Had a lot of fun Sunday at the Chicago Blues Festival. Torrential rain most of the day, but clouds broke and sun came out just in time for John Boutte, with newlywed Todd Duke on guitar.
John was in an exceptional mood...said he was really happy and that he loves Chicago. Played a slightly bluesier set than usual -- after all it was the blues festival! And Todd was smokin' on guitar, lots of blues riffs -- and his lovely bride was backstage with him.
Highlight of the show was Louisiana 1927, which he closed with. Basin Street Blues, Good Neighbor, Sisters some of the other highlights.
Couple of really grainy cameraphone pictures to share. My real point in posting them was to show the amazing juxtaposition of John and Todd with my office building in the background! Needless to say, since I park under that building the commute was pretty short!
Following John's great show, I raced over the catch the second half of Davell Crawford. Davell was simply amazing. He said he plays jazz festivals and gospel festivals all the time -- but blues festivals? Not so much.
Which made his performance all the more amazing! He just burned, playing piano, electric piano and organ. Back up singers, smoking guitarist -- the whole band cooked.
As I was leaving, I heard a young woman say "that was the best blues I heard all weekend."
To steal my favorite word from "Almost Famous" -- it was "incendiary."
