Home | Dog Chat | Blues News * TAKE THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION POLL! *

Dudeleeo & Maddog, circa 1981

Chicago Blues Fest is in the books, The King Biscuit is right around the corner.

here are two legends. Sam Meyers and Sonny "Sunshine" Payne the DJ for the King Biscuit radio program.

The Arkansas Blues & Heritage Blues fest 2005, the 20th Anniversary of the King Biscuit Blues Fest was fan freaking tastic. More to follow, I just gotta find John Squebich .

Found him, here you go!

The 20th Anniversary of the King Biscuit Blues Fest was Oct 6-8th 2005. For me it started on Monday morning Oct 3rd at 8 am and ended The following Monday morning at about the same time. I was in the Bloody Mary Contest this year. I don’t know about my placement or presentation, but I had real good taste points.

I started out on the set-up crew with Rayne Gordon. I remember Rayne from last year when volunteering at the talent gate.. There we all were (about 30 of us) being picked by the President of the Sonny Boy Williamson Society to work on the set-up crew. Soon as I got there Rayne picked me, pretty much knowing that I was Dave from Chicago.

He only picked about a dozen people and teamed me up with Rick Cobb directly. He said, “Ricky and Dave , you two stick together you are a team.”. Later Rich said, “he has never seen a two person team before.” Rich has been a cop and a prison guard in his work history and comes from New York State. His folks live in Helena and he was there for the sake of them which is how he met his fiancée , Janelle. I told Rich that “It was probabally to keep a close eye on me”……If ya know that side of me it could be very well true.

I was just so darn excited to have this Blues Fest work out for me. Rich and I got to know each other over the next 3 days of work, some days 16 hours long. Great guy to work with, but so were the others I got to encounter for the first time and the second time as well.

> This is the Stage Tuesday Morning

Henry from Boston was the dude I worked with last year when volunteering on the Sunday before heading back home. Henry is the ‘Dust my Blues’ guy. Henry is one cool cat, a Blues guy from way out of town that comes into Helena to help be a part of and to make the fest happen. I recognized him from last year as well.

Back to work……..Rich and I set up the area for the talent. We basically controlled access to Cherry Street and we did other chores as directed. I thought it was way cool.

I left my home with just over $100 and came home with about $20 in my pocket, and I was gone 1 week. Most of my accommodations were paid for, that’s because I planned it that way, but I had to pay for the gasoline to get me there and back.

Food…….BlackOak and Tammy fed me real well. It is amazing the people we meet and communicate with in a blues community. I belong to the Blindmans Blues Forum that Tom Jurgens turned me onto. Black Oak as it turns out liked me and was willing to keep an eye out for me of sorts. He and his wife Tammy were home for me during that week.

> This is the Tammy, Black Oak and myself taken Friday Morning, Its titled "Mr. Bananna Pants"...ha ha ha what a blast Thursday was.

Next Year I believe my home will be again be crunched into tent city near Randy, Jaskson, Skags, Harper, Mayor Mike, Jimmy Harris and Jimmy Ellis, Misty, Candy , Dianne, Tammy, The Bushes , FeFe and all those other fine babes that come around. Hey they might be somebody else’s girlfriend or wife but for that moment everything is all good if not great.

I had so much fun with so many different people it is hard to keep the story in order without being to wordy.

Tuesday at Noonish I saw this 1971 white Chevy truck with a top on it and blue trim rolling up Cherry Street way down on the South end. Black Oak had just rolled into town and who is the first cat he recognizes……..me…….He points out the window at about the same time as I point at him he says, “Mad Dog” (he knew) I said “BlackOak I recognize the Bluesmobile”, we were friends immediately. That is such a cool feeling.

1…..2…..3…….4……I knew it was on. The plan was to meet up with the cats and kittens from the Blindmans Blues Forum. On Wednesday night we headed out to Ground Zero to hook up with Sassie who was there for her birthday in Clarksdale Mississippi. Before we headed out, Ronny, (Black Oak) said we should stop off and pick up Jimmy Smith because he ain’t ever been there. So I was up for it and we pulled over there. Ronny called out and so did I but we got no real response. I said, “well shyt, they don’t recognize my vehicle lets get out”. I did not know who these folks were but it is Tent City and I am sort of a precinct captain so why not meet the neighbors.

