{"id":3285,"date":"2014-10-12T00:22:32","date_gmt":"2014-10-12T05:22:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/?p=3285"},"modified":"2014-10-12T00:22:32","modified_gmt":"2014-10-12T05:22:32","slug":"king-biscuit-blues-fest-day-4-where-did-the-sun-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/?p=3285","title":{"rendered":"King Biscuit Blues Fest: Day 4 Where did the sun go?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last day of the King Biscuit Blues Festival.\u00a0 Hard to believe that we\u2019ve spent almost 3 full days listening to blues music.\u00a0 It\u2019s been great, but very tiring.\u00a0 Then we still have a day in Clarksdale on Sunday.<\/p>\n

I slept in even later this morning.\u00a0 I woke up hearing Rich talking on the phone.\u00a0 Turns out that Rick called me at 9:00 this morning to vent about my dog.\u00a0 Rich got the phone and got to hear the details of how Sascha pissed him off.\u00a0 I guess she moved the hose roller away from the deck, moved the chicken wire out of the way so she could crawl under the deck.\u00a0 The denning instinct is really strong in the fall.<\/p>\n

Rick couldn\u2019t get her to come out from under the deck.\u00a0 He finally got some cheese to entice her out.\u00a0 It worked, but then he didn\u2019t get her the cheese.\u00a0 As Rick put it, \u201cShe didn\u2019t behave so I couldn\u2019t get the reward!\u201d\u00a0 Right.\u00a0 I guess I need to resolve the denning issue with somewhere for her to go and hide out.\u00a0 Time for a new doghouse?\u00a0 Probably.<\/p>\n

After checking and double checking the weather, we attempted to dress for the worse and got on the road.\u00a0 First stop was for breakfast at the Blue and White Restaurant.\u00a0 This place is ranked Number 1 in TripAdvisor.\u00a0 Our course, there are only a handful of restaurants in Tunica.\u00a0 It was packed and from the talk, it was all tourists.\u00a0 I got hotcakes (pancakes for the Northerners) and Rich got ham and eggs with redeye gravy.\u00a0 The food was okay.\u00a0 Poor Cindy was struggling to keep up with all the people coming and going.\u00a0 Coffee was good.<\/p>\n

On to Helena now.\u00a0 We got into town and went looking for the school.\u00a0 Turns out, it was a high school.\u00a0 Today, the Athletic Department was handling parking for their fundraiser.\u00a0 Rich pointed out that there was probably plenty of free parking.\u00a0 I felt good about helping the local fundraiser though.\u00a0 The car was within walking distance also.\u00a0 Two for one with this deal.<\/p>\n

We got our chairs and headed down to the Lockwood Stage to hear Leo \u201cBud\u201d Welch from Clarksdale.\u00a0 I read about him in Roger Stolle\u2019s posts.\u00a0 He sounded like the old style Delta blues, which is what I like the best.\u00a0 As we walked about one of the vendors, he was in his tent playing a cigar box guitar.\u00a0 The sound was great and very different.\u00a0 I wanted one for Rick, but not at $250!<\/p>\n

We got caught by the next tent where they were selling King Biscuit shirts and sweatshirts.\u00a0 These were really cool designs.\u00a0 We walked down to their trailer to see what else they had.\u00a0 Where were these designs yesterday when I was looking?\u00a0 Oh yeah, I just didn\u2019t walk down there when I original saw the trailer.\u00a0 But I had now.\u00a0 We decided to come back to pick out things.<\/p>\n

Next stop, and no further stops, would be the Lockwood Stage.\u00a0 We got there to find out that the entire area in front of the stage was underwater.\u00a0 No problem though, everyone was setting up their chairs on the sidewalk.\u00a0 While we were waiting for the show to start, I stepped away to talk to Rick.\u00a0 I confirmed that the situation was in hand at home, but he was still really pissed at her.\u00a0 I hope she survives until we get back.\u00a0 Good news was Rick had an awesome night of bowling on Friday.<\/p>\n

