The "House Rules" at House of Blues....
The "House of Blues" in Myrtle Beach is digging deeper into my pocket.
Charging more.
Now having to pay for things that used to be free.
They're making more money ...but maybe turning off customers.
Charging $30 extra to sit on a hard stool.
Pricey folding chairs have pushed the standing audience off the floor space in front of the stage.
Get the picture?
You used to get a jump on the crowd if you ate at HOB before the show. Good idea.
For the House of Blues.
There's lots of burger joints and Calabash seafood places all around there.
Now it's more expensive to eat there just to ensure you get a good view.
An announcement was made to please turn the flash off on your camera or - more likely - your phone that takes pictures.
There HAS been less enforcement of a "no cameras" rule.
But the
Robert Cray show had the dimmest lighting I've ever seen there.
The few stage lights would seem to brighten only at the very end of a song. Huh?
Getting pictures of Mr. Cray being handed a fresh guitar??
I like Robert Cray but as I wandered through the crowds standing way back by the bars, I knew they usually would be down front, some right at the railing in front of the stage.
I used to do that.
I have guitar picks from Buddy Guy and B.B. King to prove it.
(Clicking on the pictures makes the image much larger.)
Seeing deer eyes glowing along Highway 17 at night got to be scary and daunting.
Now an HOB show means staying overnight in Myrtle Beach.
Smacking into a deer could put a dent in your fun music evening.
Labels: $30 bar stools, deer in the headlights, folding chairs, HOB, House of Blues, Robert Cray
That's 1-800-DELBERT....
The good news is
Delbert McClinton put on a birthday show for me in Myrtle Beach.
Well, he didn't know it was my birthday.
But if he had, he probably would have signed something for me.
The man works hard, appreciates his fans and loves to sign whatever they hand him at the end of the show.
I mean ANYTHING.
This night he signed a $20 bill, ticket stubs, bar napkins, a few t-shirts, several extended hands,a baseball cap and a big bra.
Yep, a lady handed it up and he placed a cup over his knee and signed his name.
He always makes eye contact as he hands items back to the crowd reaching up to him onstage.
I've seen him several times before and signing things for his fans is a regular feature.
He announced the dates for his next
"Sandy Beaches Cruise" where fans are entertained on a ship with several ports of call and other entertainers.
Then he said it was the last cruise.
"So, call 1-800- DELBERT for all the information and get onboard."
Then, laughing, he added
"For all your North Floridians, you better write that down...1-800-DELBERT."
I've described before how the House of Blues encourages you to have dinner there before the show.
You present your receipt to the security guys and you queue up in a special line to be admitted first.
I used to do that so I could be in a spot right up at the front of the stage.
Lately though, I liked to get in first to grab one of the few stools scattered around and have a place to sit down during the show.
Worked out very good because you're admitted an hour before the performance. That's a lot of standing.
Uh oh. Looks like House of Blues wants to get every dollar they can so they've added a few more stools but the rush to get one now has a price tag.
While I was standing in line, I heard a fan behind me say she had just heard that Delbert was about 71 years old.
She was carrying a special purse he had signed for her on one of the fan cruises.
"I knew he has played for a long time, but had no idea he was that old."
I turned to her and said
"I just hope I can do half what he does when I get to be 71."
She kept smiling as I added
"Of course, I just turned 73 today so I guess I'd have to call him Junior."
Delbert and I both stood during the entire concert.
(Click on the pictures for more detail.)
HOB does seem to have backed off from prohibiting cameras.
No more signs warning you.
No reactions from security when a flash goes off.
Looks like cell phone cameras have made a big difference.
Labels: $30 VIP stools, ABC's Dancing With The Stars, cell phone cameras, Delbert McClinton, ert, HOB, Sandy Beaches Cruises
Support Live Music....
On Halloween a year ago, I saw
Robert Randolph and the Family Band at a club in Washington, D.C.
This time there were no masks and no
wet T-shirt contest winner.
The
Music Farm was packed Saturday night with RR fans and most knew what to expect.
This was my 5th or 6th (7th?) time enjoying the talented musicians and the evening of fast-paced dance fun they present. Cousin Danyel on bass was in fine voice.
I knew 15-20 ladies would be invited up on stage to "Shake Their Hips" and 1 or 2 local guitarists would have an opportunity to play a song as
The Man backed them on his pedal steel guitar or a 6-string.
Yep, all that happened.
Lots of new songs were added to my favorites from over the years.
Robert
"marched" and
"came to shout." This night he did not stand, kick over his chair and demonstrate the proper way to dance to his music.
The night before I drove to Myrtle Beach for a House of Blues evening with
Los Lonely Boys.
Well worth the drive!
The Grammy-winning Texican Trio of brothers took over the stage and had the crowd on its feet for more than 2 hours.
Henry Garza showed his impressive guitar chops while brother Jo-Jo backed with his 6-string bass.
Brother Ringo pounded the drums and added vocals to the smooth harmony. And, yes, that IS his actual name.
Destined at birth to be a Texas drummer.
It would appear that
HOB has eased its policy on banning cameras and cell phones that take pictures and videos.
(Please click on the photos for more details.)
