NH Steve
2 posts
Sep 26, 2011
5:50 AM
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I first saw James in about 1975. Saturday night exceeded my expectations for sure! Makes me want to work harder...
More pics here: James Cotton
Last Edited by on Sep 26, 2011 5:54 AM
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Joe_L
1474 posts
Sep 26, 2011
9:50 AM
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Even though he is getting older and can't sing, James Cotton is still a masterful player and inspiring band leader. He's always worth seeing. A person can learn a lot by watching James Cotton in action. He's a living legend. The recent passing of Willie Smith reminded me that there aren't many people around from that generation. See him while you can.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
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Old Dog
117 posts
Sep 26, 2011
12:13 PM
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I saw Mr. Cotton Friday night, all I can say is "WOW!"
He may be getting on in years, but he's still got what it takes to get a crowd going! Long live Superharp.
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I used to be young and foolish. Now I'm not so young.
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joshnat
160 posts
Sep 27, 2011
9:40 AM
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I saw him on Friday also, in Rockport, MA. He is getting on, but he was wonderful on stage. He showed such joy and mischievousness in the music, it would have been great even if he hadn't been playing. Great band, too!
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Buzadero
870 posts
Sep 27, 2011
1:36 PM
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"The recent passing of Willie Smith reminded me that there aren't many people around from that generation. See him while you can."
Amen. I saw Buddy Guy and BB King last night. Over the past 30plus years, I've probably caught Buddy Guy two dozen times. King about ten. BB King turned 86 last week, and Guy is in his mid-70's.
Both men are pillars in my book. Legends in my mind and synonymous with American musical greatness. Buddy still has that sparkling showman's quality. Last night, BB King was an 86 year old man. Still on the mountain as fas as I'm concerned, but an old man. The band was tight as a drum and did the work. That in itself meant that the show held my interest. Plus, it is BB mutha-pharking King live in front of you after all.
Support the legends to the end. Get out and see them, you deserve it as a fan of the genre and the musician, and they deserve it for what they've done for both you and the music.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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LSC
95 posts
Sep 27, 2011
5:01 PM
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I would 2nd that emotion to get out and catch these cats whenever you can. They are treasures to be enjoyed while they are still here.
About two years ago I had the pleasure of seeing Johnny Winter at Antone's, though seeing is perhaps a stretch. Winter is pretty frail and plays sitting down so other than when he walked on stage all I saw was his hat.
At one point Cotton joined him on stage. Cotton also plays sitting down of course but I had a better sight line.
The band launches into "Hoochie Coochie Man". Cotton pulls a harp out of his shirt pocket and commences to blow down a vocal mic. The sound guy was on the case and had him dialed in literally in a matter of seconds. When you get a harp played by someone like Cotton properly dialed in through a good PA you understand why it's called a mouth organ. The sound was huge, as in massive.
Now this is Hoochie Coochie Man one of the most cliche' jam songs ever that is probably being played in a hundred bars at any given moment 24/7 but this was James Cotton and Johnny Winter. They just flat out blew the roof off. The crowd just went ape shit. I went ape shit. At the end Jimmy just pockets the harp, gives a wave and a grin and ambles off the stage. One tune. Audience insane. Job done. Good night. It was one of the most memorable music moments of my 63 years of existence on this earth.
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LSC
Last Edited by on Sep 27, 2011 5:02 PM
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