Heritage Music Blues Festival 2006

Heritage Music Blues Festival
Wheeling, WV
Aug. 11 – 13th, 2006
by Gary W. Miller - Editor

With an All Star lineup that features the movers and shakers in the Blues, the Heritage Music Blues Festival is still one of the greatest Blues festivals in the US. Every year the talent roster grows to include most of the very active artists and bands in Blues, while featuring newer talent and some unheard and unheeded artists that you might not get the chance to hear elsewhere. After our seven hour drive from Knoxville, TN, Steve Whitaker and I got there and settled in for a three-day ride with some of the greatest music around. We got lots of surprises.

Fridays lineup included David Jacobs-Strain, Rory Block & the Straitway Ministries Choir (see our Podcast & Slideshow), Michael Burks, and Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers. I must say that David Jacobs-Strain was great. He plays the hell out of resonator guitar, and the cat has great lyrics and son-writing ability. Nice set! Get his Cd, "Ocean or a Teardrop". Following was Michael Burks lights up with a beautiful blend of vocals and some of the most resonating guitar I've ever heard. He is giant in the Blues and certainly deserves the accolades thrust upon him. He's a likeable guy that plays guitar until you can't do anything more to it. This is one of his best sets I've ever heard, with a towering sound that belies that small, yet killer, Dr. Z amp. Absolutely Monster! When Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers came up it was just a question if things could get any better. Did they? Well, the place didn't stop rockin' for the rest of the night. Without veteran bass player Bill Stuve, the Piazzas didn't let anything stop them. West Coast is alive and well, and it's all about Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers. What harp tone and what piano boogie-woogie. We just always want more from these greats.

Saturday's lineup included Izzy, Zac Harmon, Janiva Magness, Alvin Youngblood Hart's Muscle Theory, Little Charlie & the Night Cats, Paul Oscher, Anthony Gomes, and Hubert Sumlin & the GE Smith Saturday Nite Jam. Well, the after hours jam below the hotel did raise our spirits. We were SO tired after the drive up that we just wanted to drop. Funny how Tennessee whiskey will awake you and give you just enough energy to listen to the jam and then---whatever. But Saturday gave a whole new meaning to the word-"Wake Up!" Izzy started this off, and I'm personally blaming him for getting me to tap my toe and sort of Jive along to the beat. Thanks, IZ! Janiva Magness showed up, looking like the Blues Fox hat she is, and proceeded to kick butt. She is such a great singer, with great lyrics, that everyone always follows her well-shaped body around the stage and gets off on her voice. She is the epitome of the great Blues singer in the 21st century. You got to hear this gal sing the Blues!

Alvin Youngblood Hart is THE trip in Blues. He can do anything associated with Blues, but he'll do what he likes. I can appreciate that. I've heard him piss off more people than you'd imagine, and I've heard him please more people that that. When he comes off first with that North Country Hill Music – I bend to his will. I love that stuff! He can play it great and it sound GOOD! Little Charlie & the Night Cats came on board and this meant the Blues was here to stay. Rick Estrin's wonderful understanding of Blues harmonica and the cool ways of the West Coast sound made everything alright. Charlie Baty has been through a lot this last year, so when he plays such beautiful guitar I really feel his Blues. Paul Oscher comes up after the Night Cats and proceeds to put a pulse into the crowd scene that I call MELLOW! Geez, Paul Oscher is just the BEST!

Paul Oscher is probably one of the best Acoustic artists on record. He has developed a sound that is not only authentic, but beautiful. Haunting, intense, soulful-I don't have enough words to describe it. He's a case study in the actual Blues. I dare you to find anyone more intensely at one with the Blues. Someone more intense would surely burst into flame. Paul Oscher is beautiful. His bass harp number will give you chills. His backstage demeanor will give you a good place to go to and talk. He loves to do that. He gave me some harp tips that I will never forget. Thanks, Paul.