Well as it turns out we take their van and it is Big Red and The Soulbenders. Now this band was gonna win the award from the Arkansas Arts Council as the best Arkansas blues band on the Emerging Artist stage for the Biscuit. I am so proud of them, a few days later they actually win the award. It takes effort and dedication , knowledge and know how to win awards. We all had a blast the entire weekend. They came to my room at the Isle of Capri Casino on Wed. night before GZ to get some much needed facilities.

> Big Red and the Soulbenders, Kim, Jimmy Smith , Kelley Taylor "Big Red", and Mike Taylor on bass.

Also happy birthday to Jill from Runcorn England of Barney and Jill

At GZ as the world turns and the blues community grows, Tyler, (Sassies “date”) knew ½ the folks that walked in with us from Tweeds Blues Forum and Sassie knew the rest. I even ran into 5 folks / peoples that I met in front of the Front Porch Stage of Saturday before Laurie and Carrie Bell played for the Chicago Blues Fest 2005. It was Jim who has daughters at SIU. The quote of the trip came from ? Donald? From Denmark, Jims buddy, “The Blues Community is fairly small so its no wonder”.

> This is Taken on Stage with Rocky Lawrence at Ground Zero in Clarksdale Mississippi for Sassie's birthday, Oct 5th 2005

I made it a point to seek out those that made my first biscuit a very welcoming and enjoyable experience. I believe I made it a point to make my presence known to all that made an impression on me last year. I hope to be part of the Delta Cookers Barbecue Team next year with the winning Bloody Mary.

> This is My Barbeque team from this year, The Delta Cookers

The flag flew proud and so did Androids Action Party Andy from Cape Gerardio MO. . I hope to get to know his Cape Crew better along with the jammers on that side. A Jolly Rodger spirit holdin down the fort on the West Side.

Where do I put the pictures in that I took. I have to post a picture of Rayne and Officer Dave in front of the old Radio Station. Speaking of security. Oh my gosh…It was so much tougher than last year. The police presence was interesting..

> This is Little Jimmy Reed kicking off the Blues fest at the corner of Cherry & Elm in front of the Sonney Boy store Oct 6th at 10:00am

Little Jimmy Reed kicked off the blues fest at 10:00 am Thursday morning with my encouragement and direction. I even paid some fellas to move some things around for him so he could get started sooner. Jimmy is out of Alabama and I have a nice picture of him here.

Tell ya what, I’ll write more later, I gotta work in the morning and hit a ticker tape parade for the Chicago White Sox at about noon. But Jimmy Reed deserves his pic here as does Officer Dave and Rayne, and The Bushes. Enjoy for now ! (12:00am 10/28/05)

> This is Rayne Gordon with the mustache and Officer Dave.

> These are the Bushes. Some special folks to me. I had a great time with them on Friday night. CoCo Distributing and Budweiser added greatly to the best night of the recent living blues. Oct 7th 2005

2005 King Biscuit Blues Festival

10:00/11:15 John Primer

Chicago Blues Fest 2005 , The review. Day 1, 2 and 3 review follows.

................................From The Blindman's Blues Forum Thanks

This is "Planatary Blues" at the Best Buy Stage Thursday!

Remember.........What happens at Blues Fest. Stays at Blues Fest

A special shout out To The Mayors Office of Special Events......GREAT JOB !!!! Also Glad so many of the folks from The Legendary Rythem & Blues Cruise made it to Chicago. Black Jack working the crowd for the Chicagoland Blues Society. Breeze & Freak lots of love to you two. Kevin from the original Blues Patrol. Linda, Pat and family. The crew from Michigan. Billy Branch, Michael Franks, and David Cortez of the Hot House made it possible for me to hit the after-sets. All the great tallent, all the grounds crew and special event staff, and all the great fans. Thank You Ray Skiles, Blues on Stage / Minnesota Blues Magazine and finally Blyth Modrowski.

