The 4th annual "Nothing but the Blues Fest" opened up with a strong St.Louis presence, featuring the strong sounds of Phat noiZ. Phat noiZ is composed of the guitar stylings of Alvin Jett, the sax skills of Frank Bauer, Jeremy West on drums and Matt Davis on bass.

As the music built, so did the crowd throughout the set, bringing with them a cool breeze just in time to calm the 98 degree heat wave.

The host of the show was local radio station WGLT 89.1 FM (Normal) 103.5 (Peoria), known locally as GLT - News, Blues, and all that Jazz. Emcee for this evening was GLT music director Jon Norton.

Next up to the stage was the unparelled sound of the Rich McDonough Band. This band showcases the guitar magic of Rich McDonough, whose had a guitar by his side since the age of 12.

If you've never heard Rich perform, he literally makes the guitar sing! According to Rich, "it's a second language to me". A language he speaks very well. Adding to this sound were the vocals and harmonica of Les Moore, with his smooth delivery of song a perfect match to Rich's work on the 6 string, Sharon Foehner adding a stellar bass line, and Joe Pastor keeping a solid rhythm on the drums.

The final St. Louis band to take the stage was the ever classy, yet sassy, Ms. Kim Massie. Opening with the Etta James cover "Damn Your Eyes" Kim switched into sharing with the crowd 'Mama, he treats your daughter mean'. Obviously a crowd pleasing style, as one of her showstoppers 'I'm a Woman' was only bested by 'The Chair', where she says "If I can 't sell it, I'm gonna sit back down on it".

Switching into a Rock & Roll mode, Kim literally swept the crowd into a frenzy with a little Led Zeppellin, 'Whole Lotta Love'. Kim ended her set with the moving version of 'At Last' that she does so well. An Etta James classic, with Kims special delivery, this song never fails to bring everyone to their feet.

Next up, the west coast based harmonica and piano team of Rod & Honey Piazza and 'The Mighty Flyers' (You may have read our recent show / cd review). What can be said about this husband and wife team - a uniqueness in itself - that hasn't been said so many times before?

Maybe that Rod - master of the chromatic harp, and Honey, who would make her mentor Otis Spann beam joy from heaven - filled the dance area in front of the stage with their enthusiastic style of blues, as they sang "we're gonna have a Big Blues Party", and made a very fitting end to the 4th Annual "Nothing but the Blues Fest".

Thanks goes out to the gang at GLT Radio and Eric Tapley of Chance Entertainment for bringing such a solid day of music to the natural ampitheater ot the Bloomington Sale Barn. Make this a 'must do' on you fest calendar, and tell them STLBlues sent you!