I said that when I was introducing Lurrie Bell and it was true. On the cruise which official opened the 2007 Waterfront Blues Festival the bottom deck of the Portland Spirit had New Orleans' John Boutte and Salem's Mark Lemhouse. On the second deck was Portland's The Insomniacs and Chicago's Lurrie Bell with Pinetop Perkins. On the top deck was New Orleans' Hot 8 Brass Band.
Hard to know where to go.
I stuck with the Hot 8 most of the time because since very few New Orleans bands come through Portland anymore, I am like a dry sponge ready for some OF IT this week.
The Hot 8 look like they just stepped off the streets of the 9th Ward or Treme and they sound like it too. Like a lot of NO brass bands, they play familiar soul and funk wit the mawchin beat. The whole deck was dancing. Paul Ronan who has done a NO radio show on KPSU for years (although he's currently taking a break) was resplendent in white on white on white including a white fedora.
Peter Damman DID make it on the cruise, although he didn't play.
Toward the end of the cruise, I went to the bottom deck where John Boutte had the people there spellbound with his unique soulful singing, accompanied by a fantastic guitarist. Most of the crowd may have been upstairs with Lurrie Bell, but the last half hour with Boutte who sings like no other (except maybe Sam Cooke)made the cruise for me...except the dancing part with the Hot 8.
Look for him today at the festival.
Boutte kept on singing as the boat pulled up to the dock and folks started lining up to get off. His last two songs were "You Haven't Done Nothing" which he sang with justifiable anger, dedicated to those responsible for the continuing tradgedy in NO. He ended with a wonderful inspiring Mahalia Jackson tune which sent us off the boat, if not sanctified, very inspired.
I'm off to take Fred Stern the Rainbow Maker to a meeting with the Fire Department out on NW Front where they keep the fireboat.
2 comments:
The Hot 8 Brass Band has enjoyed its stay in Portland. We are very excited to take part in the Waterfront Blues Festival today. We hope to make regular stops in Portland.
We pride ourselves on our music and feel we stand apart from most brass bands. Our sounds, our story and our mission sets us apart.
Remember the name Hot 8 Brass Band. Support our efforts to make New Orleans a better place to live and help us bring our city back.
www.hot8brassband.com
myspace.com/hot8brassband
findingourfolk.org
"Rock with the Hot 8"
John Boutte was a revalation. I was spellbound throughout his performance. As I said in my blog, he is also one pissed off dude! Justifiably, I would add.
The cruise was more fun than you are supposed to have in 2 hours!!
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