Day 3..Chicago Blues Fest 2005

It was Saturday at Grant Park for the Chicago Blues Fest. I guess going in somewhat reverse order is the best way to start. The Hot House 31 E. Balboa, Chicago Illinois was the place to be after the Fest. Tonight was a Chicago Blues Fest birthday celebration for David “Honey Boy” Edwards, it was everything it was cracked up to be. Blues music is best appreciated with the ears and not the eyes. Most of these old cats are practically deaf so they know the music even better than that.

I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time with Pine Top Perkins this evening at The Hot House. It was pretty cool. We all sang happy birthday To "Honey Boy" and even got some birthday cake. That is Tom Shaka, Aaron Burton, and David "Honey Boy" Edwards on stage Thursday.

Buddy Guy capped of Saturday night at the Petrillo. He wowed the crowd and whipped them into frenzy when he ventured off stage and went into the masses of people. What can ya say about a Big Ole Catfish swimming in the deep BLUE sea. You say that catfish can go anywhere it wants. I got a hook into its mouth and it came swimming right to the Jolly Rodger crew, broke the line and went back on stage.

Billy branch and the Sons of the Blues, I almost don’t want get to into it now because there is a time for bed and I could go on and on about it. I’ll write more later, but before I go to bed I gotta give PROPS to Laurie Bell and his dad Carrie Bell. They kicked ass at the Front Porch Stage.

Help Keep the Blues Alive…….night ya’ll……

It’s a few days later and Im ready to expound on the virtues of Billy Branch and the Sons of the Blues. This group on their own is just fantastic and they can capture a blue soul. Minoru Maruyama plays the guitar. Actually I don’t know if “plays” is the right word, punishes is a better word for what this oriental cat does to his instrument. Aireyo sends the keyboard into a frenzy. MOSE is maybe the heart and soul with his drums. I don’t know that he misses a single beat. Nick Charles plays a very cool bass. That man has some FUNK goin’ on. I think he needs a Funk Doctor. Or maybe Nick is from “Phunkville”. Billy, he’s just way to gone for any kind of help. The sounds he makes come out of that harp are otherworldly. Man is he great. Billy turns his harmonicas into “M&M’s” because they just melt in his mouth. That is Hot!

I came down to take a picture or two in the photo pit, I could not stay. Their music made me wanna hollar, dance, jump and move. That type of behavior ain’t allowed in the photo pit area. I had to get back so I could have Room to Groove and testify to the blues. They had guests Steve Fruend, Lurrie Bell and Pete Crawford perform with them. This could have easily been one of the best shows of the entire weekend.

Lurrie Bell with his blues band and his dad Carey at the Front Porch Stage gives reason to claim that they might have been the best act of the weekend. I specifically remember Lurrie singing about a “Big Legged Woman in a Short Short Skirt”. I found a few of those women around me and we began to dance. The whole crowed was equally moved and from that point on, from what I could see, no one sat for the rest of his set. Lurrie has got the groove and he shot it out of the end of his guitar right into our soul like a lightning bolt. The resulting action was electric to say the least.

Day # 2…Chicago Blues Fest

It’s the short term memory that goes first so let me start with the most recent and rely on my notes for the rest. Hay its 2:30 am Day 3 of the Chicago Blues Fest. My last stop was at The Hot House to see Ronnie Baker Brooks and his band of kick ass musicians. The place was electric. The riffs were amazing and the place was packed with blues enthusiasts from all over the globe and the High Seas. The last song I heard was a tribute to B.B. King on his homecoming anniversary way down in that great Delta State of Mississippi.

Going back in hours it was Buddy Guy’s Legends ….what a cool place that is. Took me a while to get there, had to drop off CoCo and take a shower. My parking spot was there when I got back.

Good Golly Miss Molly, Billy Branch and the Sons of The Blues have the place smoking! Hay hay…..The Blues are Alright. To be absolutely fair, I can’t find the words sometimes to express the feelings and energy I get in situations. Tonight (yea Day 3) is gonna be really special with the SOB’s on stage. Thanks Billy.

Hold down the fort Blondie because there were more blonds with bad intentions (shut my mouth) than a Phil Guy could hope for.

