Catfish's Review of the 5/24/90 B.B. King Concert

[John J. Wood]

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Date: 5/24/90
Artist: B.B. King
Opening Act: Smokin' Joe Bonamassa
"Venue": The Lilac Festival Tent, Rochester, N.Y.

I have been attending B.B. King concerts since the first time I
caught the man in 1984. Until last year, I caught at least one or two
shows per year. Of course, B.B. King is a man who needs no introduction,
with his influence on the blues permanently enshrined in human history.

However, there was general concern prior to last night's show. Almost
one month ago, the King of the Blues suffered an attack of diabetes, which
put him in a New Orleans hospital. Two New Orleans concert appearances were
cancelled, but the mail concern was "how was B.B?". Since that attack, B.B.
paid one more hospital, due to lack of strength. Considering that, I was
amazed that this show still went on, and B.B., always the consumerate
professional, performing a show that didn't disappoint.

When B.B. King played under the festival tent in May 1985, the
cost of admission was five dollars for a sizzling two-hour show: one of
the best bargains I have ever had!! Times had changed, but the $12 admission
price was well worth it, as between B.B. King and Smokin' Jow Bonamassa,
the Rochester crowd received over two and a half hours of cooking blues.

This evening was billed as a "Blues Review Night" concert, with
13-year-old prodigy Smokin' Joe Bonamissa opening the show, with a surprisingly
rocking 75-minute set. His backing band, consisting of a drummer, guitarist,
bassist, and organist/saxophonist, provided reliable support, but this 13-year
old kid was something special to watch. With his family on stage right
(father [videotaping the event], mother, and three little sisters), and the
backing band all smiles, this little guy showed off some stunning blues
chops. Most of the set was instrumentals, and that played to the young
boy's advantage. With a blond, little-mod-boy haircut, this kid ripped
solo after hungry solo, crescendo after crescendo. His style is patterned
after Stevie Ray Vaughan (including borrowing the Stevie Ray-derived-from-Jimi-
Hendrix trick of playing behind his back), Albert Collins, Albert King,
B.B. King, and other blues masters.

The lad does have to learn restraint, but when you're young and have
that much energy, restraint will come with maturity. Still, I have never seen
a musician at that age with this much potential!! It was funny even watching
him, as the body of his Fender guitar was almost larger than he, yet this kid
knows how to play his guitar inside and out. Once this little guy
develops his own style and matures, watch out for Smokin' Joe Bonamissa!!!
It's a treat to watch him now, and by the time he grows out of his "child
prodigy" status, it will become a privilege. One of my friends said it
best when after Smokin' Joe finished his set, he told me, "we already
got a twelve-dollar show". I can't wait to catch him again.

After a 30 minute break, B.B. King's great band came onstage and
warmed up to two blues instrumental, under the direction of tenor
saxophonist and musical director Walter King, B.B.'s nephew!! The only
change in the band is the keyboardist B.B. employed in the late 70's
was back.

Before I go on with the show, I am compelled to say that the
crowd catching this gig was extremely rude. There were there to catch
a legend, and NOT to catch B.B. King!! People cramming the stages,
shoving others aside. People yelling obscenities, as if it was a
teeny-bopper show. Pot smoke in the air!! A B.B. King crowd has
always dressed respectifully and ACTED respectfully: among the classiest
and most behaved crowds in the blues/rock music scene (and being a person
that has seen more then 250 shows, I think this is a legitimate statement).
If there is anyone from the local Rochester area -- or upstate New York area
that caught the show -- that is reading this, I more than welcome your comments.
Personally, this crowd added further fuel to my own desire to move out of the
Rochester area into greener pastures.

Anyway, on to the show!! After the band warmed up, B.B. was introduced
to a thunderous ovation (the man DESERVES it for all that he has done for
blues music alone), and after a few minutes of playing, B.B. appeared to
be fine. The first few numbers, while played with great precision and
punch, appeared to be rushed: at a breakneck pace. "Let The Good Times
Roll" (to Deadheads: this is NOT the Sam Cooke number the Dead open their
shows with) opened with punch, as did "Everyday, I Have The Blues" and
"Caledonia" (a personal favorite).

To me, the highlight of the show was a stirring version of "Why I
Sing The Blues", and B.B.'s great voice, and his guitar Lucille, was on
the money!!

However, a look of concern came to me when I saw B.B. do something
he had never done before at one of his shows (this was my 9th time in
seeing the King): sit down on a chair to perform. It was clear to me that
B.B. had not completely recovered from his diabetic attack. On the plus
side, B.B. still played and sang very well, but it was a tad painful for
me to watch at first. One of my musical idols is B.B. King, because not
only has he given so much to music, but outside, he has always conducted
himself as a first-class professional, and has remained himself; never
letting an ego take over as it easily could have been (especially since
his collaboration with U2). Now, B.B. is 64 years old, and as far as I
am concerned, the man can do anything he wants to, but to see him not
healthy and his old self bothered me. Thinking of this now, I am more
thankful that B.B. performed the way he did, and I hope B.B. gets
healthier each day. I would like to see him take a break just to get
well (not to see him play shows, but just to have him get well and enjoy
life). He certainly never has to prove anything, and it is more than
understandable if B.B. cut down his grueling touring schedule. B.B. King
is a musical God, but he is a human being, and he should not have to
suffer.

While sitting down, B.B. told a story, and use that story to segue
a half-dozen blues classics such as "Three O'Clock Blues" and culminating
with, of course, "The Thrill Is Gone", when B.B. finally stood up and
brought the song home. There was concern still, as the horn section, when
not playing, was looking at B.B., as if they were watching him and afraid
that something would happen to him. When B.B. went offstage, two large
bodyguards were by his side, and B.B. walked off slowly, without the
zesty authority B.B. would walk offstage with. It was as if the bodyguards
were afraid that something would happen to B.B.

B.B. was brought back onstage, and he brought up Smokin' Joe
Bonamassa to take another bow (I was hoping he would jam with the band, but
he deserved the ovation), and B.B. and the band closed the 90 minute show
with a plow-through version of "When Love Comes To Town".

Normally at the end of a B.B. show, it is customary for B.B. to
toss out guitar picks with a B.B. King logo on them. This time, B.B.
softly handed them out. As he took a bow, B.B. suddenly looked very aged
and worn out to me. It was heartbreaking to see, while at the same time
applauding.

While B.B. lived up to his permanent reputation of "King of the
Blues", I cannot think about this show without being disturbed. It's
clear that the man needs a rest, and it's amazing the man played the
show as it is. Again, not only would I understand, but I would encourage
B.B. to take a rest: he has deserved it long ago. As it is, his mojo
has worked overtime for a few years, and I am thankful to have caught
a handful of truly memorable shows played by this gentlemen. I now
pray that B.B. King gets well. Normally, it is said that a person never
fully recovers from diabetes, but seeing Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry
Garcia's great recovery, I now hope the same happens to B.B. King.

Please get well, B.B.!!!

Catfish

"Everybody wants to know why I sing the blues..."