{"id":4071,"date":"2016-10-12T21:02:21","date_gmt":"2016-10-13T02:02:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/?p=4071"},"modified":"2016-10-12T21:02:21","modified_gmt":"2016-10-13T02:02:21","slug":"king-biscuit-festival-day-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/?p=4071","title":{"rendered":"King Biscuit Festival Day 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Up and at \u2018em!\u00a0 It\u2019s Day 2 for King Biscuit Blues Fest in Helena, Arkansas!<\/p>\n

To save some time, we decided to stop by Mickey D\u2019s for breakfast.\u00a0 We just need something to tide us over until we can get some lunch.\u00a0 The place was busy with all kinds of folks.\u00a0 There were the older gentlemen in their suits who looked as though they had just come from church.\u00a0 They were very snazzy looking.\u00a0 I swear one of them had on a zoot suit.\u00a0 They even had their fedora with them.<\/p>\n

There were kids and families in the play area.\u00a0 I looked in to check out the nice big area they had to run around in.\u00a0 I noticed a table with a display shining on it for a board game.\u00a0 How cool was that.\u00a0 The group of kids around the table were having a great time playing.<\/p>\n

After finishing up, we headed down the road to Helena.\u00a0 This time, we went in the front way and not along the side road on the river.\u00a0 At the bridge going up, my stomach did a couple of little flips.\u00a0 I really have a hard time with heights.<\/p>\n

Traffic was light as we got into town and turned to head toward the center of the old side of town and the levee.\u00a0 The young ladies were in place to rent out their parking lot.\u00a0 We pulled in and paid our $5 to park in the best spot in town.<\/p>\n

We immediately loaded up the wagon and remembered to bring out jackets this time.\u00a0 The daytime temperature was supposed to be sunny and 79 with a light breeze off the river.\u00a0 Tonight\u2019s temperatures would promise to be even chiller than the previous night.\u00a0 It was to be around 58 after the sun went down.\u00a0 It was a little warm for long pants, but too cool tonight for anything but that.<\/p>\n

We decided to go to the left side of the stage and set up today.\u00a0 We found a spot on the tracks that was not too far off center and afforded a great view of the performers.\u00a0 After getting set up, we went down to the town to see what was going on.\u00a0 It was just after 11:00 in the morning and the symposium had started in the Malco Theater.\u00a0 The first hour, Roger Stolle from Cat Head Music was leading a panel with some of the current Bluesmen out of Clarksdale.\u00a0 Unfortunately, Red Paden would not be attending.\u00a0 Red is the local philosopher in town.\u00a0 He is not to be missed, if you ever get a chance to hang out.<\/p>\n

Sean \u201cBad\u201d Apple, Mark \u201cMuleman\u201d Massey, Hezekiah Early and Robert \u201cLil Poochie\u201d Watson were the members on the panel.\u00a0 Roger was having the panel describe how they each got into the blues and became musicians in the Delta.\u00a0 Sean was the only member not born in the area.\u00a0 Their stories were interesting and varied.\u00a0 Roger had Lil Poochie describe his meeting Sir Paul McCartney.\u00a0 Apparently, Paul was a fan and had someone go to Mississippi to get Lil Poochie and bring him to LA for a meeting and to record.\u00a0 How great is that!<\/p>\n

After the panel discussion, we wondered up the street and back down again.\u00a0 Just as we went by the theater, Hezekiah and Lil Poochie were coming out.\u00a0 I went over to tell them how much I loved hearing their stories and that was the great thing for me.\u00a0 They appreciated that we even cared to hear them and thanked us.\u00a0 No, thank you guys for being willing to share your time with us.\u00a0 We promised to come by and hear them playing at one of the side stages this afternoon.<\/p>\n

Back at the main stage, we settled in to listen to the Peterson Brothers on stage.\u00a0 These brothers are 17 and 19.\u00a0 We heard them at the Chicago Blues Fest about 5 years ago.\u00a0 They were awesome then and have only grown in style.\u00a0 For someone so young, they are quite the masters of sound and style.\u00a0 They had a couple of percussionists on stage with them.\u00a0 The four of them were putting on quite the show and we had a great time watching them.<\/p>\n

After their set, we headed down to check out the food selections for lunch.\u00a0 We decided on our picks and went by Bubba\u2019s to purchase a new Peterson Brothers\u2019 CD and get it signed.\u00a0 While we waited in line, we got to watch the boys.\u00a0 They are shy, but seem to like the attention.\u00a0 Rich stepped up and got signatures from all of the guys.\u00a0 He explained we had been watching them for a while now and hoped to continue to see them out and about.\u00a0 One the way out the door, we stopped to talk to their folks.\u00a0 They are really nice.<\/p>\n