I had walked down the block to avoid bothering anyone with my conversation.\u00a0 So I crossed the street to walk back to the stage and saw this stark white obelisk in one section of the park.\u00a0 I went over to find out what it commemorated.\u00a0 Turns out, this is the site of the first Christian service and cross erected for a service in this part of the world.\u00a0 It was part of DeSoto\u2019s exploration of the Mississippi River back in 1541.\u00a0 Interesting that it didn\u2019t state Catholic service.<\/p>\n

I got back to my chair and talked to Rich for a few minutes.\u00a0 Some people had left so we moved our chairs in closer.\u00a0 Rich was looking back over his shoulder a lot.\u00a0 I finally had to ask why.\u00a0 On a park bench behind us, Rich thought the guy looked like Bruce Iglauer, president and founder of Alligator Records.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t know personally, but it could.\u00a0 I urged Rich to go and talk to him.\u00a0 Finally, he got up and walked back there.\u00a0 They were talking for a bit, so I went over and took a picture of Rich and Bruce together.\u00a0 Alligator Records is how Rich got deeper in the blues.\u00a0 This was his outlet for finding more music.\u00a0 Bruce is a hero because he bought up the Chess Records masters and kept them from being destroyed.<\/p>\n

Leo Welch finally took the stage.\u00a0 This 81 year old looked frail as he come on stage and made his way to a chair.\u00a0 The drummer was a cute girl who was behind the drum kit.\u00a0 Leo started playing and it was magic.\u00a0 It was deep Delta blues.\u00a0 He was energetic and warm. At one point, Leo got up and danced around the stage.\u00a0 He was really putting on a show.\u00a0 Leo was telling his age though when he forgot the words to a song and just kept playing.\u00a0 He was looking to the drummer to help him end it.\u00a0 She was pretty good at directing him with the beat.\u00a0 He would follow along.\u00a0 They made quite a team up.\u00a0 I thoroughly enjoyed the show.<\/p>\n

After the show, Rich got his Sharpie and got in line to purchase a CD and have it signed.\u00a0 Rich again made a friend as he was talking to a photographer wearing a Blues Blast jacket as they waited in line.\u00a0 The photographer was actually from The Netherlands and was sent there to shoot pictures for the magazine.<\/p>\n

While Leo was playing, a young lady waded through the water and was dancing around in front of the stage.\u00a0 She was pretty good, too. \u00a0I happened to waiting near the line and heard the young lady talking to someone.\u00a0 She was also from The Netherlands.\u00a0 Then I overhear a conversation of three guys near me. \u00a0They were also from The Netherlands and were talking about attending Glastonbury in England.\u00a0 All the old 60s bands attend this one in honor of the blues that started them all.\u00a0 How cool is that!<\/p>\n

We went back to the trailer to pick out shirts and other odds and ends.\u00a0 The people working the desk were great.\u00a0 We were talking about the events and shows.\u00a0 They were having a great time.\u00a0 They helped us pick out shirts and get what we wanted.\u00a0 Thanks to the King Biscuit Foundation for their great volunteers.<\/p>\n

This meant a trip back to the car to drop off our goodies.\u00a0 We made some wardrobe changes since the weather was getting a little cooler.\u00a0 More layers were going to help.\u00a0 What a different between today and yesterday.\u00a0 It was 85 and sunny with a good wind.\u00a0 We both got sun burnt.\u00a0 Today, it was 68 and dropping.\u00a0 It was 62 at around 2:00.\u00a0 The clouds were coming in heavier also.\u00a0 I was pretty sure we were looking at a good rain.<\/p>\n

Back on track, we walked down the strip to the Front Porch stage to catch Big George Brock.\u00a0 The seating was packed and they were standing out on the sidewalk.\u00a0 Fine, we already knew it was probably better out on the street anyway.\u00a0 We set up our chairs just out from the sidewalk.\u00a0 We could hear perfectly well out here and we could breathe.\u00a0 A lady came out to sell CDs.\u00a0 We bought one.\u00a0 I loved her dress of electric blue and we had a short conversation about it.\u00a0 It was gorgeous.<\/p>\n

She moved on and I opened the CD to prepare for a signing.\u00a0 I noticed she was in some of the pictures.\u00a0 I grabbed the Sharpie and walked over to get her to sign.\u00a0 This would be an extra.\u00a0 She agreed to sign it without saying too much.\u00a0 She was also a leftie and we laughed about our shared trait.\u00a0 Her name was Miss Clarine.<\/p>\n

