Posted on 04/07/2014 8:35:15 AM PDT by raccoonradio
B.B. King has spent decades singing “The Thrill Is Gone.” Perhaps at long last it actually is. Make no mistake: King is a living legend, a national treasure, and the sobriquet “king of the blues” is not mere wordplay, but a title earned. To be in the same room as him and breathe the same air is an honor and a privilege.
But for the majority of King’s concert at the Peabody Opera House on Friday night, the sizeable crowd could have been excused for thinking that’s all they were going to get.
King’s shows in recent years have featured as much talk as playing, and the 88-year-old musician is obviously slowing down, just as anyone would. But the balance slipped way out of proportion at this show. King sat center stage and spoke, sometimes in non sequiturs, sometimes inaudibly. He flirted with women in the first few rows and made a few ribald comments, without apology. “I like to have fun,” he said. “I love who I am and what I do.”
For a while, the audience was with him, laughing at his jokes and asides. But it was 45 minutes into the show before King performed anything resembling a song. Even then, his playing was shaky. He explained that he and the band had been off for two months, causing him to lose confidence.
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
Here’s my jll story
He was booked at the Cherokee club in Galt, ca. The show was scheduled for 9:30. After 10:15 and no jll. The owner started sweating.
Sheriff deputy spotted the limo outside a bar in Lodi. Escorted. Then go the club in Galt. Problem solved.
Wow. I had no idea it was that long ago. I’m not sure when I was last to Great Woods. I know it has a new name, but it will always be Great Woods to me, but I believe it may have been in 2005 or so. It’s been quite a while, I guess.
I’m no expert on BB, and have never seen him live, but I noticed years ago watching videos of him that he never played and sang at the same time. He’d sing a few lines then inject a guitar riff to punctuate it.
I’m not criticizing him, I can’t sing and play at the same time either without screwing up one or the other.
BTW, My favorite “King” was Freddie, (RIP).
-PJ
I love music as much as anyone, but this comment “To be in the same room as him and breathe the same air is an honor and a privilege” strikes me as over the top, and the mindset that caused this individual to speak it is a big part of what is wrong with our nation and world.
He makes, or made good music...that doesn’t make him anything other than a fine musician.
Sounds like a pleasant evening with Smoky.
Imho, Smokey has one of the most beautiful voices ever. What a talent.
It was the Ballard Firehouse.
I saw George Thorogood at the Moore in Seattle in 93 or 94. He was channeling Jackie Gleason some. I had wanted to see him for years but the venue in Missoula where he had been was not a place where I thought women should go alone.
A similar thing happened to me at a Bruce Springsteen concert in Denver in the 80s. I shouldn’t say happened because I brought it on myself. I was awake but didnt remember much afterwards. It was at Mile High stadium and he had cancelled the night before because of the weather. So the second night they put on long underwear and toughed it out.It was September. I do have a snapshot of a snowman in downtown Casper I saw on the way down.
I love those Brit invasion guys. Keith Richards and the Xpensive Winos (including Waddy Wachtel)put on a very good show at the Paramount in Seattle in the 90s. This was before the Paramount was renovated, probably just as well. I saw Ron Wood at Parker’s around the same time.
By far the best Parker’s show I saw was the late Warren Zevon, though. I sure do miss him.
I guess that I’m not the only baby boomer whose fondest reminiscences include shows Ive seen. Since I never had children, I can’t reminisce about cute things my children did as babies, etc. So I have other fond memories of times with friends, meals Ive cooked or eaten, trips, etc., but shows are certainly high on the list.
So I don’t go to many shows any more but am hoping to see Curtis Salgado at the Historic Everett Theatre next month. It’s one block from my little apartment.
I used to see him just about every year at the Saratoga Jazz Festival in the 80’s. He was great.
His guitar playing was never much, he is not a soloist - which is what I was into at the time, but he was something much more.
He was an outstanding performer. He had the whole package... the voice, the presence, the chops - just enough, the songs...
He could get the crowd going and interacting like nobody else did... he would pit the ‘fellas’ against the ‘ladies’ in singing contests... he was the real deal.
IIRC, he’s diabetic, too, and he may not be maintaining his sugar levels as well as he used to. That could explain a lot.
Hey Steve, if you are interested, tonight they are having a documentary on DC5...
https://tv.yahoo.com/news/pbs-glad-over-celebrates-dave-clark-five-120021647.html
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