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Two-Day Blues
Published June 22, 2005 in Music
By Bubba Craner | Image property of Official Site
Long Beach Blues Festival
The Long Beach Blues festival is a two-day experience where some of the greatest blues musicians come to give thanks to their fans. Acclaimed as one of the best summer music festivals in the state, this year is packing a knockout blues punch of numbing proportions.
The 26th Annual Long Beach Blues Festival Line-up
Saturday
Café R&B is a Los Angeles
based band that unfortunately continues to fly under the radar. They are
a talented group of musicians that are capable of pleasing crowds in not
just clubs, but larger venues and festivals. A lot of their success (obviously
relative to the people who have actually heard of them) comes from the fact
that people sometimes find it hard to label them. They are a soulful collaboration
highly influenced by rock & roll, namely British rock. Whatever it is that
they might seem to be, let us not forget that they do indeed have the blues.
Bobby Rush is one of the most vibrant lights shining out
of the chitlin circuit. As a talented multi-instrumentalist, Rush has climbed
to legendary status by blending the styles of blues, soul and funk resulting
in a lyrical style all his own. The 'folk-funk' style is credited to his
name.
Howard Tate is one of those artists that is virtually unknown
by anyone who isn't part of the music scene, but is highly regarded by those
who are in the know. Grounded in a confident and energetic soulful style,
Howard Tate found most of his success clinging onto to the coattails of
Ray Charles. That is to say that he blended gospel and soul.
Los Lobos is most often tagged with, "those Mexican rock
guys." This is because their musicianship is so high. They effortlessly
and seamlessly blend styles ranging from blues, rock, tex-mex, traditional
Spanish and Mexican, country, folk and R&B.
Etta James is legend in her own time. Her R&B style has
not only endured throughout the years, but ripened as well. James is reaching
70 years old, but is every bit as reverent and passionately soulful as ever.
Sunday
Otis Clay is Chicago's deep soul
king, who, ironically enough, found most of his success in Memphis. His
blues style, like a lot of others, birthed from gospel music and has grown
up to be a high-spirited and fanatical blues powerhouse.
Johnny Rawls, though a baby-boomer who grew up being highly
influenced by the soulful music of the 1960's, is very much a contemporary
blues vocalist. Not forgotten about, his influences come alive by way of
his guitar.
Guitar Shorty was once married to Jimi hendrix's stepsister.
There must really have been something in hednrix's aura, because Shorty
has often been accused of the embodiment of Hendrix. On stage, Shorty can
be caught doing blackflips, stage slides, summersaults and headstands-all
while playing the guitar of course. He is truly a legend in his time.
Bobby "Blue" Bland, now a superstar who was once center
stage with B.B. King in the Beale Streeters, needs only one instrument to
take the stage, his voice. Bland's voice is as charismatic and boisterous
as Robert Plants, but instead of Brit. Rock, Bland screams the soulful sounds
of the blues.
The Black Crowes is the headliner of this years Long Beach
Blues Festival, and the stage in the CSULB soccer field(where the festivel
is held) is the only L.A. based show they will be playing this year. They
of course are a 90's rock groups who has continued to try to strum and lick
their way out of the shadows of the Rolling Stones.
On Labor Day weekend, the gates will be opening at 10:00 a.m. and the music starts at 12:00 p.m. Those who opt for the platinum or backstage pass (which I highly recommend-I have had all three types of tickets between the last two years of the festival, and with platinum you get front row seating and free food and beverages all day long. And that includes beer. Backstage passes get all of the benefits of platinum, but also get access backstage) can enter the festival earlier than the general admission ticket holders.
Learn more about the festival and order tickets HERE
Stay tuned for updates.
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Bubba Craner
Sources: Image property of Official Site
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