December 30, 2004
BB B The Man
Flynny of Divine Innerbitchin' corraled us into a BB King show (I, of course, am easily lassoed when it comes to BB) that was brilliant.
Hadn't seen BB in 9 or 10 years. The poor fellow had to do the whole show seated, and do you think that slowed him up? Nay. At 79 his voice is powerful, his fingerwork sublime. His showmanship nonpariel.
I hope this isn't his farewell tour.
Overheard tonight:
"The thrill is gone."
What I think I actually heard: How did my Cocoa Puff ass land in this bowl full of Kix?
There was not a black person under 40 in the house. There were only about 12 black people there total. What a shame the lads cannot learn from the master. BB even threatened to carve up a couple of band members. It would have been quite the learning experience for the gangstas.
Thanks for the whaddup, Flynny. And the tickets, ha ha!
'twas my pleasure.
We must do it again sometime soon.
Posted by: jmflynny at December 30, 2004 1:20 AMOh, and the makeup of the crowd was not lost on me either. I couldn't help but wonder 'why'? He's no sell out, he remembers who he is, so...what gives?
Posted by: jmflynny at December 30, 2004 1:22 AMBB lost 20 years of his career because he stuck to the blues and wouldn't mainstream. Made the audience come to him. Keith Richard and Lennon helped make that happen.
Perhaps BB needs some bootay on the stage, but from his comments it appears he pops an invigorator and has the bootay at his leisure.
It's because he doesn't pepper his lyrics with "bitch" and "ho" methinks.
Posted by: david at December 30, 2004 1:29 AMI saw BB live decades ago in Las Vegas (He was in the lounge, not the main showroom, where the Wayne Newtons of the world perform), and he knocked me out. I have heard him say, on at least two occasions, "I don't play a lot of chords," and I also don't believe I have ever seen him bother much with the two lowest strings on "Lucille," his guitar. But, he can sure make magic with those other four strings. His "sound" is unmistakable.
Posted by: Jim - PRS at December 30, 2004 3:07 AMSaw BB about 3 years ago and he was doing his show seated then, but he didn't lose a thing! He's one of the all time greats; he has a place in Memphis, I wonder if he plays there very often?
Posted by: Michele at December 30, 2004 8:31 AMBB King is one of my guitar idols. I steal his licks shamelessly. I also picked him in Laurence Simon's Dead Pool for next year.
Hey-- I love the man and his music, but....
Posted by: Acidman at December 30, 2004 10:31 AMWhen I was pregnant and carrying Progeny, I listened to a lot of BB King and kd lang. Damned if that little girl didn't come out with a taste for the blues. There were nights, even when she was just a tiny infant, when BB was the only one who could get her to sleep.
Sad that it takes a bunch of middle aged white folk to appreciate a master like that. The kids just don't know what they're missing.
Posted by: Mamamontezz at December 30, 2004 2:46 PMCheck out this link to my band the houserockers
www.thehouserockers.net
Our singers ,Grandfather gave BB his first record deal when he was a co owner of Sun Records ( I am not making this up )He sold out to Sam Phillips and his Brother .My singer was hanging with BB at his show last week in Melbourne FL. and has a picture of him and BB on the Bus. BB was last seen enjoying the House Rockers CD on the tour Bus cd Player.
He is the real thing ,I have seen him several times over the past 20 years and he is the best.And a Gentleman with old school class.
Cheers