After the show, Rich sent me in to get Big George\u2019s signature.\u00a0 I got in line with three other guys.\u00a0 People were swirling around us and it was getting hard to tell who was in line.\u00a0 I kept up with the guy who had been in front me.\u00a0 I knew he was in line.\u00a0 We finally started moving forward.\u00a0 It was finally my turn.\u00a0 Miss Clarine was taking the CD and getting it ready for Big George.\u00a0 Turns out that George is blind and Miss Clarine makes it possible for the fans to get what they want.\u00a0 I was able to shake Big George\u2019s hand as well.\u00a0 He was the nicest man.\u00a0 It was an honor to talk to him.<\/p>\n

Now it was lunchtime.\u00a0 Rich had one of the BBQ places picked out.\u00a0 This was a Hip Hop and Blues club on the strip that had a smoker running right outside of their club.\u00a0 He originally was planning to get rib tips from another location, but their smoker had been soaked in the rain the night before.\u00a0 This meant they were still getting good coals going for their cooking.\u00a0 It was going to be a wait.<\/p>\n

The ladies at the desk took our order.\u00a0 I got the pulled pork sandwich and Rich got the rib tip plate.\u00a0 For some reason, the one lady tried to confirm that he wanted the beans and slaw with that.\u00a0 Of course, Rich tells her.\u00a0 He needs the balanced meal.\u00a0 It was pretty good for sitting on the street.\u00a0 It would fill us for now.<\/p>\n

Time to head to the Main Stage and hang out for the rest of the day.\u00a0 We decided to sit on the upper part of the terrace on the old railway tracks up there.\u00a0 It would make a good platform and hopefully a good viewing spot.\u00a0 We sat down in a clearing and arranged ourselves to see the stage.\u00a0 Matt Schofield Trio was on stage.\u00a0 They were more electric blues, but they were pretty good.\u00a0 We arrived while they were playing.\u00a0 When Matt introduced the group, we found out they were British!\u00a0 The entire world had come to Helena, AR!<\/p>\n

We decided to walk around a bit.\u00a0 It was another day of sitting around and listening to music.\u00a0 We walked out of the Main Stage area on the levee walk.\u00a0 This took up to the River Front Park where people had tents and campers set up.\u00a0 This is where the free camping was!\u00a0 We decided to walk back to town and look at the Civil War plaques in the park.\u00a0 After reading all three volumes of Shelby Foote\u2019s Civil War<\/em>, we look for battle and fort locations.\u00a0 The plaques here were celebrating the Battle of Helena, which took place on the last day of Gettysburg and gets very little attention.\u00a0 This was also a location that Grant had to take out of Confederate hands to take Vicksburg.<\/p>\n

We wandered down the strip and decided to get dessert before heading back to our chairs.\u00a0 Rich got an elephant ear and expected to share.\u00a0 However, I wanted the red velvet funnel cake.\u00a0 We got both.\u00a0 The red velvet was so good.\u00a0 We went back and feasted well.\u00a0 Of course, we didn\u2019t make it through all of it, but we did our best.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, we had a couple of people sit down next to us and smoke away.\u00a0 We decided to move.\u00a0 We moved a row back and over.\u00a0 It was a great view of the stage.\u00a0 After a time, I felt something on my ankle that burned.\u00a0 It might have been an ant.\u00a0 Then I felt another one.\u00a0 Yep, the dreaded fire ants that we had heard about.\u00a0 This was a nest.\u00a0 We had to move again.\u00a0 This time we moved over since some other people had left.\u00a0 It was more comfortable and the viewing was getting better.<\/p>\n

The next band was called Andy T. and Nick Nixon Band.\u00a0 I had never heard of them.\u00a0 Apparently, I should have.\u00a0 Andy T. was actually the sustaining sponsor for the event with his wife, Kathy Balmer.\u00a0 The band was playing some pretty good blues.\u00a0 It was fun.\u00a0 Over the course of the set, we discovered that Nick Nixon is actually an original member of The Imperials.\u00a0 He was best friends with Jimi Hendrix and Billy Cox of Band of Gypsies (Hendrix\u2019s band).\u00a0 There was a lot of history on that stage.<\/p>\n