O Shit , I gotta get some rest, but I must say before I hit the hay……..KOKO TAYLOR…..KoKo Taylor. She played a long set, maybe as many as 12 songs. She is the queen of the Blues and sang a great tune in remembrance of Howlin Wolf’s birthday. Her band backed her up all the way and drove home day 2 of the Chicago Blues Fest 2005.

Catch ya’ll in the am. Thanks Again.

Day 2 continued.. p.s. Good Mornin lil School girl

It just wouldn’t be fair not to mention some of the other spectacular musicians and acts. Prior to KoKo Taylor was Hubert Sumlin with steady rollin …Willie “Big Eyes” Smith on drums, (he just beat the crap out of those drums)…Mookie Brill played the bass and kept the thang goin, And #8230;.then,…..Ladies and Gentlemen the greatest Blues Piano Man in the World…….PINETOP PERKINS..

How did the City of Chicago make that happen ? What a fantastic group all playing at once. Thank You M.O.S.E., Best Buy, Dominicks and all the other fine sponsors.

RED Lightnin is the name of his guitar. Jody Williams got things started at the Petrillo. The Willie Henderson Horns were out of sight. Together this act was so far out of sight that you might go blind but still see BLUE. Now I cant speak for anyone else, but I felt the “In prompt to Blues” so I sang them. We had a good laugh and the crowd began to move and grove for a great night of blues in Grant Park.

Before I head out, fight traffic, find a place to park and walk over, I gotta give proper respects to The Taylor Family. They received an award from the Blues Foundation for keeping the blues alive. The following sets were fantastic and I was glad to be at the Front Porch. Eddie Taylor Jr. was on guitar. I think Tim Taylor was on drums, Bob Stroger on bass, Piano Willie on keys, with Steve Gardner and Billy Flynn playing a tiny little git-fiddle. Then Little Aurther Duncan started to blow into his Mississippi Saxophone. Oh my gosh, that was just what the doctor ordered for a great case of the blues. Tim Taylor Jr., Lil Arthur Duncan, Billy Flynn and The great Bob Stroger on bass.

See ya later. David “Honey Boy” Edwards is gonna put on a great show at the Hot House tonight. Let me hear ya say “Oh YEA”…..

06/10/05

June 9th , 2005….Day 1,..… Chicago Blues Fest 2005

The Day started off with CoCo and myself heading into the Front Porch Stage (sponsored by U.S. Cellular) and catching some quality school children showing off their talent. Blues in The Schools is a fantastic program that keeps the blues alive by working with school kids and teaching them the blues.

Billy Branch was leading a group of young Harp players from a local school. Any one of those young people could be a future Son of the Blues. Minoru Maruyama, an SOB himself, played guitar and backed the young harpists officially known as , the Blues Heaven Harmonica Kids. Next up was Katherine Davis leading another group. These little ladies in their colorful feathered boas can sing the blues. Erwin Helfer was on the keys. The children were from, Stone Academy , Reavis and Grant Academy . Part of the beauty of blues in the schools at the front porch is that you can hear the kids practicing their singing and see the dedication of their teachers and mentors. Thank God for Blues in The Schools

Much to my surprise, I ran into Phil (yes that Phil)(the Mexican) and his new wife Valerie from Kansas City. Phil & Valerie partied with CoCo as I went around and checked out various stages, took pictures, and collected cool things for our blues fest crew.

The Best Buy stage had some pretty cool groups perform. Planetary Blues rocked us in the heat of the early afternoon. They are very good with driving guitars that whale, scratch, scream and moan. If you get a chance, check this band out or pick up one of their cd’s. I am very impressed buy these guys. They have a nice group of followers and got the crowed dancing and jumpin. They were followed up by After Midnight Blues which ain’t to shabby either. The final group I caught at the Best Buy Stage was Madman Blues Band (how can a Mad Dog not check out this group).

I think the best part of the afternoon was at the Juke Joint Stage with more Blues in The Schools. It was about 3 pm with Fernando Jones ( www.fernandojones.com ) and his students from Grant School , North Kenwood Oakland Academy , and Dodge School . These kids were really into it, especially that tiny little thing in pink in the middle. These kids really had me smiling, clapping and movin to their grove. It is so funny to hear a 9 or 10 year old singing how their baby did them wrong. I mean for real, maybe their baby did not share their French fries or did not pick them at recess. It was truly a high light of the afternoon.

