Doc’s Juke Joint

The 17th Annual Pocono Blues Festival avoided the threatening thunderstorms and provided visitors with some of the best of the blues. Friday, July 25th began with a triple threat of serious blues acts that would normally warrant their own festival. Root Doctor, a veteran combo from Michigan kicked things off with a great Juke Joint dinner set. The fried chicken was going down and the blues was covering the mountains of the Big Boulder Ski Area in Lake Harmony, PA. Root Doctor rocked the tent stage with originals and familiar favorites. The Temptations Motown classic, “I Can’t Get Next To You” put an exclamation point on a set that opened the festival with fun and funk.

The middle act on Friday night was the daughter of the late blues legend, Tommy Tucker. Teeny Tucker has surely made her own name in the business over the last few years. Supporting her new CD, “Two Big M’s,” a tribute to Big Mama Thornton and Big Maybelle. Teeny opened her set with a great rendition of the Big Mama Thornton standard, “Hound Dog.” What followed was more of Teeny’s powerful voice. Tucker doesn’t work alone, she has a good supporting cast, great backup singers and a top notch band that worked through standards like “Whole Lotta Shakin’” and Dylan’s “You Got To Serve Somebody.” The only problem with Ms. Tucker’s set was that it was too short.

Closing out Friday’s festivities was the veteran power trio of Lil’ Dave Thompson. Lil’ Dave rocked the enthusiastic crowd until after midnight. Look for a new cd soon from Lil’ Dave on the Electro-Fi label.

In addition to the music, the setting for the Pocono Blues Festival is just relaxing. Small friendly lakes surround your drive in and all three stages are at the bottom of the various ski hills that Big Boulder possesses.

Blues guitarist Joey Gilmore opened the Saturday lineup. Joey opened with “I’m A Bluesman” which he certainly looks and sounds the part. Again a top notch band backed the star. The sax and keyboard player really stood out as drivers behind the Joey Gilmore sound. As a usual part of his set, Joey got the crowd moving with his rendition of the Johnny Taylor classic “Last Two Dollars.”

Michael Roach & Johnny Mars

From the main stage to a quick dash to the tent stage where the acoustic sounds of guitarist Michael Roach and harp player Johnny Mars were just starting to kick in. The Guest MC and voice of the blues tent, I believe for all 17 years of the festival, Dave “Muskie” Moskal got them on their way. Stagger Lee and some familiar favorites followed, they took us to Chicago, then to St. Louis (Honky Tonk Blues) and then they took us to church. It’s a shame but perfectly understandable that this combo spends most of their time entertaining the crowds in Europe instead of the U.S. It was great to hear them create the sounds of Washboard Sam and the many blues greats of the past. Sometimes stripped down and all acoustic is the best way to hear the blues.

The opposite of stripped down is probably the Kinsey Report. The Kinsey’s are the offspring of the late blues legend, Big Daddy Kinsey. Back in the 80′s the Kinsey’s recorded for Alligator records and toured with their father. I was surprised but very happy to see their name on the bill for this years festival. The Kinsey’s laid it down on the big stage including some “Jammin’” borrowed from the late Bob Marley. The Reggae covers came as no surprise since they had crossed paths with Peter Tosh, Bob Marley and their bandmates through the years. Though I was only able to catch a few of their tunes at the festival, I was fortunate enough to catch some of their late night lodge set echoing across the lake to where I was staying.

Next up came Chicago Blues guitarist Byther Smith. Byther was backed by the Jim Kohler Band, a Long Island group that backed Son Seals in his later days. Byther and his band tore it down from the moment they hit the stage. Byther ground down some Chicago sounds reminiscent of the Wolf’s “Killing Floor.” Smith’s raw guitar sound also reminded me of the lively rock riffs of Chuck Berry. Byther told me he wanted to retire five years ago, I’m surely glad he didn’t. You can check out his new live release on Delmark Records entitled “Blues on The Moon.” I found Byther’s performance at the Pocono Festival to be even more rockin’ than on his latest release. “Running to New Orleans” was probably one of my favorite tunes that he played. Unfortunately Hubert (Sumlin) wasn’t there this year, but thankfully for us another Chicago guitar legend was.

Kenny Neal has returned to the big stage after fighting a long illness. Kenny is supporting his new release on Blind Pig records, entitled “Let Life Flow.” Kenny was just how I remembered him almost 20 years ago. Highlights of his set included his version of Guitar Slim’s “The Things That I Used to Do” medley into Ivory Joe Hunter’s “Since I Met You Baby.” Kenny also took it down to Louisiana with his versions of “My Toot Toot”& “When The Saints Go Marching In.”

