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 ...
Precisely so.
I’ve seen BB about half a dozen times in the last 12-15 years. You’re going to pay homage to BB and to see the warm up band, plain and simple.
This is sad. He probably needs the money. The same thing happened to John Lee Hooker. The last time I saw John Lee Hooker, he didnt play that much, but there were other musicians on stage with him picking up the slack so the show went fairly smoothly. I saw him the first time in Missoula in the 70s or 80s and the second time I don’t remember when or where but there had been a noticeable decline.
I saw BB King for the first time in the 70s in the University of Montana ballroom ,which is a wonderful, intimate venue. I remember there was some baby-kissing. I saw him again in Seattle in the 90s, another great show, but less intimate.
I’m 51 and been playing guitar since I was around 13, and already I can feel my fingers ain’t what they use to be. This guy is 37 years older than me which is inconceivable. I mean just think: 37 years ago the 2nd worst President in US history Jimmy Carter took office, a new movie called Star Wars opened in theaters, Elvis and Charlie Chaplin died, and disco was constantly on the radio. It seems like a lifetime ago, I can’t even imagine what it’s like to live all those years from then to now again.
I’ve got a picture of him and I together on the stage with me holding “Lucille”...
If I can find it I’ll post it.....just don’t laugh at my hairstyle....it was 30 years ago... :^)
I saw Hunter S. Thompson at Montana State University in the 80s.He was sitting down with a can of Rainier beer the whole time, taking questions. But he called on me. I don’t remember my question.
It was probably technically illegal to have that beer on campus. That’s why we all needed flasks and stuff for concerts.
Saw John Lee Hooker many years back at an Englewood NJ performance, backed by the Robert Cray band. He came out around 1:00 am, sat down, got his guitar ready and shouted ‘Lets Boogie’. Then proceeded to play great for about 2 hrs. He was no ‘spring chicken’ then.
I saw Bo Diddley doing one of these kinds of shows toward the end. I’m sure he needed the money.
Chuck Berry is still around himself and he is past his prime but he keeps on going from time to time. B.B. said he was retiring but came back. For some they can’t stay away for long. I saw B.B. a few times between 1988 and 1996. I haven’t kept up with him in recent years. another old guy who is around is Jerry Lewis. John Lee Hooker played till death so I imagine B.B. will out the same.
Patty Duke suggested that in one if her memoirs. She dated Lucy’s son.
Phil Collins recently quit. He was in ill health, but he said he didn’t enjoy it. Then you have Steve Perry of Journey.
I saw James Brown at a festival in 1993. He was past his prime, but still did a decent job.
You would have probably liked Ray Davies “Storyteller” show. I did.
If there is one perfect person to tour with Dylan, it’s Mark Knopfler. Wish I could have been there.
I meant Jerry Lee Lewis. He was touring in 2010.
I would have asked Count, how cool was it to work on the set of Blazing Saddles?
This was in the early 1960s when I might have been 7 years old or so. I'm sure old Louis was on the steep downhill side of his career by then and that the tickets could not have cost much, because Dad and Mom had six kids and couldn't afford much. I don't even remember his legendary music, but I do remember the raspy, gravelly voice, the enthusiastic demeanor and the shiny teeth. Especially the shiny white teeth.
Sort of like a kid who goes to the circus and remembers the elephant taking a dump more than anything else.
Eric Burdon of The Animals fame still tours pretty much constantly, a prisoner of the road. He now does his show sitting on a stool, and really isn’t very good anymore, IMHO. From what I heard, none of the The Animals except Alan Price got “a bean” for their efforts, as it all went to their manager and Price, who got sole credit for arranging House of the Rising Sun. According to Burdon, it was a group effort, but he said that guitarist Hilton Valentine’s arpeggio lead-in was the real key to the whole thing, the thing that grabbed you right off.
That sounds like the show I saw in Missoula, but without Robert Cray.
What about Steve Perry?
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