A Bay Full Of Blues

Redwood Coast Music builds up Blues By The Bay year by year

What's the Buzz?
By Michael the K

One of the year’s biggest events was the North Coast’s “Blues Festival” This gala event exposed its attendees to two days of some of the finest entertainment they can find in this locale. Glen Maxon and his highly skilled staff spend most of the year setting up this and the even bigger North Coast Jazz Festival.

Last year’s blues festival was quite unique, in as much as some crossover groups were added to the line-up. One of the headliners was Big Brother And The Holding Company. Wow! What a great idea to include one of the founding members of the 60s San Francisco rock scene. I’m sure you remember Big Brother featured the incomparable Janis Joplin (Me and Bobby McGee, A Little Piece Of My Heart, Combination Of The Two), known especially for the gut wrenching version of Big Momma Thorton’s Ball and Chain.

Big Brother’s ensemble comprised of the original members Sam Andrew on guitar and vocals, Peter Albin on bass guitar and David Getz behind the drums. Big Brother was the signature sound of the 60s flower children movement in the Height-Ashbury scene, along with the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and countless others. They established a music scene in America that challenged the predominance Brit rock bands (The Beatles, The Animals) held at the time. How brilliant was it to include them in the 2007 lineup, as this attracted attendees who otherwise wouldn’t have shown up.

Bill Graham was the pioneer behind this genius type of billing, grouping musical acts who the audience would otherwise had never seen share a stage. In doing so, the audience was exposed to live music which they never would have experienced otherwise.

I could go on forever about how important music is and how it affects our existence and well-being, but it would comprise a large novel, so we’ll leave that to the more experienced writers. In a nutshell, I’ll just praise the event, thank the creators and the countless staff and volunteers who make this one of the biggest attractions in Humboldt County.

Headlining the event in 2008 was a living legend, John Mayall and the Blues Breakers. This rock institution spans 40 years of accomplishment in the music industry. Incredible musicians have been part of the Blues Breakers over the years, including Eric Clapton, Peter Greene, Jeff Beck, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, just to name a few. Those of you in the know are reminded of Mick and John’s follow-up group, Fleetwood Mac, the British version, as well as the later, more commercial American version which included Stevie Nicks and Lyndsey Buckingham. They were later accompanied by Christine McVie, John’s one-time spouse. Fleetwood Mac went on to become one of the most successful acts in the music business

This year’s festival included a ton of blues acts from around the country, including the Bay Area’s own Ron Thompson, formerly of Ron Thompson And His Resisters and also the bandleader for John Lee Hooker. Joining Thompson on Saturday was Joe Louis Walker, Shane Dwight Band, The Phantom Blues Band, Ruthie Foster and Kaye Bohler. Humboldt County’s own Earl Thomas joined Mayall on Sunday, along with Roy Rogers & the Delta Rhythm Kings, Henry Butler, The Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band as well as Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy.

Advance tickets were available at the Redwood Coast Music Festivals office in Old Town Eureka, and also on their website. The festival was towards the end of summer this time (August 30-31) instead of in July, which students coming in for fall term at Humboldt State were glad to hear! A grand time was had by all!

Michael the K, in addition to his position as Video Editor, is a long-time music producer and filmmaker living in Eureka. He can be reached at 667-3302, or at video ~~AT~~ humboldtsentinel.com. More of his writing can be reviewed at eurekatribune.com.