Chicago Blues, Family, and Friends

I have to admit that after nearly 2,800 miles in 6 days on the bike, my butt was starting to get a little sore by the end of the last day. But (no pun intended) I'd do it again in a second. There's something so free about riding the bike, versus being cooped up in a car for that many miles and days.

This year's trip for the Chicago Blues Fest had more twists than normal. Besides actually starting out with good tires, fresh oil and a clean bike....wait, nope, sorry, the bike was definitely not clean. But that was because it was raining when I left on Thursday morning. Anyway, this years trip was going to not only include the blues festival, but also a side trip to Michigan for a family picnic/graduation party. And, rather than a quick night's stop-over in Memphis on the way home, it would involve an extra few miles south to Clarksdale, MS, Home of the Blues.

So, I leave Thursday morning in the rain and head north. The plan was to grab a room when I got to about 4 hours out of Chicago. Then, on Friday I would ride into Chicago and meet up with Joy, who was flying in from Denver. Well, after about 12 hours of riding on Thursday, I decided that 4 more hours to get there wouldn't be so bad. So, I called Casa de Bill and verified a late (or perhaps I should say early AM) arrival and cold beer would be permissible. Nothing like 16 hours on the bike to begin a weekend!

After about 4 hours of sleep, Bill and I ventured out on Friday morning for the festival. Very quickly we found out that "pot hole construction" had the expressway into Chicago shut down. So, Bill lead us thru some of the more colorful neighborhoods on the back way into the city. What a diverse city it is! It was a sunny, cool morning and people were out everywhere. There was music in the streets and everyone seemed to be in a festive mood, even though they were going about their busy Saturday morning routines.

Our tour finally came to an end in Chicago and we met Joy at Victor's condo. If you don't know the story of Victor and his 30th floor condo overlooking Lake Michigan, Lake Shore Drive, Grant Park (where the festival is held) and the city, well apparently you haven't been paying attention.

Okay, this is where I have to tell you about Saturday's plans. Normally, Saturday is when my friends would come down and meet us at the fest. But this year I had a family party in Michigan to go to. You see, my Uncle Ric has been having family picnics for the past couple years (which I haven't managed to attend) and this year he combined it with my cousin Stephanie's graduation party. And since Uncle Vince was going to make the trek down from Northern Michigan; and some aunts and uncles (and as it turns out, cousins) from Canada were going to be there; and since Eric was going to be in town.....that's a bit of an understatement, since he lives in Egypt (http://backpackerconcierge.com/). Well, you get the idea. Oh, and I didn't tell my folks I'd be there, so that was kinda fun too. After all, it was only 5 hours from Chicago!

So, because I wasn't going to be at the fest on Saturday, most everyone was able to oblige me and come down to the fest on Friday. Due to the shortened schedule, I didn't get any great shots of musicians that I'd like to share, but I did get lots of good shots of friends.

Starting out with the Three Amigos/Musketeers/Stooge's/Friends (and Al! LOL)

Of course, also keeping in tradition, we have Russ and Ken and very dignified poses.

Here's a shot of the group early in the day.

And later in the evening.

I also managed to find MadDog and Tall Jim, whom I had met at the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival back in October.
Be sure to notice the banner in the background for the newly formed Windy City Blues Society (http://windycityblues.org/). There were other old and new friends, as is typical for the festival.

After the fest, Bill, Joy and I caught a cab to Buddy Guy's Legends for more music, and then another cab to the White Palace for breakfast. This last stop was a good idea, since I wouldn't make time to eat until about 1pm the next day.

Speaking of the next day, that's when I headed for Michigan. Just like Thursday, I started the day out in the rain. Unlike Thursday, it rained for HOURS on my trip to the family gathering. But, I managed to make it just fine without incident (remember the note at the beginning about new tires? Well I definitely tested their traction capabilities on this trip).

Like I mentioned earlier, there were aunts, uncles and cousins, many of which I hadn't seen in probably 20 years or more, and some of which I don't remember ever meeting at all! At this point, I'm going to post a few of pictures. If your family, hopefully you know who everyone is. If you aren't family, you don't really care anyway.

We'll start with a toast to the graduate (she's the one without the toast!).
And here's Dale, Kelly, my folks and Uncle Ric.

And still more family.

After the party, I followed my folks to their place for the night. After all, it was only an additional 3 hours north. We had a nice visit that evening and the next day, before I headed south about 2pm.