Anthony Gomes has a street team and they work hard for him. He is actually Canadian, but he calls Nashville, TN home now. I'm glad of that because Anthony is a kinda good ol' boy. He is so friendly-he loves the fans and friends and artists around him. That's a good thing. But his guitar playing and vocals and intent in the music are all about busting out and telling it like it is. He is dramatic, truthful and really has something to say to the people. I'm proud of him. He's part of that "New Thing" in the Blues. I'm glad there are new voices in Here. This is a medium that's about expressing ourselves.

Hubert Sumlin-what can I say? Just about the most pleasant, smiling, beautiful people you can possibly meet in a lifetime. Always with the smile and hug, handshake and pat on the back, this Blues legend owes nobody nuthin'. He's just that way and when you hear him you'll love him. You can't ever beat lovin' cats at their own game. His jam-up with the GE Smith band from SNL was the stuff. GE Smith is a helluva cat and guitar man, so this final of the night was pretty strong. The crowd loved the whole thing and Hubert in particular. See, you can't beat cool cats! SLEEEEEEP!(well, after the late night jam).

Sunday was pretty cool, man. Especially after we got rid of the cobwebs and brushed our teeth. That's supposed to help, but I'm not sure what will help. Just get on down to the stage at the Ohio River and listen to the only West Virginia Blues band – The Dennis McClung Blues Band. Dennis's CD, called "Live at the Ordinary" is a fine live CD that is garnishing airplay around the country. He's a great cat and has a great band. If you're ever in West Virginia, there's Blues somewhere. Go see them.

Joey Gilmore, this year's "Best Band" at the IBC in Memphis, was up next. From Florida, it's hard to imagine a Blues band with more experience than these supposed newcomers. Gilmore is ‘Old School" and he knows how to entertain, as well as play the notes. You're liable to get Bobby Bland, Jr, Wells, BB King, or Motown with Gilmore. He's just available and dynamic-nationwide, so to speak. Hot licks and cool breath.

Corey Harris always creates a Blues stew when he plays. His comment with the Blues is a cool tune, with great meaning and tough lyrics. He get's my respect. Hes all about creating and that's a great thing. When he plays, people think he's serious-and he is. BUT, he's got a lot of fun in his music and it shows. Suddenly, you're dancing around and having a great time. I know. I watched the crowd. They were dancing around. Good for them. Good for Corey Harris.

Eric Lindell and his band were new to me. I had not ever heard them, so their Southern Culture kina Blues was completely livable with me. Being from Knoxville, longer than I care to remember, these cats are at home with the Blues, Cajun, Zydeco, and, being from Louisiana, they know what it's all about. Nice vocals and hard playing make this group.

Chris Thomas King is a really great guy. I know-I interviewed him. Watch for that interview shortly. But, GEE< I never thought I could interview a STAR. His role in the film "O, Brother, Where Art Thou", as the itinerant Robert Johnson-like character, made him an overnight sensation. Chris is cool with that. He is actually kind, quiet, unassuming, and brilliant. He has been a brave on the forefront of the "Be, at least kind to the victims of Hurricane Katrina". He has used his recently earned money to help those victims and he is gathering that voice that cries out for help for people so violently displaced. He is a man in the Blues that has joined others in this cause. Tab Benoit & the Voice of the Wetlands Band w/ Big Chief Monk Boudreaux caused the whole Heritage Festival to get it on the breakdown.

The Final act, with Tabenoit & the Voice of the Wetlands Band w/ Big Chief Monk Boudreaux made the whole thing liquidly clear. New Orleans and that tragedy aren't going away. Most of those people are forever displaced. Imagine if it were your family. What would you do? The Blues is important to all of us, and this made it ever the more poignant. We won't forget. And we won't forget this great weekend we all spent with these great artists. It's all about the Blues. Thanks Tab. It was all about the Music.

See you down the Hard Road!

Check out the Slideshow HERE!

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