i just posted this on my tumblr, but it makes sense here, too. i saved it 8(!) years ago because i didn't want it to fall off page 20:

Jocelyn2003
Always buzzin’ just like neon…
Posts: 695
(6/20/04 7:27 pm)

6.19 REVIEW: sitting in with BB King


i know there’s a thread about this show, but there are no reviews. i am in such a good mood that i’m starting a new thread, posting rules be damned.

i’m in DC for the summer but i flew home to NY for the weekend for father’s day and this show. though john only sat in for the last 15/20 minutes, the show was the coolest thing i have ever seen. i was fortunate to have a seat in the front row, just to the right of where BB eventually sat on stage.

there were two opening acts—a band from canada whose name i cannot recall, and citizen cope. citizen cope had a really funky sound and i liked it. i’ll most likely pick up his album(s).

before i listened to john’s music, i never listened to the blues. i didn’t have an aversion to them, but i was never introduced to them. i now have a bunch of SRV, and i’m planning on purchasing some of buddy guy’s music, and now bb king’s. it reminds me of something he said on the “in tune” special about musical heritage—you listen to someone and you love their music, so you go search out their roots and favorite music.

i knew that last night’s show would be emotional because BB had just flown in from ray charles’ funeral. BB’s set started out with just his band. they played some amazing music, trading solos for about 20 minutes, and then the bandleader introduced Mr. BB King.

i don’t know the names of most of BB’s songs, but i know that the music i heard last night was just unreal. i was sitting at a table with two men who were huge BB fans, so they kept telling me little tidbits of information, which was great. BB kept talking about how many of his friends were dying, and it was sad—but it made for a great night’s worth of blues. he has a great stage presence and managed to make the show feel like it was in a 40-person club, rather than a 500 person one.

BB dances in his seat and has great crowd interaction. he called my friend handsome, and a woman at the next table beautiful. also, he gave a rose to a woman at a table front row center—turns out she comes to the club a ton, and it was his way to show her some appreciation.

one song i know they did play was “the thrill is gone.” amazing. before john came out, BB was saying that there needs to be a new generation of blues players. he was talking about a young blues player and said sometning like, “you may have heard of this young man before. i’m talking about john mayall.” so he talked about mayall for a bit.

he finally introduced john by talking about the clapton blues festival, and how john played onstage. i can’t remember the rest of what he said, unfortunately. john came out and sat on a chair next to BB. BB played a lick and then john played it back to him, and this went on for a little while. then BB played an amazing one, and john gave him a look and didn’t even attempt it. it was awesome.

i guess BB asked john what he wanted to play and i saw john say “anything you want—whatever you want.” john just looked so thrilled to be up there, and i was so amazed by the fact that he was sitting in with BB and his hugely talented band.

i’m sorry i can’t remember more details about when john was playing, but because i don’t know BB’s music well, i can’t tell you what songs they played. not to mention we had music straight through from 730-1130, minus short breaks for equipment changes for each act, so my brain is foggy.

all i know is that 3 years ago to the date of last night’s show, i saw john play at the village underground. at that show, i was taken aback because a drummer guested on some songs.

last night, i personally saw how much respect some of the biggest blues legends have for john, and i could not have been a prouder fan. it was surreal to see john up there with BB and john certainly held his own. i think he won a lot of blues fans last night.

i was fortunate enough to meet Mr. BB King last night, and he is incredibly sweet. he was joking around with me and my friends, and he graciously allowed each of us to take our own photos with him. i told him that it was an amazing show, and that it was great to see john up there because he’s such a talented player. BB said, “he sure is, and i’m sure he’d be thrilled to hear you say that.”


this one goes in the history books,
jocelyn

Edited by: Jocelyn2003 at: 6/20/04 7:35 pm
~jocelyn

fan since 1999. MSMer since 2001. moderator since 2009.