AfroPop at the PoHo...
African traditional music, blended with
jazz, calypso, hip-hop, took over the stage last night at the Pour House.
The Nigerian band LAGBAJA, meaning "the mask" in Yoruba, features the leader on sax wearing a mask.
He is accompanied by percussion, core drums, chants and Western instruments, and, obviously, the saxophone.
The 8-person band is on its first U.S. tour in 9 years.
The night before they performed in Atlanta at the Variety Playhouse.
The mask symbolizes
somebody, nobody, anybody or everybody. His emphasis is on social issues and pure entertainment.
As he said, the lyrics often get them in trouble. Then he showed an example, going after equivocating politicians with the musical title "
Just answer with a Yes or with a No."
Lively doesn't come even close to describing the pulsing music and the evening of gyrating adventure for the diverse crowd.
Dancers swayed to the beat and my feet shuffled a little too.
Well, I never have been a dancer but it was impossible to not be swept up with the rhythm and motion.
Described as
"my little sister," the lone female contributed greatly to the sound and the fury.
Colorful outfits contrasted with the stark traditional white "baggy" pants of the leader.
The core drums varied from the upright conga-type carved wooden ones to small, hand-held drums, pounded by hand and with a curiously curved stick.
Everyone had a solo or two and the music jumped from frantic pace, back to slow and melodic then pounding again.
In the background there was an accomplished keyboard player and a solid bassist who had the easiest job in the world.
A conventional drum kit added its effort to the musical melange.
It has been an interesting several weeks of music for me. First the Doobies, followed by the Two Man Gentleman Band, the spirited March Fourth, Shrimp City Slim, John Fogerty doing his CCR hits and Francine Reed belting the Blues.
Last night the "opener" was Lee Barbour and his Cubano surf rock band,
Post-Cobra.
(Click on the photos for more detail.)
Use the link to hear sounds of Lagbaja.
Did I mention I love and support Live Music?
Well, I do.
And I have pictures - and memories - to prove it.
Labels: Cubano surf rock band Post-Cobra, equivocating politicians, Lagbaja, Lee Barbour, Nigerian touring band, Yoruba word for mask
One "UK" evening followed by The Blues...
Went to the the UK* the other night to perhaps have myself a Moscow Mule in it's distinctive copper cup.
Well, actually, I intended to introduce a friend to the signature drink served at
The Rarebit.
He and I passed on the cool copper cup cocktail caper and focused more on their quirky menu. Take a look.
Note that the full menu is served only from 1pm to 10pm but the breakfast fare can be ordered from 10am until 1 am. Cool.
I had the country fried steak, with mashed potatoes and crisp green beans.
In conversation I referred to the area with all the expanding places along upper King Street as the
UK. My friend liked that.
"Don't believe I've seen that used before," he said, so maybe I coined it. In print. On this blog.
The next night - Friday - I headed to Home Team BBQ in West Ashley. Back in the U.S.A.
I was eager to listen again to a Blues master,
Steve Cheseborough, in from Oregon.
Had enjoyed his playing and authoritative banter about a year ago when he was a one-man show at Home Team.
Still dazzling with his knowledge of the major guitar players from the 1920s - 1930s, someone in the audience asked if he would play something by Taj Mahal.
Steve answered "I don't really know any of his songs but we both base our music on the same old timers...lemme see now..."
And he played a perfect Taj song, with credit to the original artist, Henry Thomas, 1874 - 1930, a Texas Blues pioneer. Yikes.
I recognized Fishin' Blues immediately from Taj's albums and live shows I had attended.
I wish I had jotted down some of the other songs Steve played and who he credited with creating them.
He honored quite an array of early Blues artists by presenting their authentic 20s and 30s sound.
He said his heavy, all-metal shiny National guitar was a challenge flying here. It was safely nestled above him in the overhead bin.
That meant it was part of his carry-on luggage and I have to wonder about the reaction from TSA at the airport as he presented his ID and boarding pass.
(Click on the photos for more details.)
The night before, while roaming around a few blocks of UK*, I bumped into Lee Barbour, another talented guitar player I admire and follow.
For example I know he is quite a ping pong player and not too surprised to meet him coming out of HoM.
If you don't know, they have two professional ping pong tables in the back.
Quite a change from all the pool tables usually seen up and down the street.
I asked how he fared in a recent tournament and he said he was pleased to have placed well in his talent level.
I've seen videos of him practicing and while playing in tournaments in New York.
He asked if I played and I grinned and said I had bounced the ball a few times ..when I was in high school.
That was long before Lee was born.
Now, even when I'm at Shem Creek or Goose Creek, I get along without a paddle.
(Groan.)
Labels: Dobro American resonator guitar, Fishin' Blues, Henry Thomas, Lee Barbour, Moscow Mule, steve Cheseborough, Taj Mahal, The Rarebit restaurant, UK means Upper King
Chapel of Chicago Blues.....
Well, it once was a church.
The Seaman's Chapel located in a maritime community.
This was a place where people came to pray.
And they came to celebrate happy events.
Now it's known as
Mad River and we gather to clap hands, sing along and have a rockin' good time.
Chicago Land style.
John Primer came down from Chi Town with his bag of blues.
He stirred up the place with his 2-5 "early show."
Early SEWE visitors stopped in.
A lot of people planned for a late lunch.
Or, they left the office early.
Yes, there were some suits and ties in the crowd.
Shrimp City Slim and his band backed the legendary Bluesman.
Gary Erwin on keys, Chuck "The Cat" Morris harmonica and John "Clam Chop"Etheridge on drums.
"Silent" Eddie sang a few songs as well as serving hot licks on his guitar.
Tonight it's West Ashley Home Team BBQ for some Mississippi Blues.
Jerekus Singleton,up from Jackson, is bringing his Delta sounds to Charleston.
The 22nd annual Lowcountry Blues Bash wraps up Tuesday so make sure you get some before they're all gone..
(Click on the pictures for more details.)
Went to the Pour House last night for the
Lee Barbour CD Release party.
Lee took the stage a little after midnight so it became a late, late night jazz musical event.
Yes, I had my camera with me. More later.
I'm still sleepy.
Labels: clam chop. John Primer. Jerekus Singleton, Lee Barbour, Nonfiction, Please click http://photo.meetup.com/687.
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