Where the Blues and Business Casual Collide
There have been many great performers in Music Land, for example Bono, Freddie Mercury, and Madonna, just to name a few. There are also many folks who go out of their way to exude cool via ironic t-shirts purchased at Urban Outfitters and meticulously unkempt hair. It’s one thing to dance with a pretty girl in the audience, but how many rock stars put a guitar in her hands and then proceed to wrap their arms around her and play it? Likewise, there is no way the boys from Arctic Monkeys could rock a gold lamet or candy apple red suit and pull it off. At last night’s Congressional Blues Festival, a benefit concert for the Music Maker Relief Foundation held at the Mellon Auditorium, we saw the real deal. Bono and indie scenesters alike should take lessons in showmanship and cool from the cats that were on stage.
The evening was a study in contrasts. The music was, for the most part, down home American roots music set in a hall built in a classical Greek style, complete with Doric columns. The crowd ranged from aged hippies to Hill staffers, who were there only to take advantage of the free boozin’ and schmoozin’, to high school kids wanting to be the next Jimi or Stevie Ray. The giant Volkswagen logos projected onto the ceiling and the wall behind the stage definitely added to the event’s schizophrenic ambience. This variety exists partly by design, as the festival is, in the end, a lobbying event. As Music Maker’s administrative director and co-founder Denise Duffy put it, “We preserve music by preserving musicians. We use this event to educate [lawmakers] about the importance of preserving musical and cultural traditions.”
Music Maker’s efforts are clearly having an effect. Alabama native Adolphus Bell (pictured) had been performing for decades and proudly tells of his marching with Dr. Martin Luther King during the civil rights movement. Still, he was at times homeless before joining Music Maker’s roster of artists. “I was a street musician for years and survived by taking my guitar to the pawn shop. Music Maker really did well for me. They’ve taken me all over the world to countries I never imagined I’d go to.” Bell is now trying to share his success by working with the poor and homeless. “Whatever society did to me, I would make a song about it. I want to tell my story and when I go home, I make sure I tell people that ‘I won’t forget y’all.’”
The show featured four acts on the main stage, with additional performers playing backstage and on a warm-up stage prior to the start of the concert. Nearly all of the performers came from Music Maker's stable of artists. The music, aside from the headliners, focused on traditional blues in the vein of Muddy Waters, B.B. King, or Ma Rainey. While the music may not be for those who enjoy more experimental and forward looking styles of music, the concert was heaven for blues fans. A traditional blues performance is not about breaking new ground or technical proficiency, though there were some fantastic players on stage. Rather, the show was all about soul, groove, and the story as told by master storytellers.
Bell opened the concert with three tunes that exemplified traditional blues, starting with an uptempo shuffle before switching to two soulful 12/8 numbers about wronged women and child support, respectively. This is a man who has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of life and is willing to tell us about it. Sweet Betty came next and brought a heavy gospel feel to the proceedings. Her huge voice reminded us of Aretha and made us forget all the wannabes performing on American Idol. Her set also featured the dazzling harmonica playing of James Harman, who in his own right has released thirty albums.
The most entertaining performance of the night came from slide guitarist Mudcat. A masterful guitarist and consummate showman, he spent a good chunk of his set playing amongst the crowd. His six piece band was also the loudest of the night as his guitar amp was definitely turned up to eleven. The Derek Trucks Band (pictured) headlined the show and was the most eclectic and polished band of the night. Though rooted in the blues, even dedicating part of their set to traditional blues tunes, the band explored a variety of musical styles, most notably covering Qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's "Sahib Teri Bandi/Maki Madni.”
The event did highlight one concern amongst blues lovers. Though the music is rooted in the African American community, that community was noticeably under-represented at the festival. Duffy believes this is because African Americans “relate blues to unkind times.” Bell echoed this sentiment by saying, “Black people are ashamed of the blues because it comes from slavery and suffering.” There is, however, reason for optimism. Duffy cites The Carolina Chocolate Drops as a traditional roots band comprised of young African Americans. Bell notes the burgeoning and diverse blues scene in Alabama. “Alabama is keeping the blues alive. The old racial generation is dying out and now black and white kids are growing up and playing music together.”
Let us hope, Mr. Bell, let us hope.
Photos taken from the Music Maker Relief Foundation's and Derek Trucks' MySpace pages.