A Blues Festival Without Real Blues

I just received the latest Blues Rag, the Baltimore Blues Society's newsletter, and there was a discussion of some recent blues and other festivals by (I presume its President) Bob Sekinger. There was some discussion of the fact that it was a sellout but that some rumblings that it lacked enough 'real blues,' and some usual suspects were missing. The line-up included Derek Trucks, Joe Bonamassa and a local band Old Man Brown, all of which had blues elements in their music. Then came the statement "HAB has been billed as a 'roots' festival the last few years and I believe that's the way to go to attract a larger audience. The proliferation of blues only fests the last 15 years has been great in the short term sense for both the acts and the afficondos, but I don't think it does much to expand the blues audience. I loves me a good blues festival, but would love to see more music festivals where blues is included." He then goes into a discussion of some festivals of the Woodstock era that included some blues and how such festivals (Texas International Pop Festival) turned folks on to some blues acts that was booked.

I should mention that I was one of the usual suspects that were missing. My issue is not lack of enough 'real blues,' but the lack of any blues. Rock guitar heroes like Bonamassa may be involved in blues education (but to what extent would he discuss the cultural aspects of blues and not simply evolution of blues music devoid of its cultural context), and Derek Trucks is a brilliant genre-spanning performer, but how does it help spread the blues when an event, even if it is a roots festival, called Hot August Blues does not present any blues performers. Bob mentions that at the Texas International Pop Festival some who went to see Grand Funk Railroad or ZZ Top, got blown away by B.B. King, James Cotton and Freddie King. The problem with Bob's argument when considering this year's Hot August Blues, was there was no Jimmy Johnson, Long John Hunter, Lazy Lester, Lady Bianca, Sista Monica, Eddie C. Campbell or any of numerous others that could have been listed to blow away those coming to see Bonamassa or Trucks.

Blues acts also rarely get booked at pop festivals. Certainly, Derek Trucks and Joe Bonamassa get booked by far more blues festivals than pop festivals book a Jimmy Johnson or Long John Hunter. Furthermore, blues festivals not only present blues music but is a source of generally good paying gigs for a number of performers who certainly can use the gig. I have no problem with certain 'rock' acts, whose music is heavily rooted in the blues playing blues festivals as it may enable some acts to indeed be exposed to a wider audience, but to the extent such festivals end up limiting the bookings available to blues performers, then it is a double edged sword.

One final point. One should not assume that many who go to a pop or other festival to hear a mega-star will be wowed by the blues performer. In fact, the reverse may happen. Brett Littlehales, a fine DC area harp player and singer, noted that Hammond Scott, by having Dr. John's set immediately precede Bon Jovi at this year's New Orleans JazzFest, managed to get Dr. John booed in his hometown. Those Bon Jovi fans illustrate the principal that one should never underestimate the musical intelligence of the average pop music lover.

Blind Pig Signs Big James Montgomery, appearing in Baltimore area August 31

Big James Montgomery IMG_1210.JPG
Originally uploaded by NoVARon

One of the real pleasant surprises of the 2006 Pocono Blues Festival was the performance by Big James and the Chicago Playboys. James Montgomery is a big man and he has a presence as a singer and when playing his trombone as well as is backed by his fine band which adds a heafty dose of soul and funk to his blues stew. At the festival I purchased Now You Know, which was his third CD (self-released and included nice recordings of some of the songs he performed including the title track, "Chicago Is Da' Home 4 Da' Blues", "Hustler's Paradise," and Albert King's "Angel of Mercy." What a nice soulful vocal delivery he has, and his trombone along with the guitarist and other bandmembers play some interesting and funky stuff. More recently he issued Thank God I Got the Blues, that is a similarly fine effort, celebrating the blues with plenty of heart of soul.

Yesterday (August 25), I got an email from Blind Pig announcing they signed Big James. "Blind Pig Records has announced the signing of Big James & the Chicago Playboys, a brass band that combines blues, soul, R&B and funk into a rollicking, horn-drenched stage party.

The bandleader and trombone player, Big James Montgomery, who also serves as singer, songwriter, and producer for the group, sports a voice as big as his girth. This year he received his second Blues Music Award nomination as “Horn Instrumentalist” and the title track from his last solo effort, Thank God I Got The Blues, will be featured in the upcoming movie Cleaner, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Eva Mendes."

The press release also notes that Big James Montgomery is a three time winner of Living Blues magazine’s Critic’s Choice Award for “Most Outstanding Horn Player and that he will start working ona new album in November.

While I would not use the term brass band to describe his sound, I agree his horn-led band mixes blues, soul and funk for a rollicking, horn-drenched stage party that is unique in the blues today. For those in the Baltimore-Washington area he is appearing at the Baltimore Blues Society's Alonzo Memorial Picnic on Sunday August 31 at the Rosedale MD American Legion Hall. For information on that event visit the BBS website. His CDs, Thank God I Got The Blues and Thank God I Got The Blues are available at cdbaby.com.

Baltimore Memphis Gold Benefit on March 16

From an email received from Annapolis based Chesapeake Music Guide

Memphis Gold Update!

If you didn't already know, Memphis Gold suffered a broken back after a 30ft fall while performing his day job of tree removal. An operation last week inserted titanium rods into his spine to stabilize the area that suffered damage from his 30' fall. He has a long and tough road of rehab ahead. He is in good sprits and appreciates all the good thoughts from fans & friends. He knows he is lucky to be alive. At this time he does not have feeling from the back of his calves down through his feet and it is too early to tell the extent of the damage and how much movement he will re-acquire. He can hold & play a guitar and has been writing some new songs. How about Out on a Limb?

The Baltimore Blues Society and Nadine Rae have coordinated a benefit on his behalf to be held at the Fish Head Cantina in New Canton on Sunday March 16 from 3pm - 11pm. Several top performers have donated their time to perform such as Memphis Gold Band, Charles "Big Daddy" Stallings, Tommy Lepson, Bobby Parker, Nadine Rae, Acme Blues and more!"