As Andy T. and Nick were winding down, a lady behind us finally had enough to drink and started trying to have conversations in a really, really loud voice.\u00a0 She was definitely getting obnoxious.\u00a0 Rich looked at me and said, \u201cMove.\u201d\u00a0 We moved over and down on the next set of tracks.\u00a0 We were able to put our feet up on the tracks and kick back.\u00a0 Not bad for a move.<\/p>\n

Last show for us was going to be James Cotton.\u00a0 Here is another one of those blues legends that is getting up and not going to be with us all that much longer.\u00a0 He was on my list of people I wanted to see.\u00a0 Now I can say I\u2019ve seen him.\u00a0 The band started up as usual for a couple of numbers to show off the members.\u00a0 They were extremely good musicians.\u00a0 Finally, James Cotton came out with his array of harmonicas.\u00a0 He took a seat at center stage and the music moved around his.<\/p>\n

We only stayed for the first hour.\u00a0 It was 58 and getting chillier still.\u00a0 I was thoroughly cold.\u00a0 A lady directly behind me started to whine to her husband.\u00a0 She was cold also.\u00a0 After about the fourth time of her say, \u201cBut I\u2019m COLD,\u201d I wanted to hit her.\u00a0 The husband just kept saying yes, dear.\u00a0 That was enough for me.\u00a0 It was cold and the natives were definitely restless.\u00a0 We packed it in and left for home.\u00a0 Oh no, not home, just back to the hotel.<\/p>\n

We discussed our views of the festival.\u00a0 With so much great music, great facilities, location, and probably one of the best set of working volunteers I\u2019ve seen, this festival is a must for anyone interested in music.\u00a0 For Blues people, I would recommend it 100%.\u00a0 I think this had the best sound crew ever.\u00a0 There were so few glitches and wonderful quality.\u00a0 Kudos to the King Biscuit Festival people.<\/p>\n

OK, that\u2019s a wrap for tonight.\u00a0 Tomorrow, we head to Clarksdale for some more music, food and fun.\u00a0 Then, it\u2019s Red\u2019s Lounge for the evening.\u00a0 This is going to a real juke joint experience.\u00a0 Scary, but exciting. I\u2019m hoping I can talk to Roger Stolle while we are in town also.<\/p>\n

\"Flooded<\/a>
Flooded area in front of the Lockwood Stage where Leo Bud Welch was playing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Leo<\/a>
Leo Bud Welch on stage with his drummer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Rich<\/a>
Rich got this really great shot of Leo Bud Welch on stage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Obelisk<\/a>
Obelisk honoring the site for the first cross raised in a Christian server in the new world in 1541.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Close<\/a>
Close up of the DeSoto obelisk showing the details.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Rich<\/a>
Rich talking to Bruce Iglauer, founder of Alligator Records.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Rich<\/a>
Rich talking to the Blues Blast Netherlands photographer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Miss<\/a>
Miss Clarine outside drumming up customers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Big<\/a>
Big George Brock at the Front Porch Stage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Matt<\/a>
Matt Schofield Band on stage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Loved<\/a>
Loved the architecture of the buildings along Cherry Street. This one is probably 1890s.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Close<\/a>
Close up of Columbia on the architectural buildling I loved.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Dana<\/a>
Dana Robbins, Andy T, and the band.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"James<\/a>
James Cotton and his band on the Main Stage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"James<\/a>
James Cotton and one of many harmonicas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Joe<\/a>
Joe Louis came out to join and sing with James Cotton.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last day of the King Biscuit Blues Festival.\u00a0 Hard to believe that we\u2019ve spent almost 3 full days listening to blues music.\u00a0 It\u2019s been great, but very tiring.\u00a0 Then we still have a day in Clarksdale on Sunday. I slept in even later this morning.\u00a0 I woke up hearing Rich talking on the phone.\u00a0 Turns […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3285"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3285"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3285\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3306,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3285\/revisions\/3306"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}