The Big Muddy 2002
By
Dave Beardsley
Once
again, in the historic Laclede's
Landing region of downtown St. Louis, scores of local & national
Blues artists gathered to share thier sounds with a crowd of over 100,000
music lovers! The Laclede's Landing riverfront area is where W.C.
Handy is believed to have stood at the banks of the mighty Mississippi
and penned the classic 'St. Louis Blues'. Standing at this same spot over
100 years later, it's easy to imagine the St. Louis riverfront as it must
have been so long ago. A thriving river town, with steamboats bringing
new citizens daily, St. Louis began then to develop its rich heritage
of music. Ranking in the top 6 or 7 of cities in America blessed with
such a strong indigenous musical legacy, St. Louis once again shared its
talents with the rest of the world. Here's our review of this St. Louis
Blues showcase, known as the Big Muddy.
|
Hired Help |
Hired Help |
Steve Pecaro |
Hudson & The HooDoo Cats |
Rich McDonough |
Rich McDonough |
The
Big Muddy opened with Blues skies & hot temps ruling the
weekend, as STLBlues began a very aerobic weekend of covering this world
class event for you! Steve
Pecaro had moved to the main stage this year. Steve, as you
may have know, is a virtual Stevie
Ray Vaughn experience, bringing a "Texas Flood" to
the Mississippi riverbanks. Hudson
& The HooDoo Cats & Hired Help were bringing thier Blues
to quite a crowd over on Second St. Rich
McDonough was "Walkin by myself",
as Rondo was singing of that "Hoochie Coochie man".
|
Rondo Leewright |
Big Muddy crowd |
St. Louis
Blues Society |
Melissa Neels
|
Billy Barnett |
Jim McClaren |
Jim
"Ribtip" McClaren of the St.
Louis Social Club, Tom "Papa" Ray - also known as
the Soul
Selector of KDHX fame - and Arthur Williams made up the core
of the Harmonica Showdown! Tom was heard singing of how he 'went to
the gypsy to have his fortune read', while at the neighboring stage
Melissa
Neels was content to "let the good times roll". Billy
Barnett, meanwhile, says it "wouldn't be a Blues Fest if
you didn't serve up some King , which he then followed with some King....some
Albert,
Freddy
and B.B. King.
|
Papa Ray |
Papa Ray |
Bobby Parker |
Bobby Parker |
Bobby Parker |
Bobby Parker |
Closing
Day one was Mr.
Bobby Parker, who has just a little history. In the 1950's Bobby
Parker played lead guitar with Bo
Diddley, toured with Chuck
Berry, Buddy
Holly, Little
Richard, Paul Williams, Sam
Cooke, Jackie
Wilson, Laverne
Baker, Clyde
McPhatter, and the Everly
Brothers. A great ending to a fun day of music. Time to get
some rest, as Fest is just beginning!
|
