Blues
On the Road:
The Tampa Bay Blues Festival
It's a 10, Folks! Where else do you get 80 degrees for three days and no rain at a Blues Festival? Where else can you hear such Blues greats as Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm, North Mississippi Allstars, Lucky Peterson, Shemekia Copeland, Kenny Neal, Rico McFarland, Bernard Allison and Little Feat? I don't know, but it only cost $100 in gas to get there and back from my home in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tickets were $50 for three days of nonstop Blues from April 5-7...and great food. I don't know where else you can get stone crab and cocoanut shrimp that tastes anywhere near as good.
This year's lineup was spectacular, as usual. Friday's lineup included Sean Chambers, an extraordinary San Francisco Bay-area guitarist with a hot band. Tab Benoit, whose brand of swampy, Cajun-influenced Blues-Rock (or is it Rock-Blues?) is already familiar with watchers of television's "Baywatch Nights," the "Baywatch" spin-off. Hot Fender guitarist Tommy Castro and his band followed with some great soul-influenced sound that kept the crowd on its toes. This was the first time I have caught him on the circuit and Castro is every bit as good as on his album Right As Rain. Then came the North Mississippi Allstars, who were the talk of the day. Many people had not heard them and didn't know what to expect. The show they put on impressed purists as well as new converts, both of whom were boogying to the rockin' sounds of the band. The Allstars get better every time I hear them. They tore it up for the late night crowd, who left with a little north hill country music stuck in their souls.
Saturday turned out beautiful and ready to accept the biggest crowd yet at the festival. Vinoy Park, on the St. Petersburg Bay front, is huge and it filled up quickly for the star-studded lineup as Damon Fowler, a local Blues whiz kid, showed us some new maturity on the guitar. Watch for him soon. Michael Burks, who blew everyone away with his pyrotechnics on the Flying V and his total command of the stage, really exciting guitar work and a real eye-opener. Sean Costello hit the stage running and turned in an exciting set. Sean gets better and better, always surprising us with some new tune he has dug up or written himself.
Kenny Neal came next with the harp that everybody had wanted to hear along with his great vocals. Kenny can belt the Blues, though it's hard to imagine such a big voice from such a slight but good-looking guy. His talent and great looks got him on Broadway in '91 in the musical "Mule Bone." He plays some tough guitar licks, too. Next up, Shemekia Copeland and her top-flight band absolutely killed the audience with her stunning vocals and fun-loving attitude onstage. This woman can truly sing the Blues. She is going to be around for a long time. People were raving about Shemekia after she "left the building."
Not particularly Blues, '70s rockers Little Feat came on to a standing-room-only crowd on Saturday night. The festival always books a raw-energy, younger appeal band for the last set on Saturday. It helps bring broader audiences and folks not too familiar with the Blues to the festival. Little Feat proved that they can play more than just old hits - they played some Blues cuts with real fervor, not just Jam-band meanderings. They can punch out some rhythms that just make you want to get down and boogie. They were a nice addition to the festival.
Sunday was blessed with clear skies and temperatures in the 80s. Backtrack Blues Band, which is fronted by Tampa Bay Blues Festival founder and organizer Chuck Ross, kicked off the final morning of the festival as they do every year. Lucky Peterson, whom many fans know personally in St. Pete, was up next, with the fabulous Rico McFarland on guitar. Peterson is truly amazing - I hope he plays many more festivals. His modern brand of Blues covers a little bit of everything. Is there no one this guy has not played with? He entertains the crowd with his wild antics and even went into the crowd to play. They loved it. He even did a Gospel tune, which turned everyone's heads around. McFarland provides the perfect lead guitar for Peterson to work with. Great set, Lucky!
Bernard Allison's fiery brand of guitar playing and relaxed feel for the Blues lit up the early evening. His late set jam with Lucky Peterson was a funny and riotous one that really got the crowd ready for later. For all of the comparisons to his father, the late Luther Allison, Bernard can play his own brand of music with real style and composure. He has a great attitude onstage - that's what it takes to convince people you are your own man. He and Lucky cracked everybody up with some crazy antics.
Finally, could it possibly be...Ike Turner & his Kings of Rhythm...live? Some people have not forgiven this Blues master for earlier transgression, but I must say that festivals are about the music. This guy has really got it! He's paid his dues in more ways than one, and now he deserves to be heard. When he and the band fired up the classic "Rocket 88" - long thought to be the very first Rock 'n' Roll song - this was one Boogie-Woogie tune to outrun! I swear I couldn't stop dancing long enough to take a picture. Ike put on a great show, switching from piano to guitar and running the band at the same time. He even brought out his new protégé, Audrey Madison, to fire up the crowd with "I'm Not the Only One," "River Deep, Mountain High," and - what else? - "Proud Mary." You don't forget what Tina is like, of course, but you have to agree that Ike has moved on and finally established himself as one of the greatest innovators in music - an honor he has always deserved. What a great performance! More than that, what a great festival!
© 2002, Gary W. Miller
BluesSource.com (Published in Blueswax, 04/17/2002)