Chicago Blues Fest 2007

by polksalad69

So we headed over to the fest on Friday. After picking up a bunch of free stuff from the sponsors and eating a sandwich, we hit the Crossroads Stage for Carl Weathersby's set. Turns out it was the best set of the fest. Carl mixed it up w/some Marvin Gaye and a whole lot of Albert King. Very nice mixture of soul and blues on the notoriously guitar heavy "Gibson" Crossroads Stage. He even gave a shout out to my Mississippi State Bulldog's ("Bulldogs son...") baseball cap.


Next up was Lurrie Bell at the Front Porch stage. Was supposed to be Lurrie and Carey, but since Carey passed a few months ago, Matthew Skoller filled in. WOW!!! Star of the show he was. Simply amazing harp playing and even more impressive were his vocals. Caught Lurrie's set on the same stage two years ago and I'd have to say his playing was much more inspired this year. Considering all he's been through recently he looked very content and at home on stage. On top of that, brother, Steve joined the band and battled it out w/Matthew on harp. The only problem I had was with Lurrie's vocals. Put him in Skoller's band and watch out.

Did not plan on sticking around for the main stage acts on Friday so we checked out the Chicago Blues Jam on the Juke Joint Stage. Guy King (formerly of Willie Kent's Gents), Calvin Jones, and Willie Smith kicked things off.

They played covers but I can't get enough of Guy's playing. Unfortunately it became a revolving door w/Guy switching to bass and some other musicians of lesser caliber taking turns at worn out standards. Enough of that so we called it a day.

Made it back on Saturday for Alvin Youngblood Hart at the Juke Joint Stage. I'd only seen Alvin do his power trio thing (which I didn't care for the first time, but totally dug it the second) so I was really looking forward to his acoustic set. It was hot, we were in Mississippi after all, and Alvin was stuck in traffic, delayed by the space shuttle.



Alvin finally hit the stage about ten minutes late and did not disappoint.



He broke a string on one guitar but had two others and did not miss a beat. He was even sporting a t-shirt of the best band from Ireland, Thin Lizzy. Can't name the songs but he did some Skip James and his own "Big Mama's Door."

Saturday was the night to catch the acts on the Petrillo and it was a blast. Nellie "Tiger" Travis kicked things off and, well, Tom Marker was right, one will not be forgetting her anytime soon. Big Jay McNeely was up next and started his set off with a crowd walk. Did he really say he just turned 80?!?!? Damn, you'd never know it. Irma Thomas was up next, and she just is not my thing. They were good at what they did so it was time to get some crawfish. All in all a nice warm up for headliner, Magic Slim and the Teardrops.


Crawfish ^^^



Irma Thomas ^^^

What can I say, Slim was Slim. On the big stage he had the nastiest, dirtiest, tone. He was even playing a Les Paul, not his usual Jaguar or does he play a Jazzmaster? The drums sounded great. In the small club his drummer plays too hard but on the big stage it just right. He replaced Chris the white bass player w/a black guy. Jon McDonald on second guitar would always complain between sets that Chris missed this or missed that. He didn't know the subtleties of the blues. This feller was funky, not that Slim can hear it since Jon claims he's pretty deaf. Slim tore it up for about 55 minutes. A short set but what are you going to do?

Headed over to Harlem Ave Lounge to catch former Teardrop John Primer. Never saw Harlem Ave that crowded. Folks standing around the bar and dancing in front of the stage. Slim when introducing the band at the Fest called McDonald, John Primer. Got a laugh out of that one. Long night so we stayed for his first set and hit the White Castle next door.