Photoshop helped me create my imaginary sea of lighted cell phones.
It's actually not that far fetched!
Labels: Cousin Danyel, Henry Garza, HOB, Jo Jo Garza, Los Lonely Boys, Music Farm, Ringo Garza, Texican Trio of brothers
A 99% Standing Ovation....
Had a great evening up in Myrtle Beach to see
Delbert McClinton.
He is one of those
"fan savvy" artists who allow photography so my trusty (new) Canon S90 camera was hanging on my belt.
We even scored bar stools again!
(There's probably only about 25 stools scattered around the
House of Blues that holds close to 1,000 people.)
Standees all around us for hours mumbled about how
"some people" are able to sit while others (about 974) are
"forced to stand."
To gain this valued status, you simply have a meal in the House of Blues restaurant and your staff-signed receipt lets you line up to enter before the general admission.
Last night we arrived early, ate and went to the line starting point at 5:30 (doors scheduled to open at 7:00) so we were
#1 and #2 in line. By 7:00, several hundred people stood behind us.
Being the first ones in, we moved quickly to an elevated area close to the stage with a great sight line where we had found several stools before. We plopped down with a sigh of relief. The opener wasn't due for an hour and then Delbert would perform until almost 11 pm.
So, as others crowded in around us and behind us, we were perched comfortably and a waitress brought us 24 ounce cans of cold Budweiser (2 for $19). She did that again during the evening.
A buxom blonde named Pam who had stood behind us in line said she lived nearby, was usually at the head of the line for many of Delbert's shows and had even taken a Delbert
Cruise-For-Fans.
Pam added
"I know exactly where his microphone will be placed so I'll be in the front row, waving. He'll recognize me and pose for my cellphone camera."Sure enough, when the star came on, she was in the center, right down front and he DID seem to smile and shed some attention on his
Number One Fan.
House of Blues usually is very strict and has signs posted saying no photography or recording devices allowed. In the past we have seen Security guys wade into the crowd and tell a person to NOT hold up their phone nor take any more pictures. Yikes. But, not tonight. I was very comfortable using my camera...and sitting down.
(Here's another chance to click on the photos to see more detail. These scenes are not often captured at HOB. They also could add more bar stools.)
Labels: bar stools, Delbert McClinton, HOB, Pam, Photography NOT allowed, security
Riding with the King - B.B. King & Eric Clapton
What a musical month this has been. As readers of this blog know, I enjoy live music concerts and will hop in the car for a 2-hour drive up to Myrtle Beach when the
House of Blues brings in someone I really want to see.
The trick is to arrive around 5pm and have a burger or sandwich at HOB. Your dining receipt allows you to go to a "special" entrance with a covered walkway while the general public lines up and snakes back through the simmering paved parking lot amidst the three tiny shade trees.
Since you're out of the sun or rain, the decision on when to get in line depends on the artist. Two weeks ago, for Chicago Blues legend
Buddy Guy, we showed our receipt one hour before the doors opened and we joined four others at the head of the line. Last Friday we were there to see
B.B. King and joined the line 1 1/2 hours early and there were about 6 people ahead of us. Within 30 minutes, about 200 people were standing or sitting behind us.
Being in front of the line means you have an excellent opportunity to race in and grab one of the few barstools in the very large 2-story club. Or, you certainly are assured a spot right in front of the stage, leaning on the cushioned security railing. Either one is great because the doors open one hour before the show starts. You learn to be patient... and to wear comfortable shoes. A bonus for being in front, when the guitar picks are thrown to the audience, you'll probably get one!
King is on his 80th Birthday Tour and never sounded better. He sang and played his guitar he named "Lucille" and joked with the audience and his blues band which features 4 horns, a great bass, drums, keyboard and lead guitar. The band leader has been with him for 27 years and they've toured 90 countries. (I first saw King at Brittlebank Park in 1997 when he was only 71.)
The photo of Buddy Guy was taken in Columbia a few years ago at the Three Rivers Music Festival before he shaved his head. When I saw him last year in Atlanta at
The Tabernacle he introduced his bald look. It was the night after he had been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
While waiting in line we talked with a local fellow who has been to 125 concerts at HOB and elsewhere. He had a tip on getting good placement for the upcoming
Eric Clapton concert in Charlotte...join his fan club and have access to good prices for down front seating.
It worked well! We have seats in the 8th row in October. It's assigned seating - like we had for 10th row for the Eagles in Charleston at the Coliseum - so my legs and feet will get a break. I'll have my ear plugs of course. Just in case.
Oh, one final note on music media, I've added a link to PeerFlix. I found it about a year ago and it's an excellent LEGAL Peer to Peer setup that lets you list DVDs that you have and enjoyed but don't need anymore. You get other DVDs from people and earn "points" to use for future trades. Each DVD to you is $1. I've had about 65 DVDs pass through here and, on each one I send out, I add a note to
"check my blog." We do what we have to do.
Labels: B.B. King, Blues Legend, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, HOB, House of Blues, Myrtle Beach, The Tabernacle
The "House of Blues" in Myrtle Beach is digging deeper into my pocket.
An announcement was made to please turn the flash off on your camera or - more likely - your phone that takes pictures.