I took a day and a half, the half of which started out in the rain, as usual, to get to Clarksdale, where I was going to meet up with Mary Jane. And can you believe that as many times as I've been to Clarksdale, I've never been to the Delta Blues Museum? Well I toured it on Tuesday and enjoyed it very much. I also attended a reception at the Greyhound Station for the opening of the Farmers Market with MJ and Laura. I really like the town, and the people are so friendly and welcoming (as a note, I swung past Tricia's Italian Restaurant and Pie Hole, to check on their progress. Lights and the drop ceiling were being installed, so its definitely coming along. I'll keep you posted.)

Wednesday's forcast for my ride home was HOT! Yes, I'd have an 8 hour ride, facing west, in 90+ degree heat. Rain would have been very welcome. I arrived home to a happy dog, a dry yard and the reality that the next planned music festival isn't until the King Biscuit in October. But, I'm planning to go to Michigan in August for the Cheeseburger In Paradise festival so I've got some time to rest my butt and clean the bike.

Life is good, ride safe.

Juke Joint Fest

We all know my preference is to attempt to write some entertaining story about my travels. But we've come to realize that when I'm in Texas, for some reason, I don't seem to write as much as when I'm on the road. I think it has to do with smoke. You know, the kind from the fires I cook over when I'm traveling.

So, before this becomes old news, rather than try to be creative, I'm going to just do a trip log of my recent trip to Clarksdale, MS for the Juke Joint Festival. I've heard and read about this fest for quite some time, but have never made it. After last year's King Biscuit, and then spending time with Ronnie and Tammy in Clarksdale, and their recommendation, I knew I wouldn't miss it this year.

So, lets get to the trip!
I rode the bike down on Friday. Got there in time to catch some music on the streets, including Pork Chop Willie (I'm sure the fact that a pretty lady on a fiddle caught my eye won't be a surprise to anyone that knows me, but the rest of the group was pretty good too! (8-) Alright, we gotta give props to Melissa Tong, Kinney Kimbrough and Eric Deaton, along with Bill "Pork Chop").





My main focus for Friday night, and the reason I made sure I was there before 9pm was to see Blue Mother Tupelo at the Delta Amazement Cafe. Ronnie told me about the band last fall, and the bar....well, its real name is the Delta AMUSEment Cafe, but I'm always AMAZED the place is in business, so I've renamed it. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you'll just have to experience it some day (a blog for another time). Anyway, Blue Mother Tupelo is a husband and wife team (along with a young drummer guy) that has so much energy and feel that the entire place was charged! I enjoyed them so much so that I made sure to catch them the next day for another round of great country blues music. And yes, that's the first time I've experienced a tambourine solo. There's just something about experiencing music when you can tell that the folks on stage are having so much fun.

Alright, I'm only into my third beer tonight and I can tell this is getting long, so I'm gonna just post some pictures.

Robert "Wolfman" Belfour (who I was fortunate enough to have caught at Red's Lounge on a previous trip to Clarksdale).

Mr. Tater the Music Maker. Actually, I didn't see Tater perform on this trip, but have many times on past trips. He was looking so fine this day that I had to get a picture. What a better shot than a blues man in front of a train? Okay, it would have been better if it was a box-car type train, but ya gotta work with what ya got, and there were no pretty ladies around at the time.






Now, if you wanna see a show, be sure to catch Reverand Payton's Big Damn Band. This shot doesn't give you a feel for the show. Check out the other pictures (I'll post the link at the end) that include his wife on washboard.Okay, its time to talk about friends. Like I mentioned earlier, I've been planning this trip since I left Clarksdale last fall. And Ronnie and Tammy (you remember them from last fall, right?) were again gracious hosts, giving me a place to stay, great food and great company. Last fall it was Tammy's birthday, and this trip it was their anniversary! These are great people.

Also staying at their house was Kim "BluesDawg" Mason. Here he is at Tricia's Italian Restaurant and Pie Hole, with LaLa. More on Tricia's later. LaLa plays a mean keyboard (again, follow the picture link). You can catch her solo, as well as with Super Chikan.


And lets not forget Vinnie C (he was playing on the streets as well) and Lori who also stayed out in Duncan with us. After all, Ronnie and Tammy live in a 2 bedroom house, so there was PLENTY of room for all of us, and Delta and Biscuit, their dogs.

Alright, its time to mention the really great part about this festival - THE PEOPLE! Blues folks are a great crowd. My estimate is that there were about 2-3000 people there, tops. Musicians on many, many streets and in the clubs at night. Chairs set up 5 feet from the band. By the end of the third day, you've basically been "hanging out" with all the same folks so much that you're old friends.

