In Concert: B.B. King
This man is a legend. That is NOT hype... it's just the truth, plain and simple.
This past Saturday night, I had the good fortune to be given tickets to see B.B. King in concert at the Fox Theater in Detroit (which, by the way, is the most beautifully ornate theater I have ever seen). I talked my son into canceling his previous plans for the evening, and off we went.
I thought I would enjoy myself. That's an understatement -- it was FANTASTIC.
There was no opening act. The band (formally, "the B.B. King Blues Band") came out first, and played for a few minutes. Then, the master himself came out on stage. As he took his place in a wooden chair at center stage, his band members attended to him as if he were royalty (and is that analogy really so far-fetched?), making sure that he had towels and microphone stand within easy reach.
And then, he made her howl and sing.
Of course, I'm referring to "Lucille", which is what B.B. King calls his guitar. And let me tell ya, for an 82-year-old, he can still rock that thing like nobody's business. His knees might be bad (hence the chair), but his hands are still in fine form. There are twenty-somethings who would gladly give up vital body parts for a fraction of that man's talent.
While the music was intense on a gut level, there were also his stories. Almost like the old uncle everyone has (or wished they did), who could tell you stories about the world and his travels through it for hours on end, and you never got bored. Even though some of them weren't based on pleasant subjects (like the one about the "white and colored" drinking fountains in the old, segregated South), he was able to find something humorous and entertaining about them to share.
The audience (myself included) revered him; that much is obvious. What might not be as obvious is that the reverse was also true. B.B. King is fully aware of the fact that he was given a gift, and he takes great joy -- even at 82 -- in sharing that gift. You can see it in his face, you can hear it in his voice, and you can definitely feel it when Lucille wails the blues. Why else would he keep touring at his age? It's not the money, he's got plenty. It's that he truly loves what he does, and he's still one of the best at it.
I'd like to give a heartfelt THANK YOU to my friend Lisa, who couldn't go to the concert and gave me the tickets. I consider B.B. King to be one of our national treasures, and I'm glad I got to see him.
The thrill is gone? I think not.
---------------------
The official B.B. King web site
This past Saturday night, I had the good fortune to be given tickets to see B.B. King in concert at the Fox Theater in Detroit (which, by the way, is the most beautifully ornate theater I have ever seen). I talked my son into canceling his previous plans for the evening, and off we went.
I thought I would enjoy myself. That's an understatement -- it was FANTASTIC.
There was no opening act. The band (formally, "the B.B. King Blues Band") came out first, and played for a few minutes. Then, the master himself came out on stage. As he took his place in a wooden chair at center stage, his band members attended to him as if he were royalty (and is that analogy really so far-fetched?), making sure that he had towels and microphone stand within easy reach.
And then, he made her howl and sing.
Of course, I'm referring to "Lucille", which is what B.B. King calls his guitar. And let me tell ya, for an 82-year-old, he can still rock that thing like nobody's business. His knees might be bad (hence the chair), but his hands are still in fine form. There are twenty-somethings who would gladly give up vital body parts for a fraction of that man's talent.
While the music was intense on a gut level, there were also his stories. Almost like the old uncle everyone has (or wished they did), who could tell you stories about the world and his travels through it for hours on end, and you never got bored. Even though some of them weren't based on pleasant subjects (like the one about the "white and colored" drinking fountains in the old, segregated South), he was able to find something humorous and entertaining about them to share.
The audience (myself included) revered him; that much is obvious. What might not be as obvious is that the reverse was also true. B.B. King is fully aware of the fact that he was given a gift, and he takes great joy -- even at 82 -- in sharing that gift. You can see it in his face, you can hear it in his voice, and you can definitely feel it when Lucille wails the blues. Why else would he keep touring at his age? It's not the money, he's got plenty. It's that he truly loves what he does, and he's still one of the best at it.
I'd like to give a heartfelt THANK YOU to my friend Lisa, who couldn't go to the concert and gave me the tickets. I consider B.B. King to be one of our national treasures, and I'm glad I got to see him.
The thrill is gone? I think not.
---------------------
The official B.B. King web site
Labels: concerts
posted by Jim McKee at 9:35 PM
8 Comments:
B.B. King is awesome. I saw him a few years ago and he blew me away....
And you're so right. For as respected and revered as he is, he's humble and appreciative of his fans.
Imagine being 82 and still moving mountains. I saw BB in New Orleans once in a small bar, a surprise visit, HE'S AMAZING!
That is outstanding! I saw Dave Brubeck in concert 5 years ago, as good as ever. Amazing how these guys can do it!
that sounds like a really nice time. I love those kinds of unpretentious perfomances...nevo rockers call them "unplugged"...hehehehehe
Wow, I am so jealous! Glad you really enjoyed the show. I know I would have.
BB is da man. Never saw him live but have lots of his stuff on the MP# player
Love BB, have more of his CDs than any other artist. I saw him years ago, in concert; Kenny Wayne Shepard was about 18 at the time, and warmed up for him. Great show!
"It Ain't Snowing In Memphis"
Looking out the window.
Feeling cold inside.
It ain't snowing in Memphis.
Chilling to the bone.
Baby by my side.
It ain't snowing in Memphis.
How I wish I were in Memphis.
Walking down Beale St.
Sipping on a Coke.
Hearing BB sing the Blues.
Cause it ain't snowing in Memphis.
Cause it ain't snowing in Memphis.
By: Lamar Cole
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