Now it was time for that food.\u00a0 I got loaded frito pie and Rich got crawfish etouffee.\u00a0 Back at our chairs with a couple of beers, we listened to Kathy Guillen and the Girls.\u00a0 It never fails to impress me how this festival finds new talent to bring to this stage.\u00a0 These girls had the licks and delivered the blues.\u00a0 I was impressed.<\/p>\n

Bob Margolin, Bob Stroger, and Kenny Smith were on stage next.\u00a0 Bob Stroger was one of the best bassist in Blues back in the day.\u00a0 Bob Margolin had played with Muddy Waters.\u00a0 Kenny Smith grew up in the blues as his father, Willie Smith, was a bluesman and a pal of Muddy Waters.\u00a0 They talked about blues and played songs from different eras in blues.\u00a0 It was a fun show to listen and learn from.<\/p>\n

Then a real treat came on stage.\u00a0 The program said Kevin Naquin.\u00a0 Who the heck was this?\u00a0 Never heard this name before.\u00a0 It takes about 15 to 20 minutes for the crew to set up the stage and run the sound checks.\u00a0 In this time, we got to check out the people milling around the stage.\u00a0 There was a drummer, bassist, guitarist, and keyboard player.\u00a0 Then there was some other guy messing with different accordions.\u00a0 This could be interesting.\u00a0 Sure enough, it was.\u00a0 Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys was a Cajun band that can swing and party.\u00a0 We had a great time.<\/p>\n

After the set, Rich went down to buy a CD.\u00a0 While he was there, he talked to Kevin about Cajun and Lafayette area, where the band was from.\u00a0 Rich came back with a CD and some stories.\u00a0 Kevin says to look them up if we are ever in the area again.\u00a0 We will definitely do that.\u00a0 I\u2019d love to see them in their own environment and experience one of the Cajun clubs there.<\/p>\n

While we were listening to the music, our neighbor came back to his chair.\u00a0 This guy was from Memphis, TN and down here on his own to listen to the blues.\u00a0 This was his 19 consecutive year in attendance.\u00a0 He brought his camper down and stayed at the Helena campground.\u00a0 They provided a shuttle service back and forth.\u00a0 I had a feeling he was going to need that by the end of the night.<\/p>\n

Our neighbor (never did get his name) recommended that we get tamales from Pasquale\u2019s on the main street.\u00a0 He said that Pasquale had a restaurant in Helena for a lot of years before retiring from that business.\u00a0 Now he only did a food wagon at festivals in the area.\u00a0 Turns out, Pasquale is like 85 years old, or something like that.\u00a0 I did hear that this was the best place for tamales.<\/p>\n

We headed down to hear Hezekiah and Lil Poochie play at the Lockwood Stage.\u00a0 They were already on and playing when we arrived.\u00a0 We found seats on the curb and in the shade.\u00a0 You could tell they had been together for a long time.\u00a0 They don\u2019t really finish their sentences and yet they know what they are going to play.\u00a0 Lil Poochie seemed to forget the words now and then, but he could still play guitar.\u00a0 It was great to hear from some of the old guys with a lot of history.<\/p>\n

On our back in to the mains stage, we stopped by and got a pack of 3 tamales.\u00a0 Rich got some chicken wings as well.\u00a0 The neighbor was not wrong.\u00a0 These were some of the best tamales I\u2019ve ever had.\u00a0 Oh my gosh.\u00a0 I did take a few minutes to talk to Pasquale since there was no one else in line.\u00a0 He was a great talker and quite the salesman.\u00a0 I told him his tamales come highly recommended.\u00a0 He agreed and said he recommended them, too.<\/p>\n

We ate our finds of the evening as we listened to Andy T and Nick Nixon, minus Nick. \u00a0Apparently, Nick had not been well and was out of commission for a while.\u00a0 In his place, Andy T brought in Alabama Mike.\u00a0 This guys was quite the crooner.\u00a0 He had a way with song and we enjoyed the set.<\/p>\n

Best Tamales so far!\u00a0 I really enjoyed these.\u00a0 Wow!\u00a0 The neighbor said his daughter had gotten him a dozen for Christmas.\u00a0 They came frozen.\u00a0 He pops one into the microwave when he feels like having a real treat.\u00a0 Hmmm.\u00a0 There\u2019s an idea for a Christmas gift.<\/p>\n