Speaking of ole friends, Joy and Kricket from Baton Rouge decided last minute to drive up for the fest (and even scored a hotel room in a town that's been booked up for 6 months!). The funny part is that they both forgot their cameras, so I ended up playing "photographer to the stars" all weekend, including this shot with Honey Boy Edwards on Sunday morning at breakfast.

Here's another Kodak moment with T-Model Ford. The series of pictures I took tells a story, although I'm not so sure I wanna know what the story was.

Now lets talk about magical musical moments. At an event like this, you never know who is going to step in and play with who. What's really special is when one of the older 'masters' plays with a younger blues player. Like when CeDell Davis rolled in and joined Malcolm of "Lightnin' Malcolm and Cedric Burnside".Of course Cedric has his time, with T-Model Ford.

Another great time was folks joining in with Honeyboy Edwards. First Billy Gibson.

And then it was Marquee (sorry, I don't really know the spelling of his name.) I saw him last fall at Hopson's during PineTop's Homecoming. He played with Michael Burke and tore it up! The great thing about this kid is his respect for his elders. You can see it in his face as he was 'following' Honeyboy. Here's Big George Brock's band (he's in red) when Malcolm joined them as well.


I I even managed to catch Rev KM Williams and Jackson (aka TrainWreck) at Ground Zero on Sunday. They are from Dallas and I actually got to visit with them a bit earlier in the day.
Oh yeah, we are way out of order of the weekend, but I got off track telling ya bout folks I saw. My pick for the busiest man of the weekend was Bill Abel. He played with and for pretty much everyone, including a few solo appearances.

Here he is with Cadillac John.

And here he is with Honey Boy.



And, with T-Model and Deak Harp.















Here's The Homemade Jamz Band at Ground Zero. I think I wrote about them at a Chicago Blues Fest. 3 kids and their dad. They've won many contests and awards. I was duely impressed when I saw their mention and display at the BB King Museum in Indianola, MS (I know, I still need to write about that part of the trip last fall). Be sure to notice the guitars. And yes, that's their little sister on drums.


Here's L.C. Ulmer at Trishia's


And of course Terry "Harmonica" Bean, who also ran one heck of a jam at Red's that night. By the way, if anyone knows who Jackie is, she signed my t-shirt and I don't much remember why. At least I woke up with MY OWN t-shirt, this time! (Just kidding Mom. I always wake up with my own clothes! LOL)


I could show you a picture of Robert "Bilbo" Walker and his band, but I kinda like this one better, since it also shows my bike!




Okay, its time to take a break from the musicians and talk about the people again. Unless you've ever traveled with me, its hard to explain how sometimes things "just happen". Like "Wildman's Den of Sin" next to the nuclear reactor in Mississippi. Or closing down PEARL after a great night of music. Finding a sword fish (less the sword) in the dumpster at The Hole In the Wall. Well, you get the idea. For this fest, the magic was in discovering Tricia's Italian Restaurant and Pie Hole. Yep, that's what its called. Or I should say that's what its going to be called, when they officially open. For the fest, HuckFinn was grilling sausage out front, Jo was serving food inside and Tricia and Steve were gracious (VERY gracious) hosts. Sorry, I can't remember Huck's friend's name, but she was running around helping a lot too.
Here's the story - They are all from Indiana! Steve and Tricia are moving down to Clarksdale to open their dream place. Aparently there were many road trips to get the place in a state where they could just open the doors (gut it from the previous furniture store?) and host a tail-gate style party! And pies! This lady can cook pies! These folks hauled polish/italian sausage down from Chicago! And cold beer! Okay, like I said, there's no way I can explain events of the weekend around this place. The people I met. The music I heard. The pie I ate (and got to take home!)!!! But most of all, the hospitality that they showed. If ANYONE ever goes to Clarksdale, MS you BETTER go to Trcia's (its across from Yazoo Avenue Park (and the Bluesberry Cafe) on Yazoo Ave. You might even mention my name. It probably won't help any, but I'm pretty sure it won't get you thrown out.

Well, time to wrap this up. Tricia's was my big discovery. I made a lot of friends I hope to see again, like Jeff and Mary Anne Norwood (Jeff is a musician and played there, Mary Anne is a photographer and was polite enough to hang out with me at many stages).

Of course there's Joy, my blues-twin. I think we hit just about every venue on Saturday and even drove out in the Blues Caddy to Hopson's to catch Big George Brock.





Here's the link to all of my pictures from Juke Joint Fest 2009 - http://tinyurl.com/JukeJoint09

See ya at the next fest.
Life is Good, So are the blues