babylonDon

The Ottawa Bluesfest began last night with myself and the Beautiful 'Ian My Quee-an' in attendance.

I'm going to chart my reviews, impressions and ramblings throughout the festival.

So....there

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McCain '08: 'He'll Get Those Kids Off Your Lawn'

“Ahh, Cat Juggling. The sport of kings. Crazy, crazy kings.”- Oscar Wilde

ianmine

I think that's a grand idea!

here....I'll do pics:

ottawasun.com - LIVE! In Ottawa - LIVE! Bluesfest

oopsie! they aren't all Bluesfest, sorry....only the ones on the top. Is MY face red!

babylonDon

I've got a lot to say about the first night, getting there, stage layouts, etc...But two things based on the above link:

1) Contrary to what the photos suggest, Gordon Downey is not the sole member of Tragically Hip.

2)In keeping with what the photos suggest, Davy Knowles is the sole member of Back Door Slam.

More coming.

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McCain '08: 'He'll Get Those Kids Off Your Lawn'

“Ahh, Cat Juggling. The sport of kings. Crazy, crazy kings.”- Oscar Wilde

ianmine

bite your tongue.....Gordie IS The Hip !!!!

babylonDon

The festival began last night at Lebreton Flats, right on the river that separates Ontario (Ottawa) from Quebec (Hull). It's just a little west of downtown,and it's a sprawling field. Beautiful, but difficult to access, outside of public transportation. If there was parking available, I didn't see it.

I met my Adored Companion, or AC (IMQ) outside her workplace downtown, at 3:30. A bit of supplemental shopping and dinner, and armed with instructions from the Ottawa Transpo, made our way to the site. A job that will be easier going forward, armed with the knowledge of experience.

There's a healthy walk from the bus stop to the entrance, as they've set the only gate on the opposite end of the field. We were still early, arriving at 5:40, so I took the opportunity to do a little recon.

There are 6 stages, with the two largest being in the main pavilion, and the other 4 smaller stages girding the river. A semi-serious glance through our cooler (contents: bottled water, and womens clothing) and we were in. The seemingly effortless ability to smuggle in liquor will be discussed. There seems to be no maps of the site available.

After a false start at the wrong river stage, we made it to Back Door Slam,early in their set. Using a pilfered garbage bag as a tarp we sat down to the right side of the stage.

(An unusual phenomenon, is that all the stages are bisected by fences from the stage to the sound boards. The results, at least early on, is that most patrons, seem confused or unwilling to inhabit one entire half of the available space. One side of the fence is heavily populated, while the other is approached tentatively, as though the ever unassuming Canadians, are unsure if it's allowed. As the day progresses, this stops being a concern, and both sides of the stage are mobbed.)

....

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McCain '08: 'He'll Get Those Kids Off Your Lawn'

“Ahh, Cat Juggling. The sport of kings. Crazy, crazy kings.”- Oscar Wilde

babylonDon

Back Door Slam was in the beginning of their set when we made our way to the side of the stage. The majority of the audience were older patrons , staking out real estate with lawn chairs, etc, for Keb' Mo', and Taj Mahal, the players rounding out the (River Stage) lineup.

BDS are English Boys, with a taste for gritty, electric blues, and when I say boys, I mean literally. The bass player and drummer both would have fit in easily in High School Jazz band, fresh faced and almost owlishly earnest looking. The drummer was sporting what was probably his first ever attempt at a beard, a sorry patchy affair, reminiscent of every males' first brush with puberty.

The rhythm section, are competent, with time, and willingness to rise to the challenge, the drummer could be outstanding.

The challenge comes in the form of Davy Knowles the guitarslinger/vocalist, heart/soul of Back Door Slam. This kid can PLAY.
Being on the same stage with him is probably a daunting task for anyone. He works his Strat, making it bark, howl and wail, with the passion and zeal of a person who knows they're having too much fun, and wants to get all their kicks in before someone makes him stop. His voice, while singing, seems to give lie to the bright stoner 20 year old it's coming out of.

