WFBF Day 1
blues...@centurytel.net
than I probably should have partaken. Sigh. Hooked up with all the usual
suspects, Mary, Terry and Greg. It was really great seeing Mark Riley at
the CBA meeting and then the kick in discovering Karen Lovely. After that
I headed over to Duff's Garage. This is one of my very favorite venues in
the NW. Real retro rock and roll kinda place. Spent an inordinate amount
of time with Ms Myrtle Brown, a local vocalist who is way too good for
this town. My opinion on that, of course, but she is certainly
overlooked, and that is a crime. She will be at the festival.
So, today...what can I say? I'm a bundle of stress as is. This trip here
began back in January. So it comes as a great deal of frustration when
dealing with the powers that be and their damned press passes. These
passes gets one access to very very little, so why the hassle? How many
years have I been given them? It seems to me they would want as many
people out there with cameras giving them all the free publicity
possible. If someone turns into a jerk, they pull the pass. That's how
you thin the crowd. Not all of us work for Essence or Blues Revue or the
Oregonian. Those people get stage access anyway. What about the rest of
us? I am not complaining for myself here either. When my little camera
buddy, Diane Russell, the one who's picture graces Gatemouth Brown's
headstone, has the same issue, there is a problem. For myself, I am
tired. My knees don't get me across this place all that well anymore and
this whole thing is hard on one's body. I'm tired. After 22 years of
this, I am close to packing it in. I can't handle this sort of stress on
top of everything else I'm up to my neck in.
They even made Dick and Cynda wait...what kind of people are these? Along
with Dick not getting a booth this year (and they have him doing his
presentation opposite the Lee Boys tomorrow).
Enough of the rant. Forgive me. I think I needed to vent some on this
crap. To the music!
First up was Rick Welter on Terry's stage (south stage). I was told
yesterday by no less authority than Bill Rhoads that this was the guy to
see. And yes, he most certainly had it going on. Myrtle and I were
bemoaning last night how so many guitarists these days play Fenders
through Fenders and sound like EC to the point that it becomes headache
fodder. I am happy to say Rick doesn't sound like EC. Or anyone else. I
overheard on guy say Rick belonged in a slot later in the schedule. I
agree. He has a CD just out, called I'm All Yours. I haven't heard it
yet, but it got high marks from Bill and that's good enough for me.
As an old curmudgeon, much like everyone I know around here, Terry O in
particular (hey pal, we run in good company, huh?), I don't seem to want
to get around much anymore, but I still do. Caught a little of LaRonda on
the north stage, saw/heard some kids mangle Cream, but the spirit got the
older folks going. Caught some King James and Baby James on the south
stage. Very good stuff.
The first big surprise for me was Lukas Nelson, yep, Willie's son. Good
stuff. And just like dad, he's got a face that cameras love. I met him
after his set...a huge long line of old people wanting to get a moment
with this young feller and I had this epiphany, if I had all sorts of old
folks fawning all over me at his age, I'd freak. What a super nice guy,
and I must say, the kid can really put a song over.
Next up for me was Robben Ford. I hadn't seen him in years. Still
enjoyable. I even got him to autograph the second CD I ever bought (Talk
To Your Daughter). That was fun. Oh, and while awaiting him, I had the
most wonderful conversation with possibly the most beautiful woman I've
ever laid my eyes upon. Seriously. For those of you who don't or won't
believe me, ask Terry Currier. He's my witness. This beautiful creature
wanted to know about my camera and showed me hers. The most lovely accent
to her English...she's from Brazil (well, okay, that solves that part of
this episode). I can't recall her name, but it was something like
Denice...I'm not any good with Portugese. Sigh and sigh. And now back to
reality...back to stresses and anxieties and frustrations.
I headed back to the south stage to catch a little of Keb Mo. He was
enjoyable enough, and a little after I got down there, he was joined on
stage by Robben. Pretty cool stuff that.
Still haven't seen Barbara. Haven't spent much time up her way anyway.
The one act I heard was more noise than anything I could tell. And the
dogs barking in my brain tell me I'm getting old if I'm bitchin' about the
volume. Yes, maybe so.
The true upside to it all was by what wasn't there this year. There was
no Guitar Center booth annoying everyone. But, I'm told, the radio
station, or one of them, asked everyone to drop by with their harmonicas.
Give me a break.
Time to let others put their spin on today's happenings.
tom
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Gregory Johnson
I got there early enough to run into Barbara and her daughter Amanda at the Louisiana Pavilion. Also there was former Blues Foundation employee Marc Taylor and Clarksdale artist Stan Street. It's hard to get around day 1 because you're running into a lot of old friends you just don't get to see enough.
We're sharing our Cascade Blues Association booth with Blues Revue, but Chip Eagle showed up alone, so he recruited one of our board members to help him out. Always good to run into Dick and Cynda Waterman.
