A Great (Jimi) Experience
Wow. What a musical line up.
A solid three hours salute to the musical genius of Jimi Hendrix.
Two performers I've seen many times are Buddy Guy and Robert Randolph.
Billy Cox, in the cowboy hat,
is the man who runs the 3-week 2012 traveling road show.
Billy was the bassist in two of Jimi's bands.
Of course Eric Gales, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Jonny Lang brought their talents to the PAC stage Sunday night.
Hey, there was no ban on cameras.
And, I was sitting in the front row.
I have a batch of photos I'd like to share.
(Click on the photos for even more details.)
Two shows in a row security ignored those of us with cameras.
And, as Daniel Tosh would say, for that, we thank you.
Labels: Billy Cox, Buddy Guy, Chris Layton, Daniel Tosh, Eric Gales, Eric Johnson, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Mato Nanji, Robert Randolph
Playing Tribute to Jimi....
Going to see
Buddy Guy tonight at the Performing Arts Center.
I shot this picture last year at a free concert in Myrtle Beach.
Buddy is one of the world's leading guitarist playing tribute in a program saluting the musical genius of
Jimi Hendrix.
The
Experience Hendrix is led by Billy Cox, bassist for Jimi's band and tonight will feature Guy, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robert Randolph and others.
The lineup of the traveling 3-week tour varies from city-to-city and also includes several of my favorites
Keb' Mo' and
Taj Mahal who, unfortunately, won't be here tonight.
I was thinking just the other day that Charleston is overdue for a visit by Keb' Mo'.
Hopefully, sometime soon?
I saw "The Experience" a few years ago in Washington, DC at Constitution Hall and look forward to another exciting evening of music.
(Click on the pictures for a larger image.)
Support live music!
Let's keep 'em coming to Charleston.
(Did anyone else wake up an hour late this morning? We lost an hour but gained more sunshine.)
Labels: Billy Cox, Experience Hendrix, Jimi Henrdrix, Jonny Lang, Keb' Mo', Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robert Randolph, Taj Mahal
Honor Thy Father....
The 17th Annual Charleston
Blues Bash is winding down and, as I look back, I see I kept active: my printed programs shows I enjoyed 17 of the 43 performers offered.
The son of
Muddy Waters -
Big Bill Morganfield - qualifies as the person with the
most colorful message added to a stringed musical instrument.
It was a show of fatherly pride as he channeled his daddy keeping the Robert Johnson blues tradition message alive.
My enjoyment of the Bash was briefly interrupted with a trip up to Columbia midweek to catch
Billy Joel who's a legend in his own musical field. The hall was packed yet included a few "young" people ... probably grandchildren. And, Yes, he finished the 2 1/2 hour concert with
Piano Man.
Back in Charleston, another sold out crowd pleaser was
Leon Russell at the Pour House on Maybank Highway.
Last seen here at the "old" Cumberlands, his long white hair and beard looked the same and that gravely, twangy Okie sound was still strong. And we all still needed subtitles.
By spreading the Blues Bash around to 17 venues, many people were introduced to new places as well as old favorites. Home Team BBQ is a newcomer and enjoyed some good crowds as did Sesame in North Charleston.
The Med deli - Med Bistro had steady business when I stopped by several times and Mimi's on James Island charmed a lot of people with its creekside setting.
The 3 Lions Pub at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island paired local favorite
Smoky Weiner and The Hot Links with a Blues Doctor from Paris, France. In an upscale British Pub.
I'll relax tonight by going to the Music Farm for
Robert Randolph and the Family Band. This is one of my favorite groups. Maybe I'll see you there?
Labels: Big Bill Morganfield, Blues Bash, Leon Russell, Muddy Waters, Music Farm, pot, Robert Randolph, Smoky Weiner. Music Farm
Robert Randolph at The Plex
We got there at 7:30 and luckily were admitted early by the Managing Partner so Raj and I were all alone in the empty club, sipping cold beers and standing front row center as we waited for the
Robert Randolph and the Family Band concert at N. Chuck's PLEX last night.
It was general admission with no assigned seating and we figured the few bar stools were too far away. But what the hell...we were in THE prime viewing spot. Even though we knew we would be standing for hours, we were comfortable leaning our elbows on the cushioned security rail, right in front of Robert's pedal steel guitar. We could see all the details and markings on the 12-stringed instrument and even the smudged hand-written play list sitting atop the eight numbered sound controls and connections the roadies had hooked up earlier. Cousin Danyel's bass was set up to our left, Marcus' drums were right behind Robert and the keyboard and other guitar player would be to our right.
The stage was low, so when the show started at 10:15 and the family trooped onstage, Robert sat down just above eye level, only about 6 feet from us. We wanted to make sure he saw that this almost 67-year old guy and his younger buddy were having a helluva good time. We were part of the young swaying throng crammed in close and we danced and clapped along and had a ball. He saw us and knew it! I wish I could have had at least ONE day at work having as much fun as they were having doing their "job."
Of course this extreme close proximity spoils future Randolph concerts for us.
We had seen him twice before in Charleston at
The Music Farm, the first time with a sparse crowd and the next time, elbow-to-elbow with little room to move around. We had bounced,danced and splashed a few years ago in rain and mud when he performed under a huge white tent next to the mighty Mississippi during the 3-day
Beale Street Blues Bash in Memphis.
We were soggy in yellow ponchos a few rows back in Atlanta last year at the
Midtown Music Festival,looking up at a high stage and a huge TV screen behind him and The Family playing in the rain. Another time, we were inside and dry at
The Tabernacle in Atlanta near the Olympic Park and CNN headquarters downtown.
So now we've attended 6 concerts and he has a new album coming out next month. I'm sure we'll buy it.
Labels: Atlanta, Memphis, pedal steel guitar, Robert Randolph, The Plex
Wow. What a musical line up.
