrorists or anything it's just that in past years they have been a problem. Not the terrorists just the security. Too many rules and boundaries, shoot... they were downright intimidating! Not this year though!
I didn't see not one big budging bicepted yellow t-shirt wearin' person there.
There was dancin' in the aisles and what do you know....not one problem I saw with this old middle-aged crowd. There was a big aisle kept opened in front with a rail but that was it. Very laid back, shaded, the best damn house music, great sound, just a real cool event.

There were complaints about not being able to leave stuff in the theater while one pokes around the fair. Used to be you could do that. Get there early and just walk in, lay your stuff out and leave for a while. It is a fair after all. It's hard to tote around all this festival stuff at a fair. I don't even go as early as I used to. Probably the only reason I even go to the fair is because of this festival.
Tell you what though.....gotta check out the "Hall of Flowers" at this fair. Pretty awesome.
There's a little theater across from the hall that always has music going on too. It's really cool back there. Lots of trees, a dance floor laid out on the grass front & center of the stage, lots of tables to sit at to eat or just relax under the trees while enjoying the music.
When I walked up, it was Michael and Blue Suede. I had heard of them but never seen them. They do have a following it seems because there were two guys dressed up like Elvis with fake mics and guitars standing right in front. They were taking their role very seriously ;-) It was a very fun dancin' crowd. The guy, Michael, did a great job at Elvis and had a good band to back him. I hated to leave but the blues was a callin' me back.

The highlight at this blues fest for me was Michael Burkes. He was so awesome. He really played for us, the fans. He came down and wandered around and just ripped on that guitar! I think he even wandered into the kiddy carnival area. Man it was cool. Great band backing him too!
What a show that was.

After that my favorite was Nick Moss on the house music!!
Just kidding although there's some truth to that too;-)
The guy was tearin' it up!
I was outside, smokin' & jokin' with a couple of people during break when all of the sudden his guitar just whipped through the air, shot right through me and made me say outloud, "Damn....listen to that guy!"
Dee says, "who, Mo?" while looking on stage.
I think it was his 'Live at Chan's' CD or something like that. I can't wait to see him this September.

I caught a couple a Janiva's set and went wandering around looking for coffee. They really need a good coffee stand there. Bought something at the Pavilion, got some fries and that's when I went to the Michael & Blue Suede thing I was talkin' about. So, I missed most of her set. That's alright, I've seen her a few times. She had a totally different band this time and they were alright. To be honest, I was kind of disappointed about that part there. The last time I saw her she had the most awesome band! I came back and the crowd was very happy about that set there.

Volker's set was great although he was missing his regular horn section. He had a last minute fill-in, and a couple of the area's best I might add, but it just wasn't that Volker horn section with Carl Bowers and David Schrader. They were surely missed. It's just that this is just a very well rehearsed band and that horn section of his really build up his songs. Other than that....a great set by V and band.

Another band worth mentioning is that John Lee Hooker Jr. What a showman he is!
But that wasn't what got to me....it was his band!! Wow!!
There was this kid on guitar and the guy was amazing. And I ain't talkin' just his solos here. Just his fillers, rhythm, he had so much going on. Really fine guitar player indeed. I don't know who he was, and haven't researched it yet, but man...was he good.
The whole band was tight...tight...tight!
John can sing too. He really likes to play the crowd. Kinda reminds me of a gangsta bluesman.
I really liked his version of "Part Time Love". They did a great job at that. He has many originals too.
I heard many say, mostly guys, "he ain't no John Lee Hooker".
I would just say, "I don't think he's trying to be".
It's obvious he has a sound all his own. Even when he covers his daddy's stuff, it's nuthin' like the Sr's. He almost makes a medley out of them.
I enjoyed his show but mostly it was because of that band! Wow!!

Patrick Sweany was great if you dare to venture out of the blues and into that acidy rockin stuff. The guy has some energy and is cute as a button but like a few of us said afterwards, we need the whole package ;-)

David Jacob Strain was good too. A great way to open the show.

Great day and my feet were sore. Time to change shirts and head over to the Last Day Saloon for the after festival Party. I wasn't sure I was gonna make it but I was determined to try.
I thought it was cool that we here in Sonoma County were finally gonna have our very own 'after-the-fest-party'.
Lots of places have them but we never did. I know Moe's is packed after Santa Cruz fest.
I was keepin' my fingers crossed and hopin' a lot of the musicinas would be there for that ultimate jam.

I made there, and Volker was already goin' at it. He had half his horn section back and that seemed to tighten it up considerably! The only problem I had was that they did the same exact set as at the festival. I didn't get it but aaah well. They sounded great.
After Volker's set, I bailed. I have a feeling I missed something special, I don't know. Maybe someone will share the rest of the night.
I had one other mission to accomplish believe getting off these feets.

I headed closer to home and stopped at the Tradewinds. Levi Lloyd was there. I heard he changed up his band somewhat and I was most curious. Levi is absolutely one of my favorites when he rips into that blues. Just maybe......
Well, I got there, pulled into a spot, took a listen and they just started into the 'break song". I really love that song and wish they'd do the whole damn thing once in awhile. It's an instrumental and I think it's by Albert Collin's or someone like that.
So, I waited in the van and listened to Earl Hooker while propping up my feet on the dash. He was sounding sweet as I almost fell a sleep there in the van in the Tradewinds parking lot.
They started up so I went in.
It started out ok.... new drummer, no keys, and Levi was soundin' good and then it was break time again. It had only been three or four songs! I wasn't waitin' around again so I left there, went home, crashed out and crashed out hard.
Man what I'd give to hear a whole set of just Levi playin' some blues!

What a great day it was. Didn't even have to leave the county!
Thank You Smith & Bowker productions for yet another fine show. Lookin' forward to the next big blues show.
Thank You Dave of the Last Day Saloon for hosting the after the fest party even though I bailed early.
Great to see all those familiar blues lovin' faces once again. Some people I don't see hardly ever except at this festival here.

See ya on the blues trail.....
Mo