Can Blue Men Sing The Whites? I have to take this time to sing the praises of one of the greatest events in my neck o' the woods: The Madrid Blues Festival. This is the fourth time I've gone in the last three years, and I just enjoy it more each time.
For the uninitiated, this is a 4 hour blues show put on by the NM Jazz Workshop, held several times each summer at the Oscar Huber Memorial Ballpark in the former ghost town of Madrid NM, nestled in the mountains about an hour from Albuquerque. The town of Madrid is now a tourist town, made up of old hippies, artists and misfits, and a favorite hangout for bikers.
The show itself is made up usually of local blues talent, often plus one lesser known national act. Some of the "name" acts have included Big Bill Morganfield, Bob Margolin and the Chicago Blues All Stars, Nappy Brown, and today's featured act, Debbie Davies.
The music is usually excellent, especially for the hard-core blues fan. But while the music is the main attractions there are many other reasons that keep me going back.
For one, the change of scenery is fantastic. You drive up through the mountains and leave the noise and traffic of Albuquerque behind. The air is fresher, the surroundings greener, the pace slower. Madrid is a really cool, funky little town. There are lots of cool shops and galleries, but the "main attraction" of Madrid is the Mine Shaft Tavern, the "diveyest" dive in the area, and a regular hangout for bikers and "colorful" locals.
Speaking of the people, even if you are not into the blues, this is one of the greatest people watching places on the planet. There are ALL sort of folks at this show. Young, old, rich, poor, old hippies, artists, college students, beautiful women, ugly women, ugly guys, beautiful guys, little children playing and laughing, and lots of dogs.
The whole affair is like "Woodstock" transplanted to the NM mountains. There are only two rules: no glass containers and no smoking. The main "unwritten" rule is be yourself and have a great time. And that people do. People dance with abandon, whether they can dance or not. Here, the phrase "dance as if no one were watching" is taken to heart. People are watching but, you are free to do as you please, and no one will say anything if you dance like a duck on crack. Everyone is naturally friendly, perhaps because the normal pressures and claustrophobia of city life are forgotten up here. There is a freedom, a looseness, a joy up here that I cannot find anywhere in the city of Albuquerque.
The ballfield is dusty, and there is very little shade unless you bring an umbrella or canopy of your own. It is hot, blazing hot. But who cares? Cover yourself with sunblock, wear a floppy hat, drink plenty of water. If you get too hot, you can sit in the grandstand, which are the covered bleachers behind the stage. You see the backs of the performers, but you see the fronts of the dancers and the rest of the crowd.
I've seen many of the same memorable people every time I come up: the old hairy bearded shirtless guy who dances during EVERY song and with almost every woman in the park. The guy with the really big cowboy hat, handlebar mustache and Hawaiian shirt. The cat with the rubber band tied around his beard. The stocky older woman in the short dress and cowboy boots. And of course many barely dressed beautiful young ladies dancing their hearts out. To the girl in the purple top and very short jean shorts: I want to bear your children, or at least know which branch of TDs you perform at.
As for a mini review of today's show: It was the best yet. Stan Hirsch is an excellent solo player with a deep bluesy voice. Joannie Griffin is an Albuquerque legend, and has a great husky voice. She sometimes performs at my church, but here, she pulls out the stops, backed by her band Combo Special. Karen commented that is was great to see a mature, full figured woman, who does not conform to the stick-thin Brittney pop star image up on stage shakin' her stuff around. I've heard great things about the Memphis P-Tails and they proved their worthiness with a great set of swampy, boogie-blues. But the real treat was Debbie Davies. She is truly one of the great electric blues guitar players I've heard, woman or man. A fine singer too, and her set was like a power-plant explosion. Very uptempo, cocky, and full of great songs and masterful guitar work. If you have not heard of her, seek her out. You will not be disappointed.
Oh yeah, one minor point. There were no black performers today, and very few black audience members, making for the whitest blues show around. It proves the blues today transcends its roots and all racial boundaries. Yes folks, white men can sing the blues, and kinda dance to it too.
Kudos to the Jazz Workshop for these great shows and the opportunity to escape reality and join a near perfect world even if for only four hours a few Sundays every summer.