I just got back from MVBS late last night and was compelled to write a few notes about it. I got to hang out with some friends in the beautiful weather and wonderful setting along the Mississippi in Davenport, Iowa, while listening to some great acts and consuming a few cold beverages. I also got to spend some time talking with my two BITS friends, Hawkeye Herman and Ann Rabson, which alone was worth the drive to Iowa . 

This was my first MVBS and hopefully not the last. The setting is two stages, one at a band shell and the other in a tent at opposed ends of the park right on the river. There is a small tent for BlueSKool and a covered area for workshops just outside the festival area. Trying to sample each and every act gave me blisters on my feet and I still missed a few, but not many.

Friday night was just a small taste of even greater things to come. Deanna Bogart put on a great show in the tent and was my favorite of the tent acts that day. Her voice, sax and piano are superb and she has a tight little band. Beverly Watkins is still going strong and was great. Over in the shell the most entertaining act had to be Lil Ed and the Imperials. Ed puts on a show and is a crazy man who truly enjoys making music. He grins from ear to ear while playing and it is a sincere and happy smile. He's probably 5'4" and has a two foot wide smile. His energy was infectious. Musically, James Solberg was really fantastic. He is an outstanding guitar man. The Tablerockers opened, a young band with a good sound. I was a little disappointed in Joe Bonamassa. I found him to be the least bluesy, overused the same riffs and, while technically really super, he still has a lot to learn as a musician. He has the guitar side of making music down pat, but the soul was a little bit missing. Perhaps it was the rock approach of his music, or just a bad night. Good act, but I enjoyed them the least of the entire 3 days. We went to the Lodge for the after-fest Jam session for about 2 hours. It was fun and exciting to listen to.

Saturday was a much busier day with the 2 PM start. The local Mercury Brothers opened at the shell and I loved their music. Watch for them. The Victory Travellers opened the tent, and let me tell you- if you need a bit of conversion, just listen to them. You'll be evangelized in a few minutes. Being a member of a mainstream midwestern uptight Lutheran church, it is uplifting to hear great gospel. These guys are truly, truly outstanding. The day was off to a great start for me! I listened to some BlueSKool with Willie King and then Hawkeye. Harmonica Joe played a bit with Hawk. Fun time there! Nora Jean Bruso put on a great show at the shell, with a big voice and great presence on stage. Carl Weathersby played lead for her and had his own set following her. I enjoyed his guitar work. Willie King also did a tent set and was really great. Sat thru Hawkeye's workshop and, as always, enjoyed listening to him. Mel Waiters at the band shell was a good act, too. The two headliners were Magic Slim with John Primer in the tent and Marcia Ball at the shell. Slim is still a wicked good bluesman and he and Primer were primed to put on a great show. We sat though at least an hour with them and then took in Marcia until the close. Marcia is a great artist and never disappoints. We were exhausted and skipped the after fest jam, going back to our hotel to relax and have a couple of drinks before resting up for Sunday. 

We began Sunday with David Evans history workshop. He did some solo works and played with harmonica man Joe Filisko. It was very informative and entertaining. Filisko also did a workshop that was great. Ann Rabson and then the other Saffire members did workshops, too. Tough to get back and forth because these were at the old train station just outside the gate, so we did a lot of back and forth all day. Caught some of the Soul Searchers opening from afar and went to Hawk's BlueSKool, too. Joey Gilmore and his guitar player/ keyboardist Darrel Raines (and bassist George Caldwell) are something to go see and hear. I loved their set- one of the best for me at the fest. Roosevelt Dean burned it up in the tent. I had not heard him before and enjoyed the heck out of him. Sharrie Williams at the band shell took what Nora Jean did for me the day before and expounded on it- boy, she is great. What a show! She had a voice like a soulful trumpet blaring out. Bruso was really outstanding and Sharrie was even better! Phillip Walker still has it and put on a great set at the shell. Headliners for the last night were Saffire and Ike Turner. We sat through Saffire first and they were excellent- estrogen laden blues that wowed the crowd. I love them and they put on a great set. I had not seen them (as a group) live and it was a great experience. I finished the night up with Ike. As we arrived Ike was burning up a tune and then he introduced the buxom and shapely Audrey Madison. Ike's still got great guitar skills and is a showman. Audrey shook her booty (and top) all over- great show. 

I drove home late last night. It was a great festival. I got to hang out with my Mark and Joe and several other members of our Crossroads Blues group from Rockford were there enjoying the music and fun. I can't wait for next year.

 
Steve Jones    07/04/05