I caught a little bit of the opening act on the North Stage. The Troublemakers, led by harmonica player Rich Layton. Cool stuff, really rootsy, they do a cool take on The Blasters.
I introduced the Rick Welter Band on the South Stage. I agree with Bill Rhoades about his CD, it's really a nice throwback to fat-toned guitar sounds with soulful vocals. I was a little dismayed with the set, though. The CD is mostly Rick with his trio. On stage he had keyboard wiz Dover Weinberg, who I absolutely love. But I felt Dover's work on the B3 was drowning out Rick's guitar.
I caught Mary Flower's set next. Always love Mary!! But she put me on the spot telling the audience there was a celebrity in the house and rambled about the work I do in the Portland area; she even made me stand up and wave to the audience so they could see who I was. Geez Mary, all I wanted to do was hear you play. Terrific set nonetheless!!
King Louis and Baby James are an act I like a lot, too. James has been singing around Portland since the late-50s and is a stalwart of R&B lore around these parts. Louis is of course former Paul deLay keyboardist Louis Pain. Peter Dammann sat in on guitar and sax man Renato Caranto was blowing some mean horn.
I guess I was not as thrilled with Lukas Nelson as Tom was and I slipped down to the Front Porch Stage to see Johnny Ward's Sharkskin Revue. This was the best set of the day in my opinion. Johnny working sax and harp while Lauren Sheehan offered vocals in the tradition of the classic lady singers of the 40s/50s. Add to that one of Portland's overlooked treasures on guitar, Whit Draper. This set smoked and had people dancing in happiness.
I guess I have seen Robben Ford too many times to get over-excited about him. His set was not bad, but I made my way to catch Keb' Mo' at the other end.
They only allowed photography for the first three songs, so I was in and out real quick and spent the set listening from afar afterward, which really means I sat in the Sponsor pavilion and drank beer. Keb' gave a nice performance, again he is somebody I have seen a lot, so I didn't stick around too long.
Finished the night off seeing a little bit of Geno Delafose. It'd been years since I last saw him and I had forgotten how much fun he is.
No afterhours partying tonight. I had the dog locked up at home too long, so went to let him out. Tomorrow is Johnny Winter and Sonny Landreth as the headliners. Let's see how many more friends come to town for the weekend then, too.
Terry Odor
as much of the music today as I would have liked.
I have seen Barbara and Amanda, Chip Eagle, Dick and Cynda Waterman,
bluesfantom and Greg of course. I did really enjoy Keb' Mo's set and I got
to hang out with Terry Evans for a bit and get caught up.
Some of us are going to breakfast at 10 am, meet up at
the Miller Stage where I work if you want to come.
Terry
> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 00:42:12 -0700
> From: sliml...@hotmail.com
> Subject: Re: WFBF Day 1
> To: BLU...@LISTS.NETSPACE.ORG
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Barbara Hammerman
Thanks to everyone for making their way over to our DME Louisiana Pavilion
and the DME Blues Cruises. First day set up keeps all of us on KREWE DME
hoppin so I only got out to see Robben's set on the two "lawn " stages.
However, since we are right in front of the A&E Front Porch Stage, we
have prime vantage for all the acts there!
The dance floor is right in front of us also and I hope I am learning by
osmosis some of these dance stapes being taught during the Cascade Zydeco
lessons.
In addition to what was scheduled in our pavilion
http://www.waterfrontbluesfest.com/news/LouisianaPavilion2009.html
we are pleased to host United by Music, http://www.unitedbymusic.eu/
a fabulous project spearheaded by Joris van Wijngaarden. Here is a
link to an aritcle with him -- scroll down about 1/3 page in the news to see
it.
http://www.unitedbymusic.eu/news/nieuws.html
Joris is here from The Netherlands to experience Waterfront BF for the
first time. Very pleased to be able to introduce you, Mr. Odor , to Joris
and I hope you get a chance to visit with him some during the festival. He
and Candye will be at the DME LA Pavilion several times during the weekend
-- and with more time on Sunday as Candye's sets at the fest will have been
completed.
Also this year, we hosted the Portland Swing Dance group who will be going
out on the DME cruise this evening.
On Saturday and Sunday All the Pacific Northwest blues societies were
invited to use the Cascade Zydeco booth in the Pavilion to distribute
information and secure memberships.
Of course, Cascade Blues Society has their own traditional space on our
Festival "blues trail"...and were invited to share the Pavilion space as a kind
of "annex" to their main attraction.
Stop by especially between the A&E stage changes between acts when the DME
Back Porch Blues Breaks swing into action with quick 15 minute sets -- this
year led by Tacoma blues guitarist and educator Ryan Harder. Stan Street ,
of Clarksdale MS will join in on harp, in between his demonstation
painting.
Got kids?? DME sponsors the FREE Kids Krewe Krafts with arts and crafts
projects including Mardi Gras masks.
Lots to do..
All this and Music too..all to benefit the Oregon Food Bank, because no one
should be hungry.
-Barbara/Toez
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