Just before heading over to the main stage, we stopped at the Front Porch, and I am so glad we did. Nick Moss and the Flip Tops just kicked the place into gear. This man plays a killer axe they rocked. Next up was the sexiest, hottest, most beautiful women I’ve seen sing the blues. The Ladies From Linda’s Lounge with special guests Lady D (oh so scrumptious) Lady Cat (oh my gosh !) and Holly Maxwell (wow !). I have to go to Linda’s Lounge and check out these ladies again. Linda’s is located at 1044 W 51st St. Chicago, IL . Thady Lady D next to me with the sunglasses, Val to her right, and CoCo on my other side.

The Petrillo Band Shell - 40th Anniversary of the British Invasion.

David “Honey Boy” Edwards (Celebrating his 90th birthday) kicked off the show like almost no other blues musician on earth could. Sam Lay played the drums, Aaron Burton on bass and Micheal Franks on harp. What an experience this was.

Kim Simmonds was so hot, the stage almost caught fire, and made people spontaneously combust with flames of hot blues and guitar riffs. It was mind blowing, this cat should travel around with a fire department, that is how hot he is.

The evening ended with John Mayall and The Blues Breakers with special guest Mick Taylor. One of my favorite members of the Blues Breakers is Texan Buddy Richington on guitar.

As a side note, Tom Marker of WXRT Radio, (93.1 FM) has been doing a Blues program for years called ”Blues Breakers”. It was very cool to see him introduce the group.

Stay tuned for Day 2. For now I gotta get a move on. (and for all the critics out there, when I get some time I’ll come back with any corrections. If you see any errors, know corrections, or names or band members left out, please, please e-mail me. Thanks)

Isle of Capri is found suitable in Illinois ! What great news this is for blues lovers. If nothing else, it pumps blues in to the King Biscuit Blues Fest and Helena Arkansas.

Please Gov. Blago, fill the slot, award it to Rosemont and let the 11th debate begin. If you choose to do so, let Isle go Chicago as well, and start the building without delay. Lisa Madigan loves the blues doesn’t she ?

02/08/05

Blues News

The Chicago Blues fest is the 2nd week end in June, Thursday thru Sunday the 9th – 12th. This will be the 22nd Annual Chicago Blues Fest.

I strongly encourage you to plan to go to Grant park and experience the worlds larges free blues fest. This is no joke. Chicago has 4 days of the blues on at least 4 different stages as well as a few others. At the main stage look for our flag.

The King Biscuit Blues Fest in Helena AK is the 2nd week end in October 2005. It is the 6th 7th & 8th of October. My plan for the King Biscuit is to get down there a head of time and volunteer to set up, and stay late to help clean up. The Monday following the King Biscuit is Columbus Day. I plan on driving and hope to have a caravan. I want to get some facilities (hot shower, good shit) and stay in the campground. Naturally the flag will be in tote. Anybody want to join me ?

10/20/04

Helena Arkansas, (with some pictures) October 6 – 10, 2004. 19th Annual King Biscuit Blues Fest 2004.

Wednesday, Oct 6th

Spent the first night of the fest at the Isle of Capri Casino, just across the river in Lula Mississippi. My first impression was the speed limit and the cotton fields. I also noted the smell and smoke in the air. It was harvest season.

One of the first people I ran into was The personal handlers of Pinetop Perkins, two very nice women, and the bass player for J.B. Richie. J.B. would kick off the fest at noon Thursday.

I played a few of the slots at the Casino, drank a few beers, called mom and got an early wake up call. That evening I spent finding out about the Isle of Capri Casino. They have great customer service and a very nice lay out. The building sits on two very large barges. I got a chance to see the poker room and talk to a few of the regular customers. The casino here can be built taller and our town already has the hotel rooms and one of the top 10 convention destinations in all of America to attract customers, and in Illinois 70% tax payers.

In my opinion Isle of Capri is a suitable to be the 10th licence holder in Illinois.

Thursday, Oct 7th

It was a free buffett breakfast to get me started Thanks to Curtis, the manager at Isle. It was off into town. I drove threw town a bit and hit the camp-ground. There I ran into Brad, a Shift Commander for The Helena Fire Department, they run the campground. I paid the $40 camping fee for the blues fest weekend.

