This year I missed Friday which I regret since Steff, my good friend and blues harp player with Floyd Beaumont, was performing with his other group The Blues Spirit Band. Not to mention Mark Muleman Massey, who I would have loved to hear.
Saturday, however, it all worked out well. The sun was shining and the weather perfect for an evening of Blues.
Nevertheless, getting there on Saturday when the gates opened felt a bit sad, not only had I missed the evening before but the whole afternoon too. If you’ve been fortunate enough to chill out in the Blues Rules backstage area, then you know the magic, both musical and social, that can take place there and you want to be part of it every year!
Walking in I met Vincent, one of the two minds behind this event, and chatted with him. Next to us was a young guy, Marceau, plucking away on a one string guitar; one of Vincent’s creations. I learned that he was demonstrating Vincent’s guitars and also would be playing between sets on various locations throughout the evening.. Interestingly enough, where many would have cranked up the distortion, he was playing what seemed to be intricate little melodies with a relatively clean sound from the small battery powered amp he had near his chair.
One Rusty Band n’Tap opened the festivities. From their website I learned that what was originally going to be a deep blues type one man band became a duo when Greg met tap dancer Léa a few years ago.. A very entertaining set, I enjoyed the combination of tap dance rhythm and grungy blues.
Actually, I liked all the bands and artists that I saw! Not to mention meeting friends who I mostly only get to see at this festival, as well as every one else. It’s a big family and it’s great to be part of it!
Next up was Sergi Estella from Spain. This guy had piles of homemade gear on stage and was genuinely funny. He presented the stories behind his songs in a mixture of Catalan (I think), English with some French thrown in as spice and a lot of charm. He sang some songs in Catalan too. At one point during his set I crossed paths with Vincent again, who asked me if I had made any sketches. Which I hadn’t, in fact I was so taken with the event that I had completely forgotten I had my sketchbook with me.. :P
I did a quick one of Sergi playing a 3 string broom…
…and thought I’d also sketch Robert Kimbrough Sr. before the dark of the night made it too hard to see. But having gone to get something to eat between sets, I ended up stuck in a line with Blaise (see category Swamp Train). Still, the two guys making burgers in the green truck were awesome. Had they been any less organized and efficient, we would have been there for hours!
We could hear Robert Kimbrough Sr. (one of Hill Country blues legend Junior Kimbrough sons) and his band in the distance but by the time I made it back to the stage area, with my burger, sticky fingers and all; sketching was out of the question. Which was just as well, standing there, taking in and enjoying the music. Life is good!
So you’ll have to make do with some photos I took..:
Ronan One Man Band as you might have guessed, was perfectly in the Blues Rules tradition of deep blues influenced one man bands. Good stuff with a low down voice and lots of growl!
Have you ever noticed how, when it comes to stage presence, some people make everyone else look like amateurs. Ms Nickki had the crowd cheering, answering and singing along in less time than it takes to say “The Memphis Soul Connection”. A band that grooved and funked like a torrent of lava with Nikki surfing on the flames. Songs flowed from one to another, and their words were updated with stories from the day.
Towards the end of the set she told us how her global family had be graced with a new member and invited Marceau to join her onstage. It was one of those things, he nailed that guitar solo. Not in the regular scale wailing way that you would have expected, but there it was. I have yet to find a website but check out Marceau’s Bandcamp page
One reason I love Blues Rules is because they love North Mississippi Hill Country Blues, have created a special link with the bluesmen of that tradition, and made it possible to see them over here. However if they have to make ends meet by inviting a few better known artists, may these always be as marvelous as Ms Nikki!
It was interesting to finally get to see The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band. Over here they are one of the better known country blues bands and, if I remember right, were programmed to play last year. This year the date was on the last days of their spring European tour; I believe they’re coming back in July and August so check their dates. At least two of my friends participated in the master class the Rev gave that Saturday afternoon. I certainly hope they picked something up from him, he’s a great guitarist and doesn’t mind showing it off. Sometimes perhaps a bit too much, but to each their own. A lot of good moments and terrific rhythm with Breezy on the washboard and Maxwell Senteney on the drums!
On a personal note, just before leaving to the festival I watched a video from earlier that days and saw someone play the bones. Vincent told be that it was the Rev’s drummer and I was hoping to get to met him; rhythm bone players are a rarity around here. Didn’t happen, was a bit disappointed. :P
Lastly, but far from least Cameron Kimbrough, the grandson of Hill Country blues legend Junior Kimbrough. He played guitar and sang a few songs before being joined by Robert Kimbrough Sr. who sat in on the drums. You could think that I am at loss for words here and you would be right. North Mississippi Hill Country Blues is not 12 bar blues. No “memorable” guitar, drum or bass solos. But memorable themes, handed down from one generation to the next, that go on all night long! Hot, humid and smelling of sweat. A trance of the soul. It could be 2 songs or 5, it doesn’t matter, all the day’s troubles washed away in the current…
Then, Cameron took over the drumming, Robert grabbed his bass guitar and both the Reverend Peyton and Marceau climbed onstage (and after some hesitation Steff as well !!); the jam was on!
Sheesh, almost forgot to thank Vincent & Thomas for their great festival…
Thanks guys, you rock!!!