Gainesville is truly an amazing place for music. Last Sunday we were at the Florida folk Festival, listening to music by Florida singer-songwriter, Frank Thomas, followed by the world-famous Bellamy Brothers. Thomas was just inducted into the Florida Artists' Hall of Fame this year (http://www.florida-arts.org/programs/ahf/displayArtist.cfm?member=54) . Mr. Thomas has a reputation for maintaining Florida’s indigenous music.
The Bellamy Brothers did a serviceable job of performing, but it was quite clear that they were just doing what they had to to get paid. I think they must've been tired from a previous concert.
Mr. Thomas is well known as a Florida style troubadour, a man with a strong connection to Florida and to the folk traditions of this state. He wrote many amazing songs about his homeland, and we heard a lot of them Sunday. I was delighted to enjoy the music of one of the people I haven't had the privilege of listening to previously.
I've heard Will McLean in person, I've heard Gamble Rogers. Maybe though, since Frank performed with a lot of these people, I actually have heard him play before with some of the other famous Florida musicians. Anyway it was a delightful evening under the stars and I can't wait till next year's Festival. (Next year, I’m going to try to read some of my published Florida stories. Every year I say this, but next year, I am. Really!)
Then last night, Thursday, we went to a celebration of the blues in art and music, The BLUES PIONEERS and their Progeny. What a wonderful evening. (http://www.florida-arts.org/programs/ahf/displayArtist.cfm?member=54). Singer-songwriter Willie Green took over the stage in the Thomas Center and wowed everyone. (http://www.williegreenblues.com/index.html).
Mr. Green has a very unique sense of humor, and he understands the blues well. He talked about a time when he was busy drinking himself to death and his wife left him. That's when he wanted to be a comedian, but nobody laughed at his jokes except him. Seems like he had the sense to pull back from that lifestyle.
There he was sitting on a chair in his mint green coat, white hat, dark glasses, sparkling eyes, and silver harmonicas amazing the crowd with his singing, and guitar playing. You know the line, "playing the guitar just like a ringing a bell," and oh yeah, he could do Chuck Berry. He played Muddy Waters, "I'm going away, and won't be back no more." He played such a variety of old blues I could barely keep track – and who wanted to when the music was so good! The experience just transported all of us away.
Sitting in his chair, he gets the crowd excited. But then he makes a joke about how his knees are already bent and starts to rock forward slowly. And the next thing you know, this old man in his eighties has thrown off his jacket and is weaving back and forth in front of the crowd, playing harmonica like the pro he is. The audience comes to life, clapping and dancing, and when he's done they give him a standing ovation. "Now I got my Mojo working," he says and launches into that infamous song.
Playing with him was Gainesville's own R. Mutt Blues Band. Every member of this band, from lead singer Dan Stepp, to lead guitarist Paul Goble, is superb. Bass player Richard Heipp is a steady master. The band had a new drummer, Rishie, who really surprised me. He had an interesting trick, flipping his drumstick sideways so that it sounded almost like claves. And he had a trait you don't usually see in a blues drummer, restraint!
The band’s solos were exceptional, and when they played with Willie, the result was amazing. I must say, they played one of their own songs, written by Mr. Stepp, “Till It’s All Right Again,” (that’s the chorus – I think that’s the name of the song…), and I was very impressed.
When you hear an old blues master play harp with a superb backup band, then you understand why and how the blues have influenced and continue to influence virtually every style of modern music. Like Mr. Green said of R. Mutt, "They know everything I know." And he laughed.
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