Jun 10

Jun 10 Bluesfest (Day 2)

Festivals, Musicians, Performance, Things to Do in Chicago, Urban Landscapes

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued a proclamation declaring today Bob Stroger day. After receiving a commemorative copy of the declaration, Stroger and friends took to the stage at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion as today’s opening act on the main stage.

At 91, Stroger has witnessed the Chicago Blues scene’s evolution over nine decades. As a young child, he was enamored with the goings on at Silvio’s, a famed Westside Chicago blues club, which was in close proximity to the apartment where Stroger’s family lived. Over his long career, he has played with such luminaries as Homesick James, Snooky Pryor, Jimmy Rogers, Otis Rush, Sunnyland Slim, Eddy Taylor, and countless other internationally renowned Blues singers and musicians.

If you follow Chicago Blues, you know that it is rough and tumble scene. There are plenty of stories about musicians packing guns and knives, either to defend themselves or to assure that they get paid after a early morning gig on a Saturday night. You also hear stories about tough band leaders, like Howlin’ Wolf. “Gentleman” is not the word that readily comes to mind when you think of the typical bluesman. Many of these folks exhibit a hard-edged vibe, although surprisingly many are softies at heart.

As for Stroger: Several years back I found myself standing next to him after a performance. I don’t normally speak to musicians—after you say how great they are, there is usually a long pause, and not much else to say—but this time I found myself in a brief conversation with him. He is a genuinely lovely human being: Polite and modest, he clearly cares about his fans.

The bass player is often described as a sideman. He is not the flashy singer or gunslinger guitarist. So I was pleased when one the great sideman received his due today.

Stroger was joined on stage by long-time compatriot guitarist Billy Flynn, drummer Kenny Smith, and a number of others who have worked with him over the years. Today, with a new album out, Stroger was the main attraction rather than a supporting player, albeit always a vital one. I bet there are very few 91-year olds who have Stroger’s stamina. He can still transfix an audience, playing energetically for over an hour. Long live Bob Stroger, who is always smartly dressed.

New blood followed Stroger. Today’s emerging artist was Joey J. Saye, who decided to perform with acoustic guitar even though he often performs with his guitar plugged into an amp. It is easy to command an audience’s attention with shredding guitar played at maximum volume. It takes true talent to hold an them captive with the Country Blues. Several years back, it was Blind Boy Paxton who succeeded. Today it was Saye’s turn, and he delivered. There are a number of other young artists reworking this vein. Hopefully the festival will book more of them in the years to come.

Detroit vocalist Thornetta Davis was next up, with her rich voice and sassy finger pointing. Immaculately dressed in a gorgeous blue and gold dress, and bejeweled with bracelets, rings and a necklace, Davis delivered a fiery set that would have had people dancing in any club late on a Saturday night. With Davis, was her husband, James Anderson, who played the congas and offered some sassy, but good natured pater when responding to his wife’s playful taunts.

Then Mike Wheeler and his band took the stage for some guitar-centriic Blues. Wheeler is relatively stationary, but his bassist, Larry Williams, keeps things lively, as his hefty frame flitters about the stage like Tinkerbell, kicking one leg into the air, jumping from side to side, and swaying his hips, often with a big smile across his face.

Chicago blues-harp staple, Billy Branch brought an expanded version of his Sons of the Blues to close out the main stage day’s performances. With Branch were three horn players, led by trumpeter Victor Garcia, as well as three colorfully attired female backup singers.

Branch is truly a friend of the Blues, bringing the Blues to Chicago Public School students, hosting documentaries, and working with the University of Chicago’s Logan Center to spotlight the Blues in a university setting.

Always an engaging and colorful performer, Branch did not disappoint tonight, as evidenced by the people dancing on a back terrace during his performance.

Throughout the day, there were noteworthy performances on the two other stages. I particularly enjoyed singer Ms. Jody’s performance at the Mississippi Juke Joint stage. It is not unusual for performers to find their way into the audience, but Ms. Jody took it to the next level, spending a good five minutes playfully flirting with six or seven men as she seductively serenaded them. There were more takers for her feminine wares than time allowed.

Also on hand was Mississippi-based guitarist Lucious Spiller, who did a respectable job with a number of Blues and rock standards. If I recall, these included Rainy Nights in Georgia and Down on the Killing Floor.

I don’t want to forget the Rosa’s Lounge stage, which once again offered solid music and made the musicians very accessible to the large crowd surrounding the tent and lazing about on the adjacent grass.

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