Choices have to be made at these festivals and they are never easy. Unfortunately I was unable to catch guitarist Michael Burks supporting his new effort on Alligator Records entitled “Iron Man.” I also missed out on Sharrie Williams and Terrance Simien. I heard all three of these acts were great from people that I spoke to over the weekend. I’m not surprised, they are all top notch performers.

Lurrie Bell

They call them headliners for a reason, and Saturday nights did not disappoint. Legendary writer and keyboardist who began his career in the 1940′s, Jimmy McCracklin warmed up the crowd for Sugar Pie DeSanto. Jimmy laid down favorites like “the Walk” & “Think” before he gave up the stage for Sugar Pie. At 70 plus, Sugar Pie DeSanto has it all going on. She worked her way through an incredible set of hard driving blues and a few ballads including an emotional show stopper- “Hello, San Francisco” dedicated to her late husband. Sugar then kicked it up a notch, it was time for her shoes to come off, some high kicks and even a back roll on the stage. Sugar Pie worked her old classic “Down In The Basement” with full force. Back in the day (1966) Sugar Pie recorded this song with Etta James for Chess Records. Sugar wrapped up her set by inviting an unsuspecting gentleman on stage to join her for some dancing which turned into the return of the Lindy Hop. The crowd roared and the band rocked on as Sugar Pie straddled the surprised volunteer like a mechanical bull. All that and still one more day to go.There is nothing more fitting than waking up Sunday morning and beginning your day with the gospel & blues sounds of Virginia’s Holmes Brothers. The Holmes Brothers sound as great as always. The Sunday set opened with a fitting and insprirational version of Amazing Grace which seemed to chase away the threatening thunder storms. Other favorites in the Holmes Brothers set included: Close the Door and Walk Away, Let It Roll, Gasoline Drawers, Whole Lotta Shakin’ medley with Jenny Jenny and Please Don’t Hurt Me. Jesus On the Mainline and a fitting May God Be With You rounded out the early afternoon set by the blues world’s finest harmonizing trio. The Holmes Brothers latest release is “State of Grace” (Alligator Records).Lurrie Bell rocked the other main stage with some of the most intense guitar playing I’ve seen. I was fortunate to see Lurrie twice in one month, since he made a rare Upstate NY appearance in Geneva NY on July 17th with Nick Moss. Lurrie worked the blues like a true Chicago veteran dishing out Chicken Shack, Five Long Years and I’m Ready. Lurrie Bell’s last release is entitled “Let’s Talk About Love.”

Meanwhile over at the tent stage Eric Bibb & two guest musicians were playing to a packed house. Eric has been traveling the globe in support of his new release on Telarc entitled “Get Onboard.” Following Eric was the legend and headliner of the entire festival Mr. Bobby Rush. Mr. Rush was scheduled for two performances at the festival, one under the blues tent solo and the other on the main stage closing out the fest at 6:30pm.

Boby Rush

Bobby Rush is really the ambassador of the blues. Everywhere he goes he always has time to meet, greet, sign autographs, take pictures and speak with who ever wants to see the legend up close. During a time where performers like to jump in a limo and dash away from a performance it is great to see a performer actually end his performance off the stage in the middle of the crowd. Away from the social side of Bobby Rush, the music is still rock solid. During the solo performance Bobby alternated between playing electric guitar and his blues harp.

Bobby Rush’s solo set included: Night Fishin’, Good Morning Little School Girl, Bony Maronie and other blues classics. Bobby sang about the garbage man and gave a shout out to Muddy, Elmore, Wolf & Little Walter. Bobby also paid tribue to the preachers in his life, including his Daddy with a great rendition of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. With Bobby Rush the stories in between songs are just as good as the music. Unfortunately I had to boogie on back to Rochester early, but I’m guessing the night set included the full Bobby Rush band complete with shake dancers. One of my favorite Bobby lines was: “I had the blues when my woman left me, but I also had the blues when she stayed too long.”

Before I left the festival there was time for one more act. Soul singer Trudy Lynn hit the stage and belted out some real hits to shake the mountain. The rockin’ sounds of Willie Dixon’s “I Just Want to Make Love To You” brought Trudy to the stage. After knocking down the Chess Classic Lynn performed: Everyday I Have The Blues, Steal Away, Just A Little Bit, Hound Dog and 634-5789 (Soulsvile, U.S.A.). It was my first time seeing Trudy Lynn, I’ll definitely have her circled for a must see when she comes around next time.

So as you can see my first trip to the Pocono Blues Festival was a good one, now I need to make sure I don’t wait another 17 years.  For more info. on this years Pocono Blues Festival also check the Big Road Blues website.

Greg “Doc” Lefebre