Then on to the stage comes Toronzo Cannon.\u00a0 We\u2019ve heard Toronzo about 5 times now.\u00a0 He is a Chicago bluesman with a great sound and I love his storytelling in his songs.\u00a0 He had a new CD come out on Alligator Records, which is Rich\u2019s favorite label.\u00a0 Toronzo did not disappoint us.\u00a0 He put on a great show.\u00a0 The crowd loved him.<\/p>\n

After the set, Rich went down to pick up the new CD and talk to Toronzo.\u00a0 Like I said before, that\u2019s the beauty of these things.\u00a0 You get to actually talk to the performers and get them to sign the covers.\u00a0 When Rich got his turn to talk to Toronzo, Mr. Cannon exclaimed that Rich\u2019s hat was a Dobbs.\u00a0 Apparently, Toronzo loves Dobbs hats.\u00a0 They talked hats, blues, and a little bit of everything.\u00a0 Rich even got his picture with Toronzo.<\/p>\n

As Rich was waiting in line, the people around him were talking about Toronzo.\u00a0 So Rich had to fill them on what they didn\u2019t know and what they should know.\u00a0 He was selling Toronzo to the novices.\u00a0 That\u2019s how it goes.\u00a0 You talk to fans and wannabe fans all around you.\u00a0 Everyone likes to share their stories.<\/p>\n

By this time, the sun was down and it was getting chilly.\u00a0 We had our jackets and I had my blanket.\u00a0 Unfortunately, we had a group of 40 something women up the hill from us who had been drinking most of the day.\u00a0 One of them had quite a cackle when she laughed, which was a lot.\u00a0 They were trying to talk over the music and laughing.\u00a0 If you want to talk, go to the VIP Tent.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure they would appreciate you.<\/p>\n

We managed to get through Toronzo with them.\u00a0 It was cigarettes and cigar that got me the most though.\u00a0 Four people in front of me were smoking away at one point and I had to get up and get out of the cloud.\u00a0 I don\u2019t mean to be militant about the cigarettes, but my allergies just get worse and worse with age.\u00a0 I\u2019m surprised I haven\u2019t developed asthma with it.\u00a0 Lucky so far, I guess.\u00a0 Rich was getting bothered by the cigar smoker a couple of seats down from him.\u00a0 Now, he does have asthma and I was worried we were going to have to leave.\u00a0 Sorry, but just because it is outside doesn\u2019t make it alright to light up and smoke with so many people around you.<\/p>\n

Charlie Musselwhite was the last headlining act.\u00a0 He is quite the harmonica player.\u00a0 He started out in 1966 and has only been getting better.\u00a0 He told stories between the songs and played some great blues for us.\u00a0 It was awesome.\u00a0 I\u2019ve heard Charlie for a while and he was one of the reasons for coming out this year.\u00a0 For his encore, he played Rich\u2019s favorite song.\u00a0 That was a great way to top off the evening.<\/p>\n

The cold kept us from lingering too long after the show.\u00a0 We got back to the car and unloaded the wagon.\u00a0 Time to head over the bridge and back to our warm hotel room.\u00a0 First things first though.\u00a0 A nice hot shower to wash away the smoke and warm up.\u00a0 That just made me sleepy.\u00a0 I still had a couple of blogs to write.\u00a0 After the second entry, it was time to read a bit and then drift off to sleep with all that wonderful blues music playing through my dreams.<\/p>\n

\"Our<\/a>
Our spot for Day 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Rich<\/a>
Rich kicking back for the day<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Roger<\/a>
Roger Stolle and his panel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Peterson<\/a>
Peterson Brothers starting us out<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Peterson<\/a>
Peterson Brothers having fun on stage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Kathy<\/a>
Kathy Guillen and the Girls<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Mark<\/a>
Mark the Muleman Massey on the side stage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Crowd<\/a>
Crowd enjoying Lil Poochie and Hezekiah<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lil<\/a>
Lil Poochie and Hezekiah on stage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"BBQ<\/a>
BBQ Cook-off competition playing some games<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Love<\/a>
Love the name on this competitor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Kevin<\/a>
Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys from Lafayette, LA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Alabama<\/a>
Alabama Mike and Andy T<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Toronzo<\/a>
Toronzo Cannon and his band<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Charlie<\/a>
Charlie Musselwhite<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Up and at \u2018em!\u00a0 It\u2019s Day 2 for King Biscuit Blues Fest in Helena, Arkansas! To save some time, we decided to stop by Mickey D\u2019s for breakfast.\u00a0 We just need something to tide us over until we can get some lunch.\u00a0 The place was busy with all kinds of folks.\u00a0 There were the older […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4,6,12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4071"}],"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=4071"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4071\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4089,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4071\/revisions\/4089"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4071"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zurekbrau.com\/blogs\/richsblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}