|
Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Review - Sugar Blue - Rosa's - 6-13-2015
Review - Sugar Blue - Rosa's - 6-13-2015
Page:
1
atty1chgo
1270 posts
Jun 15, 2015
7:27 PM
|
I went to Rosa's Lounge in Chicago this past Saturday to see Sugar Blue and his band. Ran into an MBH member - Philosofy - at the bar and we BS'd before and during the show.
The crowd was surprisingly light for Sugar Blue on a Saturday night. At the end of the first set, there were about 50 people in the place. That's nothing. I'll be fair and attribute that to the fact that the Chicago Black Hawks (Stanley Cup Finals hockey) were playing that night, the weather was very rainy, and the Blues Festival was going on (meaning some people may have been tapped out after a long day at the Festival). But I asked around the next day. Other clubs were quite full. So what gives?
Well, I have the utmost respect for Sugar Blue. He is a living legend, and one of the best blues harmonica players in history, as well as a charismatic, intelligent and warm man who is a pleasure to be around. I had not seen him for awhile and felt bad about it, so I went that night. Quite frankly, I was underwhelmed.
Is it that he plays the same material all the time? All bands repeat themselves. I think that it is a combination of that, and that much of what his band plays is the same loud, driving beat. But finally what got me tuning out was his playing. Now I understand that this is Blue's style to play multiple notes in long flourishes. It almost sounded too much like John Popper. And the songs are overextended in length to allow for multiple fast but indistinguishable solos. I hate to say this, but I got bored listening to him play. With all of the material that he can draw from, it's the same 12 songs per night, and that gets old.
The drummer, a young man who is not their regular drummer (I don't think) had little touch. He was smashing the cymbals excessively, and when he did, it really disrupted the groove. But he has to keep up with the driving beat of the songs, so what's the solution? The keyboard player was very good technically, Ilaria Lantieri and Rico McFarland, the bassist and lead guitar, hold the band together. They played well, Rico is one of the finest guitarist in blues today. But even their great playing does not change the fact that they are tight but loud and predictable and Blue's harp playing, though technically brilliant, always sounds the same. It doesn't sound like there is a direction to his solos, only fast improvisational doodling to excess. And for all of his personality, it was a sterile performance, and the crowd was not engaged like it could.
Respecting Blue's standing rule not to take video, I did not, except a little clip at the end of a song on my I-Phone. I forgot the tune, but it really does not matter. It all sounds the same. I snuck out after the first set. And then I wondered whether the lack of a crowd was due to the aforementioned factors, or that he just doesn't draw well in Chicago any more. The other clubs he plays in Chicago are Kingston Mines and Buddy Guy's Legends, but those clubs ARE AUTOMATIC DRAWS - they fill no matter who is playing on the weekend. To sum it up, I would go again, but only if he has a new album, or creates a set list that is not the same old - same old.
Last Edited by atty1chgo on Jun 16, 2015 9:04 AM
|
jason campbell
33 posts
Jun 16, 2015
9:53 AM
|
I was in town and didn't make the show either. Too cheap and lazy to get a cab there and back. But I think you're right that part of the lack of audience was due to the rain and the Hawks game.
|
ted burke
287 posts
Jun 16, 2015
11:57 AM
|
My guess is that you caught him on a bad night. All musicians have them regardless of over all greatness. I've managed to see him three times over twenty years time and while there is a host of tunes that seem to form a core set list, it seemed that he changed it up on each occasion. Once he was heavy on Willie Dixon tunes and other classic blues, on others he was heavily promoting his most recent album. I may be having euphoric recall, but Blue was varied and inventive in his solos each time. Sorry to hear you think he sounded too much like Jon Popper at times; Sugar Blue for me was the man who proved that fast harp playing could be expressive and artful the same way Johnny Winter rescued speedy blues guitar work for the stagnant riffs of Alvin Lee. Alas.
----------
Ted Burke
tburke4@san.rr.com
Last Edited by ted burke on Jun 16, 2015 11:58 AM
|
Goldbrick
1044 posts
Jun 16, 2015
3:48 PM
|
It may be my mistake but I think of Sugar Blue as a good sideman and not as a band leader
he is not exceptional as a singer and his style is such that it doesnt hold my attention for a full CD's worth of material
This is not a knock at his skill level- maybe just the way he has chosen to present his efforts
He is also in that age group that is too young for the old masters and too old to be the next big thing
being associated forever with the Stones may also have been a 2 edged sword when it comes to the traditionalists
Just my observations--I also think " legend" is kinda overstating his status.
Innovative player yes-- Legend that should be saved for the BB Kings, Little Walters and Howling Wolfs of the world
|
Post a Message
|
