If you’re tired of reading about the music I enjoyed last
summer, I guess I owe you an apology up front.
However, I would be derelict in my blogging duties if I did not cover
Dr. John’s performance at the Big Muddy Blues Festival at Laclede’s Landing in
downtown Saint Louis.
Dr. John was the headliner for the main stage on Sunday,
Sept. 2. With him on my short list of
performers I’d never seen in concert but always wanted to, I was not going to
pass up the opportunity, especially for a mere $10 admission! You have to love the bargains you sometimes get
at outdoor music venues.
Plus, I had never been to the Big Muddy Blues Festival,
which showcases not only national and international blues acts – many playing
for free on the two street stages – but also the eclectic Laclede’s Landing area
on the riverfront, which is full of restaurants, entertainment and nightlife in its own right. It may be time to do something about the brick
and cobblestone streets, though. I get
the historic significance, but I’m surprised I don’t see more people twist ankles
or take a tumble down the streets, which can also slope severely toward the
water.
Anyway, the day began with my friends Ken, Kent (yes, Ken AND Kent, not a typo) and me checking in to the Drury Plaza Hotel by the arch. I’ve mentioned the location and amenities of this hotel before. It’s probably my favorite place to stay when I’m visiting St. Louis. And the views of the arch the next block over aren’t too shabby.
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A motley crew, but not Motley Crue |
Sue, of course, looked spectacular. Love the hat paying homage to Bear Bryant. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the festival,
but who cares?
We followed the music to the two street stages and all
the chaos in between. There were more
than plenty of food and drink vendors to choose from. The prices varied from acceptable to highway
robbery, but there were bargains to be found. Although I’m not sure a
Jaegerbomb is a bargain at any price.
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One of the free street stages at Big Muddy Blues Festival |
By sunset, we had made our way to a grassy lot, which
sloped perfectly to form a natural amphitheater for the main stage.
I was quickly impressed by how excellent Ana Popovic
was. Her band was performing on the main
stage before Dr. John. Although she’s
from Yugoslavia and currently lives in the Netherlands, she can belt out the
electric blues with a vengeance. And she
looks damn sexy with a guitar. Hell, she
looks damn sexy without it, too.
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Ana Popovic rocking the stage. |
This lame stage picture I took does not do her or her performance
justice. Someone in our group seemed to
think she had unusually large knees, but I find that nitpicking.
Before Dr. John went on, Kent and I decided to go
exploring in search of a decent public restroom. That brought us to Heartbreakers, a nightclub
on the Landing known for its … umm … scenery.
And in case you’re wondering, I did catch a strand of
beads she was throwing, but only because my face got in the way.
A word of caution if you ever plan to use the ATM at
Heartbreakers … they charge a $5.10 fee.
Really? They have to add the
extra 10 cents after gouging you for $5?
Isn’t that adding insult to injury?
Back to the reason why I went to the festival – Dr. John. If you’re just becoming a fan because of his
critically acclaimed new album, you would have been happy to hear “Locked Down”
and “Big Shot,” and truthfully they were some of his best performances. I liked that he opened with “Iko Iko,” a New
Orleans favorite. Other highlights
included two blues classics – “Let the Good Times Roll,” made famous by B.B.
King and Bobby Bland, and Koko Taylor’s “Wang Dang Doodle,” which enabled Dr.
John’s quartet of female back-up singers to really shine.
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Look close, and you'll see Frank Parker on trumpet/ |
1 comment:
Awesome review as usual. Make me miss living in STL:(
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