Chicago Blues Fest is the Mt. Everest of blues music and experience. 4 days long starting on a Thursday at noon and ending on Sunday at 9:30 pm. Not only is it blues music and a festival; it is a world-class city. For the blues lover that wants to get to the highest blue spot on Earth, Chicago is calling you home.
This City really knows how to put on a show. At least, 5 different stages of the finest blues musicians and plenty of after fest venues in the World Capital of the Blues. My favorite post fest sites are in the South Loop. The Hot House at 31 E. Balboa, Buddy Guy's Legends around the corner, and the South Loop Club (7th Street Hotel) for a bite to eat.
Chicago Blues Fest 2005 was probably the largest ever. Official totals are not in yet but about 800,000 people attended. The weather cooperated with temps in the upper 80's and sunshine. The line-up was not that shabby either. John Mayall and the Blues Breakers with Special guest Mick Taylor headlined on Thursday, KoKo Taylor on Friday, Buddy Guy on Saturday and Mavis Staples on Sunday night. It wasn't nothin' but a blues party.
To truly appreciate this years fest one must look up and down the schedule and just try to imagine catching so much blues talent at once. It is not easy to put into words. Imagine if you can, everything ….not just some things.…everything, you can about the blues, now take the things you forgot about the blues, and the future of the blues and throw it down in Grant Park. That is Chicago Blues Fest! It is the greatest Blues show in 'his' creation.
Some of the truly spectacular memories from Thursday include Blues in The Schools with the youngsters performing at the U.S. Cellular "Front Porch Stage" and the Louisiana Dept. of Tourism "Juke Joint Stage". Planetary Blues on the Best Buy Stage stood out as a very cool group. The ladies from Linda's Lounge, 1044 W 51st St. Chicago, IL (Monday your best night), Lady D, Lady Cat, and Holly Maxwell got the fire started at the Front Porch. There was no turning back once those ladies got things started. I think I caught fire right then and there for Lady D.
Nick Moss can jam real well, but the ladies had my full attention. Nick and his band played some really cool groves and hit the licks with precision.
The main stage on Thursday night kicked off with David "Honey Boy" Edwards. David is almost 90 and is rumored to have played with Robert Johnson. That great set was followed by a screaming guitar played by Mr.Kim Simmonds and everybody jammed with him. John Mayall sent us home with a smile.
Friday: I suppose I'll begin somewhere between Hubert Sumlin & Steady Rollin Bob Margolin, Eddie Taylor Jr. and Mr. Robert Lockwood Jr. (also rumored to have played with Robert Johnson). Ya see, when ya come to Chicago for Blues Fest a person has no easy choice in deciding what artist to see. There are so many greats all over the dad gum place. The stages with grass are the best. Eddie Taylor Jr. at the Front Porch Stage almost burnt the place down, but it would go up in flames on Saturday.
Chicago Blues Festers were in for something beyond their wildest imaginations on Friday Night at the Petrillo Music Shell. Jody Williams, with his Guitar "Red Lightning" and the Willie Henderson Horns gathered the wood and kindling for one hot ass bone fire of Blues. Next up was Hubert and Bob with Pine Top Perkins on keys, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith on Drums and Mookie Brill keeping it real. The next act was none other than the Queen of the Blues, KoKo Taylor. I hear KoKo travels around with the Chicago Fire Department because she catches the place on fire everywhere she goes. Koko Taylor went above and beyond the call of duty; she must have done a dozen numbers. I gotta tell ya, Vino Louden, with his flame throwin shirt and group of pirate bandits of the "BLUE MACHINE" created yet another memorable show that they all stole together. Friday Night June 10th 2005 may go down as one of the best night of blues.
Two after sets, one at the Hot House with Ronnie Baker Brooks, the other at Buddy Guys featuring fire starters Billy Branch and the Sons of The Blues. There are still 2 more days to go.
Saturday June 11th was another great day in Blues History. The City of Chicago could have taken down the U.S. Cellular "Front Porch Stage" when Aaron Burton, Steve Freund , and Tim Taylor, Laurie Bell and dad Carey Bell were done with it. I know Laurie Bell was the best act I saw on the Front Porch. I know Saturday's line-up at that stage was the best for that stage and a killer main stage line-up for any main stage anywhere, including Chicago.
Petrillo Music Shell kicked off with Erwin Helfer and his Boogie Woogie Ensemble. They were good, but nothing like what the next set would produce; Billy Branch and The Sons of The Blues with special guests and alumni. Billy and crew almost made The City of Chicago take the construction crew from "Skygate" (the bean) over to the Petrillo because the S.O.B.'s bout brought down the house.
Buddy Guy was in the home of the blues and brought it back up, the crowed jumped when Buddy jumped. Buddy Guy brought us all to our feet and he swam through the crowd to the Jolly Rodgers like a big ole' catfish.
Saturday Night featured something very historic put on by Erwig Records over at the Hot House after set. Thanks to those fine, fine folks, David "Honey Boy" Edwards, Pine Top Perkins, Robert Lock Wood Jr., Home Sick James, Aaron Burton, and a host of other great great grandfathers of the blues celebrated David's birthday. The cake was good but we sang a bit off key. It was great to be there for that, wish all blues lovers could experience that.
Sunday is always a day of praise and forgiveness in the home of the Blues.
If any of ya'll made it to Chicago this year, ya know ya had a great time. Sunday is usually the toughest day to make it back to the Fest. I always tell myself, "keep the blues alive" and make it. The Front Porch had some cleansing goin on with Donald Gay and Geraldine on keys.
The Dirty Blues were going on at The Juke Joint Stage with the likes of Carlos Johnson and Eddie C. Campbell. Lucky Peterson performed before them, but was not done for the night.
Petrillo, Sunday night, red eye night. You say why red eyes? Because they are blood shot by now. Howard Scott, his keyboard player, Miss Jessi Terrell, Stan Mosely, and Howard's brother put on a great show leading up to Mavis Staples. Mavis put on one heck of a show. She made some of the bluest of blue fans eager for next year. Lucky Peterson was clearly the best of Sunday Night. No disrespect to Mavis, Lucky just opened everyone's eyes!
The after set at Buddy Guy's Legends featured Lil' Ed and the Blue Imperials. I have never before seen or experienced this group in person before last night. If Lil' Ed and his band ever got on stage this weekend, Mayor Richard M. Daley would have had to call out the National Guard. Lil Ed and his band tore it up! If the Chicago Blues Fest 2005 house was not all the way down, they brought the wrecking ball. The fire had been put out, these cats were just smokin'.
Another Chicago Blues Fest in the books. Ya damn well better mark us down for next year!
I'd like to thank the stage sponsors, including Best Buy, Gibson Guitar, and U.S. Cellular, Louisiana Dept. of Tourism, and Route 66. I'd like to give a shout out to Mara at the Mississippi Dept. of Tourism, Dominics Food, Blyth, Barry Dolins, The City of Chicago, The Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise, Blues on Stage, www.mnblues.com , Breeze & Freak, Tommy T. , M.O.S.E., all the great blues fans and artists.
A special thank you to the grounds crew, staff, and volunteers. Chicago Keeps The Blues Alive.
This Dog is a Howlin' Wolf.
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