Robben Ford Discussion

[elizabeth]

Guitar tech extraordinaire Daved was at the Santa Cruz Blues Festival yesterday! He was lending support to Susan Tedeschi who, by the way, was just fabulous. Such a gentle spirit, but then she hits that guitar and opens up her voice and WOW! She looked beautiful (always does) and sounded even better. Daved was, as he always is with Robben, attentive and anticipating needs before they arose, but not too busy to say hello to the "Robben fans" in the audience.

It was the first time I had ever seen Popa Chubby live...well worth it! He doesn't look like I thought (from his pictures) and he puts on one hell of a show. Energy, heart, and great blues...what more could you want? Wardrobe? Black leather vest and jeans (dungarees...NY style,) and New Yawk accent. Love it! Pretty snazzy snakeskin guitar he had, too! I think it was Popa who played a Firebird at one point, but we all know I am NOT a gear head.

Chris Cain was, I'm told, phenomenal as usual. What a shame they put him on second in the day (yours truly was late, also as usual, so I missed him... DAMN! ) He had a very long line of fans waiting to get autographs and such, and I heard many twittering about his amazing prowess and expertise handling the blues. Wardrobe was the essential blue jean overalls...perfect Santa Cruz attire.

I heard Curtis Salgado was great too. He was on first, so I missed him. There really weren't any lightweight acts on the bill, so I should have gotten there early, but oh well.

Headline was Robert Cray. As always, solid, fabulous, and a consumate showman. He certainly knows how to work the crowd; of course that adorable smile of his doesn't hurt, and he played longer than he was supposed to, which was fine by me. The crowd wouldn't let him go, so he kept coming back for another encore.

A great day, fabulous show, gentle, friendly crowd, what the Santa Cruz Blues Festival always is. Ahhhhhhh.
love, elizabeth

I CANNOT BELIEVE I MISSED CHRIS CAIN'S SET!!! DAMN!
_________________
www.elizabethgage.com

[Aeolian]

Sorry I missed you Elizabeth. I went Sunday. Jimmy Thakery was playing when I came in. What tone! I could hear it walking down the steps and was shocked to see him playing a Strat plugged into a Deville. Later at the Moe's afterparty he was playing through a Hot Rod Deluxe and still killing with great tone. This guy has playing the blues down. Dynamics, tone, interesting ideas, great quotes tossed in at just the right moment, shift to Robillard like Texas swing when the song called for it, or flat out Hendrix wailing when that was the order.
Elvin Bishop is such a gas. He plays so much from the heart, you can really tell the difference. And his storys and self efacing delivery belie a great musician.
Next were some young kids by the name Indiginous. Hard rocking, SRV like, youthfull energy. Not exactly my cup of tea but they did it well. Later on Coco Montoya had him sit in and he played a slow blues with such taste and restraint as he built slowly up to the frenzy. I wish he had played his own set that way.
Coco has become a fixture of this festival, and for good reason. Maturity and energy. This guy has lived and felt the blues for so many years. You can hear it in every note he plays. And he plays every note with that purpose. No mindless wanking, just passion poured into the air, courtesy of his heart, hands, a backwards strung strat and Carr Slant 6. Great band too.
Headliner was Solomon Burke. What a show. 8 piece horn section, piano and B3, backup singers and this huge red velvet throne right up front. Elizabeth, you would have loved this, he had a metalic blue suit and they draped a red royal robe around him as they brought him out in his wheelchair and sat him in the throne behind a makeshift screen. Everyone else had on tux's and they were passing roses out. He even had some of his grandkids with him, all dressed up. He went for an hour and a half, belting out soul standards and his own tunes. No loss of range. This guy took everyone to the water, and washed us down with great singing. Coco joined him on stage for "Love in My Life" which Coco has been doing for years. At the end they brought up bunches of women from the audience to dance on stage and they were handing out roses. Of course, some old hirstute relic from the 60's had to pull her top off, but hey, it's Santa Cruz. The crowd groaned and Solomon handled it all in stride. I wonder what this guy was like in his prime. Wow!
_________________
There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com

[frank0936]

I have Solomon Burke's latest CD. What a voice! He's got range for days. I saw him on a PBS special a while back, and he even got up and danced a little. His website says he is 300lbs, and is currently on a diet and swim regime to try to lose some of it. What a man!
Frank

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

I saw the Godfather of Soul on Sunday night..... JAMES BROWN !!!!!

Great show at House of Blues/Orlando! He's touring with a big band, 3 female backup singers and 2 Hooteresque dancing girls.

Looks like it was a coast-to-coast soul party weekend

I feel good
_________________
Travelling by train of thought

[JohnnyZ]

[PaulG]

Hey, Roadwarrior,
Outside of the HOB, do you have any tips for blues in Orlando? I will be there 6/4-6/11 and am looking for some recreation outside of a theme park.
I'd appreciate any leads.

[roadwarriorfortheblues]

[PaulG]

Thanks alot, Warrior. Lot's of good info in that link. I'm also following up on an Orlando society.
Yea, I'd like to check out Sugar Ray and the Bluestones, but doubt if I'll have it in me to make it to Tampa after flying in from the west coast. Looks like a good spot to watch.
Thanks again for the info.
pg