Wednesday, March 02, 2011

A Honeydew Summer....

So, the joke goes, "Where does a Honeydew go on its vacation each summer?"


The answer, of course is to Melon Camp.

Get it?

John Mellencamp?

Well, John played in Columbia last Saturday night and the audience was a mixed crowd.

Older (me) and young and lots of in between.

Nobody in the sell-out crowd at Township Auditorium was disappointed.

He said it would be an evening of songs you knew, and songs you didn't know. Well, not yet.

Some thoughts that might be new and others that you already had.

Some patriotic songs. Sad songs. Love songs.

With a great backing band. Or a soaring, roaring solo.

Brightly lighted stage, sparkling lights or a single flood lamp.

Acoustic and then HIGHLY amplified.

The floor thumped from the bass at times.

I even climbed the stairs up to the back of the balcony to see the overall effect.

Everything had been trucked in - lights, sound system, speakers, backdrop, etc.

It all would be packed up and leave town later that night. In big trucks.

Down to Florida then out to Texas and Colorado. Up the coast of California and into Canada. Diesel is already at $3.56 a gallon. Yikes.

I'm glad he chose to stop in South Carolina.


(Click on the pictures for more detail. My Canon S90 digital still camera was pretty busy but a fellow nearby making a long video was escorted out by security. James Taylor will be in Columbia Wednesday March 23. I'm glad I don't shoot video.)

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posted by chuckography @ 9:03 PM 0 Comments

Sunday, October 10, 2010

The Happy BLUES ....


























Last weekend I went to Columbia for a FREE 2-day Blues Festival.

It was the 16th annual Saturday event but this was the first one with a Friday afternoon opening day.

Alexis P. Suter is a big woman with a big versatile voice - and she and her band dazzled the crowd.

Her booming contralto belted out blues rockers, spirituals and soothing ballads.

When you entered each day, your hand was stamped WOMP, initials for the promoters name Word Of Mouth Productions. They have a right to be proud!

The festival site is right next to Columbia's Five Points. Local musicians played for their fans and then welcomed regional and national acts to the stage.

Families spread blankets and set up chairs in Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park.

But this was a musical event and dancers popped up, unable to sit still, to move to the music.

The Holmes Brothers were the big act that highlighted the show.

Sherman Holmes plays bass, his brother Wendell on guitar and piano and brother-in-spirit Popsy Dixson on drums.


Their trademark 3-part harmony covered a blend of blues, gospel,soul, R&B, rock 'n roll and country.

The crowd seemed to enjoy the two days so I look forward to the expanded 17th annual show next year.

(Click - twice - on photo for more details. The link will let you hear some of the music.

I'm learning more on how to post these things! Thanks for stopping by.)

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posted by chucker @ 10:02 AM 3 Comments