The 2nd Annual Charleston Blues Festival (South Carolina)
The
2nd Annual Charleston Blues Festival was a resounding success with a
sold out house (approximately 2,000) at the North Charleston Coliseum &
Performing Arts Center on Friday February 15th. To call this a Blues
festival is selling it a bit short, as the night featured traditional Blues and
also included excellent R&B and Soul music, by The Klass Band, Theodis Ealey, TK
Soul, Latimore, Mel Waiters and Millie Jackson.
Co-host Edward “Big Mac” Jones had the audience laughing all night long
as he talked and entertained between sets.
Although all of the performers were good it was Millie
Jackson, dressed in a full length black sequin jacket with fringed epaulets,
black leather pants, black heels and wearing a black choker about her neck with
a pendant at the front, who demonstrated that she still has the ability to send
an electric current through the audience when she takes to the stage.
The sixty-eight year old Ms. Jackson, who cut her first record in 1970
still, has powerful vocals and she can still turn a phrase emotively, evidenced
by her singing of “It Hurts So Good,” a song that went to # 3 on the American
R&B charts 1973. Listening to her sing
“If You’re Not Back In Love By Monday,” one wonders why the song fell just short
of the top forty. Written and originally recorded by Merle Haggard, Millie
Jackson presents beautifully the picture of a couple who have reached the
crossroads in their relationship and it is either time to get back on track or
to go their separate ways. Millie Jackson introduced “Loving Arms,” as
dedicating it to her ex-husband, wherever he is now.
If you have ever wished for a second
chance at love that somehow escaped you, the words “If
I could hold you now / Just for a while / If I could really make you mine / Just
for a moment turn back the hands of time
/ If I could only hold you now,” sent a shiver through you.
San Antonio, Texas born R&B singer Mel Waiters preceded
Millie Jackson singing his signature songs “Got My Whiskey,” a mid-tempo, upbeat
tune, and the R&B, hip swiveling “Hole In The Wall.” One of the things that
stood out about the artists who performed on this evening is even though they
have been doing this for decades, they are still passionate about their music,
bring honesty to their performance and they all know how to stir an audience up.
Some of today’s more plastic and over rehearsed performers would do well to pay
attention.
Opening the evening was the movin’ and groovin’ Klass
Band Brotherhood with lead singer Nelson Curry leading the way, as he sang the
South Carolina Beach tune “Sugaa Shack.” Curry walked out onto the stage wearing
a black sequined cape, a grey three- piece suit, complimented by a red tie with
white polka dots and a matching puff. He had a white shirt with French cuffs and
topped it off with a black fedora. The band also performed the risqué “Honey
Hole,” and Curry’s rich vocals sent up reminders of groups like The Stylistics
on the romantic “My Angel.”
Atlanta, Georgia’s Blues guitarist and singer Theodis
Ealey followed the Klass Band Brotherhood and unfortunately the lyrics were
often too explicit to mention much about the songs in this space. That is too
bad, because the lyrics overshadow a very talented guitarist who has a good
voice. Theodis Ealey performed his “Stand Up In It,” and the beautiful “Please
Let Me In,” about a man asking for a second chance. “I’m The Man You Need,” got
people up on their feet dancing.
Louisiana’s TK Soul was electric with the soulful
“Superwoman Superman,” and he romanced the ladies in the audience with “Try Me.”
TK Soul is a man who knows how to work the stage and how to work the crowd and
the best part is you love it! He is always smiling and he is obviously is having
the time of his life when he is performing. The man can move his feet and move
his hips as he danced his way back and forth across the stage. Riveting Riffs
Magazine would strongly suggest if you get the chance to take in a TK Soul
concert that you do so.
Sandwiched in between the opening acts and Mel Waiters and Millie Jackson was
Latimore. The Charleston, Tennessee native son’s career peaked in 1973 with a
Jazz cover of T-Bone Walker’s “Stormy Monday,” (#27 R&B chart) and in 1974
“Let’s Straighten It Out,” went to # 1 on the R&B Chart and #31 on the Billboard
Hot 100. His vocals were outstanding as
he performed “Let’s Straighten It Out,” and you had to love Latimore’s ability
to paint the picture of a man standing before his woman and hearing her say “My
Give A Damn Gave Out (A Long Time Ago).” He is standing outside pleading for her
to let him in and once again promising “I
will never do this again.” She tells him “I’m
tired of crying / And I’m tired of your lies / I’m tired of giving you another
chance / I forgave you over and over and over again.”
The 2nd Annual Charleston Blues Festival in
South Carolina was a night to remember. Riveting Riffs Magazine would like to
express our gratitude to Alan Coker of the North Charleston Coliseum &
Performing Arts Center and to Jacqueline Pope Lewis of the Heritage
Entertainment Group for making it possible for us to review these wonderful
artists. We would also like to thank the people of Charleston for making us feel
welcome and loved in your beautiful city.
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