And this was the exciting part. With both hands on his guitar and stepping into a verse, this is a smooth confidence oozing bluesman. Between songs and leaving the stage, he seems humbled, almost shy. When introducing 'Riding With the King', he puts his head down and mutters, "There's a singer in America called John Hiatt, we like very much." He sounded like Michael Palin's schoolboy, announcing, "Eric's written a sketch." There's a world of difference between the guy playing the song, and the kid talking about it.

They encored with a Willie Dixon number, with guests 'The Texas Horns', and Knowles said it was "A real honor, I've always wanted to play with a horn section, and this is the first time I get to." Indeed, every time the horns came in at the verse, he looked down at the floor at grinned uncontrollably. You could see he was having the time of his life.

It was an outstanding show, and the next time they come through, all those people (and the friends they tell) who were waiting for the veteran blues players, will be waiting for Back Door Slam.

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McCain '08: 'He'll Get Those Kids Off Your Lawn'

“Ahh, Cat Juggling. The sport of kings. Crazy, crazy kings.”- Oscar Wilde

babylonDon

For what it's worth:
Back Door Slam reminded me somewhat of the North Mississippi Allstars, another group of young guys who hit the stage running towards ragged glory, in the blues genre. The main difference is that these are the sons of legendary players whose childhoods were literally immersed with great southern bluesmen at every moment. They're also a more gifted ensemble, with a virtuoso at every instrument.

I saw them a few years back at the Milwaukee Summerfest, and their drummer did a solo with a washboard and effects pedals. It was an inexplicable, maniacal jam, that left me awestruck. I still have no idea how that could have sounded so damn good.

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McCain '08: 'He'll Get Those Kids Off Your Lawn'

“Ahh, Cat Juggling. The sport of kings. Crazy, crazy kings.”- Oscar Wilde

babylonDon

Keb' Mo' hit the stage next,and really how could the contrast be anything but striking? This guy would make an entirely reasonable definition of Delta Blues. Lean, angular, entirely composed, Keb' Mo' is a master.

From the moment he walked on and plugged in his dobro, (which reflected the sun setting over the river, with brilliant intensity) he seemed at ease with his surroundings, even as he acknowledged their unfamiliarity.Looking toward the main pavilion, where on one of the main stages (with the massive P.A. pointed directly at the River Stage) the Secret Machines were filling the available air space with sound, he said, "Looks like you get two shows for the price of one."

And then he went ahead and did what he came to do. With his son keeping the beat on a snare, hi-hat, and kick drum, he started picking out the blues. Clean, bright, fingerpicking and an easy croon, Keb' Mo' doesn't belt it out, he just lets it out. The sweet ease in his songs is infectious, and even when the lyrics are wry, or describing bad news, the feeling is of one at peace with his world. Keb' Mo' just feels good to listen to.

Even though he had time constraints, and met them well, he had a rapport with the audience, that made you laugh. Another sign of the casualness of the proceeding was when he was took requests from the audience. More than once, he turned to his son on drums, and kind of mimicked what the rhythm should sound like. These were brief exchanges, and his son never missed a beat.

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McCain '08: 'He'll Get Those Kids Off Your Lawn'

“Ahh, Cat Juggling. The sport of kings. Crazy, crazy kings.”- Oscar Wilde

ianmine

brava bebe.....*claps*

at the risk of repeatin' 23,000 what others hadta say, tho.....


Gor-dy!

GOR-Dy!


GOR-DY!!!

babylonDon

On to the main stage...

Okay, I'll admit it. I didn't get it.


In the States, I was sort of alt old school. I really liked Tragically Hip. I'd heard them on my eclectic radio station (wxrt.com) and I started to get to know them. Bought a CD or two, knew 'a lot' of their music. I saw them at Summerfest, at a side stage, walked up to the front row. Loved it. An eccentric front man, and a band that stood their ground and rocked. They were almost like a secret, that I could turn friends onto, and watch them get into it.

In the states, it was this unique, kind of fringey thing, to like the Hip.

In Canada, it's almost an insult to merely 'like' the Tragically Hip. Apparently, I did not know last night, I was seeing Canada's rock and roll pride and joy. More than Molson, more than maple, Canadians REALLY like this band.

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McCain '08: 'He'll Get Those Kids Off Your Lawn'

“Ahh, Cat Juggling. The sport of kings. Crazy, crazy kings.”- Oscar Wilde