I picked out a spot just to the right of the entrance and right in Tent City. Jim and Jim were my neighbors right when I pulled up. Then Jackson and his buddy came over and we all enjoyed a story about John Squeebich. There was no time to loose, I had to set up tent, plant the Pirate Flag w/ red bandana and head off to hear the blues. Thank You to Randy for helping me set up the tent.

These are some of the most collest, welcomingest, party animal neighbors a mad Dog or blues fest goer could have, Randy is in there. Thanks for the hospitality

I made a blue, bee-line to the very south end of Cherry St. to the media tent. There I met Billy Ray, thanked him for the hospitality and picked up my media credentials. Billy was in charge of media. Once in town with credentials in hand, I had total access to just about everything.

I caught the opening acts of the fest and staked out a spot for the flag.

I was thinking of Breeze & Freak when I came upon T-90 and Ross. They were camped out by a slab of cement that looked almost like a grave site. I saw them everyday of the fest and hope I did not intrude on them very much. I could not help but think that was the right spot and so close to Sonny Boy Williamson some how.

I made my way back to the camp ground, which was about a mile walk, round trip from the tent. The objective was to party a bit more, get a good feel of the surroundings, and make sure I was there When Jack ,“The Cran Man” made it to Tent City. In the mean time I got to meet Will and he was a blast. Will is from Memphis, as were quite a few folks, and played in a band. Dude has a great voice. His friend Wit also has a great voice and can jam. Jim and Jim also are musicians. Many many people that camp out play music. There is normally live music at almost any hour of the day or night in “Tent City”

Jack showed up with his friend from Mississippi, Michelle, “The Mississippi Queen” And the party was really on now.

I’ll tell more later because there is more to post, Wa hoo !

I’ll tell about walking into town early Friday morning with my pants on backwards (by accident) and The enjoyable mornings at Bunky’s breakfast and blues joint with Kieth, Sharon (she is beautiful) and Harry Larry.

I’ll tell you about something that got me out of bed Friday night and prevented something from very serious going down.

I’ll tell you about Saturday when our crew volunteered at the main gate for the talent and backstage pass holders.

Naturally I’ll tell you about the talent and The volunteer work I did on Sunday Morning.

Hey look, It Worked. Hope I remember what I did to post the rest of the story. Till Then.

The rest of 10/7/04(Thursday & Friday morning) and day of 10/8/04

They got there about 4:20 in the afternoon, maybe a little earlier. Bla Bla Bla, and I showed them around town and introduced them to our neighbors for the next few days. We made our way to the main stage via the Levy Walk. The blues were jamming and the crowed was still fairly thin. I already had a spot staked out by T-90 and Ross where they had earlier given me permission to plant the flag. So with the Pirate Flag in Hand, Michelle “The Mississippi Queen”, Jack “The Cran Man” and I “Mad Dog” were about to embark on our first Biscuit.

I was so gosh darned excited ! The entire line-up was one entire orgasm of blues. We probabally caught Zac Harmon & The Mid-South Blues Review and Daniel “Slick” Ballinger & The Soul Blues Boys. We saw Bobby Radcliff, Corey Harris & the 5x5 Band and the evening ended with Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers.

I was able to go right up to the front of, on, and behind stage. I had the opportunity to meet some very interesting people and experience this blues fest up close. I got to meet many law enforcement personell like Officer Dave who kept an eye out for me all weekend. Thanks Dave.

What a great line up, and that was just after sundown, after the music ended around midnight, we headed back to a crowded “Tent City”. Everyone (*including the Bushs'*) with their placious settings with warm showers and personal potties were camping out and having a great time. That was not their name but that was the best I could remember and they agreed to call me “Chicago P”

WE all enjoyed ourselves that evening and the three of us made our way to the tent, or at least I did. It might have been about 3 in the morning when I heard some loud black voices, a man and a womans woke me from a sleep with their shouting. I could tell from the tone of voice that there was fixing to be trouble, so I thought I’d get involved.

