BLUES JUNCTION Productions - Doheny Day One: A Sonny Boy Williamson Tribute

BLUES JUNCTION Productions
7343 El Camino Real
Suite 327
Atascadero, CA 93422-4697
info@bluesjunctionproductions.com

Doheny Day One: A Sonny Boy Williamson Tribute

That was not how the festival was billed, but from the early, early morning to the last song off the main stage, I heard at least seven different tunes written or closely associated with Sonny Boy Williamson whose birth was one hundred years ago this year. OK, I did hear his song, Eyesight to the Blind twice. This is all fine by me as hearing blues music at a blues festival is something I like. I know, I am kind of quirky that way.

The day began with San Diego’s own Red Lotus Revue which technically played in front of the most people as virtually everyone of the festival attendees had to file past the band outside the main gate as they made their way into the festival. The band played Sonny Boy’s, Key To Your Door from their just released debut CD Fourteen Stories, before the morning fog had burned off at the Doheny State Beach Park.

Twelve hours later, Greg Allman closed the first day of the festival with the tune that came off the Allman Brothers third release At the Fillmore East, One Way Out. The tune was written by Elmore James, but the Brothers’ version and Allman’s take on it Saturday night has more in common with the more famous version by Sonny Boy.

The entire day had a nice balance of styles and very complimentary acts such as true blues traditionalists Southern California’s own Lil “A” & the Allnighters, The Mighty Mojo Prophets and the aforementioned Red Lotus Revue as well as Trickbag from Sweden, Chicago’s Cash Box Kings and the Flying Dutchman, “Big” Pete van der Pluijm. There were lots of blues mixed in the remaining acts as well, particularly Allman and fellow sixties era long haired blues–rocker Johnny Winter. Tab Benoit made his Doheny Blues Festival debut and was a big hit with the audience. Roots bands with touches of western and norteña influences, The Vaquetones and Los Lonely Boys were welcome sorbets and added to the overall variety of Saturday’s presentation. One of the day’s highlights was Joan Osborne who was backed by The Holmes Brothers. They sounded spectacular.

Another thing that made Saturday special was the reverence and respect that the European musicians have for blues music as well as their heroes who play it. The Swedish based band, Trickbag was backed in their performance this day by Chicago blues great, pianist Barrelhouse Chuck. They also invited Lynwood Slim up to the stage to join them on a couple of numbers. Slim is not only a local Southern California legend he is an international star whose last Doheny appearance two years ago was fronting some great Brazilian blues musicians, The Igor Prado Band. The Cash Box King were also augmented by Barrelhouse Chuck on piano. Chuck backed his fellow windy city blues stalwarts during their set that took place on the same stage later in the day.

Later in the evening Big Pete from The Netherlands brought Al Blake up to the stage. After a very dignified and respectful introduction, Blake blew harp on the old Smokey Smothers tune, I Got My Eyes On You. This song is based on the same changes as the Sonny Boy Williamson classic, Help Me. Pete also had Blake’s longtime musical companion, the great keyboard player Fred Kaplan in his band as well as Blake’s protégé, guitarist Kirk Fletcher. Bassist Bobby Tsukamoto and drummer Jimi Bott rounded out this terrific ensemble.

These intergenerational and intercontinental musical amalgamations were an aural treat. It helped make the first day one of the most satisfying Doheny Blues Festival experiences in years.

- David Mac