(Jim Jacobmeyer: Photo) (All other courtesy of the LCBS)
After Friday's Blue Oyster Cult show. We had the Cedar Rapids Bluesfest 2021, which returned after a year hiatus, Opening act Ship Of Fools, was a junior high collective of guitar players, a couple that I knew from jamming with them at the now lamented Parlor City Blues Jam.
Next up, Craig Erickson and Sky Train, his longtime bandmates of John Hall (Bass) and Robbie Haskill (drums) plus Tommy Giblin (Keyboard) as he tore through his set of songs. Then Kevin Burt gave a crowd rousing 45 minute set, with a soulful version of Inner City Blues and Long Train Running, Dan Johnson (Bass) and the tight playing of Eric Douglas (Drums) kept things in the groove.
A half hour delay and headliner Rick Estrin and The Nightcats closed the set. Rick has a legend upon legends, growing up listening to the blues of Little Walter and influenced by Ray Charles and the Genius Sings The Blues Record. His knowledge of Little Walter is shown on the Walter classic Off The Wall. The Nightcats are no slouches either. Chris "Kid" Anderson, produced the latest Kevin Burt album and the other cats played on that album Lorenzo Farrell doubles as keyboard player and provides the bass tones on keyboard, but the secret weapon is former Little Richard drummer Derrick "D Mar" Martin being the drummer and inspirational motivator who stole the show with his crazy drummer and facial expressions, which was worth the price of admission, but in the case of myself, a free show. I wandered in from the hiking trail and was greeted by Phil Bo King and a few other of my jam friends at Rumors and Whisky Jo's. Martin did a crazy drum solo that included the stage gratings, mic stands and Anderson's guitar, while doing a Michael Winslow impression of mouth percussion.
It was fun but after a long slow song, the festival got shut down by a 10 o clock curfew and some bitchy assed neighbor complaining about the noise. To which some people went home or up to see Evan Stock Band play at The Kickstand.
Which was outdoors.
Scott Sanborn came up to introduce Kevin Burt. He's been behind the scenes due to Covid concerns but he is still alive and well and doing great. I do miss him at the jams.
Kevin Burt, after his set, enjoying the antics of the Nighcats.
The opening act is Ship Of Fools, a collective bunch of kids learning how to play the blues and are the future of the CR Music Scene if they choose to continue down that path. Kris Bries, now with Blues Rox was once part of this project that Craig Erickson teach and mentored. I have jammed with a couple of these kids during the now history Parlor City Blues Jams. If Covid didn't kill what's left of the music scene, you might be hearing from them in the future.
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