It was a fairly cold night and it rained so I had on my Halloween jammy sweats and went out to see what the problem was. It seems that someone thought someone else had taken a leak on their tent. I did not see how that would seem possible so I had to do put an end to the discussion. Who, even in their wrong mind, would piss on someone elses tent? No one. I warmed myself by the big fire the accusers had built and prayed to God that everything would be all right. I brought up Chuck D, Christopher Thoms King, and doing the best we, as blues & music lovers, could do to help keep the blues alive . Little did I know I had my pants on backwards.

The next morning I woke before most of ”Tent City”. The Objective was to find out if the PVC PipeI had planted in the ground, Next to T-90 & Ross was still there. Along the way that morning I stopped in Bunky’s for a rest stop. I had my rain poncho on thank goodness because it was raining and it would not let up until Sunday.

Breakfast smelled great, but that first morning Kieth from England would make an impression on me, as did the little 5 year old and her Aunt Sharon. Bunky’s @ 409 Cherry St was the place to be in the morning for the 19th Annual King Biscuit Blues Fest. There were folks from New York City I’d see the following mornings.

The PVC Pipe was gone, I was slightly disappointed but knew the hole was still there and everything would be all right. I made my way back to camp after a very enjoyable morning. I had the worlds greatest Bloody Mary’s and some of Mrs. Marsales breakfast for $3 (Thanks to Randy). When Cranman & The Mississippi Queen woke up I brought them over for some breakfast and a song about Johnny Squebich. With our plan in hand, and after a cold shower, the world was ours.

Capital Offence was a great way to kick off the show on Friday. This was the Governor of Arkansas with a full band of State Employees. I really like the concept but wish Clinton would come back to play Sax

here is the Mayor of Tent City (on the left) jamming with the dude that gave me a "Bud" Sunday morning. while I took down the Tent. What are the qulifications for Mayor of Tent City ?

More later

I gotta send out my prayers to the Dixon Family. If you read on you will see that I have spent some recent time with the Dixon Family. I pray for the soul of Arthur Dixon. He died in a car accident. He was not alone. The others that survived the accident were “Twista”, the person Arthur Dixon was the body guard for. It is a tragedy that the only person wearing a seatbelt was the driver. Everyone else was thrown from the van. (so the news reports say).

I honor of this event, I asked my boss off work for Wednesday Oct 6th so I could make it in time for a camping spot to witness the Blues at the KBBF in honor of the Sonny Boy Williamson Blues Historical Society. My boss said yes

I hope to get to Southern Illinois or further by Wednesday evening. I plan by being in Helena by morning Thursday. I want to buy a three room tent and possibly charge rent, (lol).

Check in with me often for up-dates

09/07/04

I’m planning on heading off to Helena Arkansas, October 7th – 9th, for The King Biscuit Blues Fest” Rooms are hard to come by, but I do have a few free meals set up at the Isle of Capri Casino. Being precinct captain for Rosemont where Isle wants to put up their newest Casino, and is going under suitability hearings, meals are the best I could get.

Kim & Jim threw a party where we all really dug the Blues and the Grateful Dead. There I met, Rodger and Marie, this will be their 2nd trip to the King Biscuit. I’m hoping to hook up with those two. Rodger gave me a good idea on what to expect, and it could be the start of a tradition.

So I’ll probably leave sometime Wednesday night, get into Southern Illinois or Kentucky or Tenn., and spend the night. Get to the camp on Thursday morning and set up for a few days of pure breed blues music. Mr. Stroger is playing the blues on Friday night. CoCo Taylor is playing on Saturday.

Thursday, 6/10/04 1st Day of the 21 Annual Chicago Blues Fest

Packed up and found a great place to park only $5 all day. Made my way to the park.

Day started out nice, kind of sunny and dry. Went directly to the Juke Joint Stage and saw Fruitland Jackson. Fruitland jammed and sang some real good songs. He has a new cd out called: Blues 2.0. He is a big supporter of blues in the Schools.

I went over to the Front Porch Stage to eat lunch and check out some of those school kids singing the blues. It is always good to see young people getting into the blues. This is a great way to keep the blues alive.

Headed across the field to the Best Buy Stage to listen to Dawn O’Keefe Williams. This woman reminded me of Janice Joplin, her b