Atlanta blues examiner road trip: Summer's Last Blast, Piedmont , SC, Sept. 17

Atlanta blues examiner road trip: Summer's Last Blast, Piedmont , SC, Sept. 17
September 18, 2011
Rhetta Akamatsu
Examiner.com

Yesterday, Ken and I went to Summer's Last Blast and Blues Festival in Piedmont, SC at the invitation of the marvelous She D'Ambrosio. We went specifically to cover the performance of Beverly "Guitar" Watkins, as she was our Atlanta connection to the festival but we were really thrilled to get a chance to sample some great Carolina talent too, back in my home state. She and Tim DeLisle put together this whole festival, and what a great job they did! The venue at The Pavilion at Acadia in Piedmont (a few miles from Greenville) was beautiful, and there was plenty of delicious food and drink available. Every performer was top-notch, from The J. Edwards Band, to the wonderful, amazing Beverly "Guitar" Watkins who closed. You will be hearing a lot more about Ms. Beverly shortly.

Standout performances?J. Edwards belted out classics and original tunes with skill and virtuosity. My favorite was the humerous "Lulu's House,"the title track from his new CD.

Freedie Vanderford proved he can play harmonica standing, sitting on the stage steps, lying on his back in front of the stage, lying on his stomach...he's a true virtuoso and puts son a great show.
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Matt Walsh's rendition of "Mannish Boy" was spot-on. He has great style and command of the stage.

CeeCee James has a fabulous voice, similar to Janis Joplin's, and a fantastic way of interacting with a crowd. She just exudes blues power!

The King Bees, from North Carolina have a tiny powerhouse in singer and bass player Penny Zamagni, while her husband "Hound Dog Baskerville", harmonica player Jukejoint Johnny and their guest drummer, who I believe was called Mighty Martin, burned through original songs in top-rate style. He delighted the audience by bringing his drumming out into the audience, alternately tapping out rhythm on a marching drum, vendor's booths, trash cans, and other surfaces around the venue.

And then we come to Ms. Beverly. She D'Ambrosio called me Thursday and asked me if we would be willing to pick Beverly "Guitar' Watkins and her cousin Janice up and bring them with us, since we live in the Atlanta area. We jumped at the chance, of course! Two hours in the car with a legend like Ms. Beverly? You bet!

And it turned out that this W.C. Handy Award nominee, who played bass with Piano Red, who traveled with many of the blues greats from the time she was a teenager, who still tours in France, Germany, and all over Europe, is a genuinely warm, completely ego-free, delight of a person and so is her cousin Janice who travels with her. I had a wonderful time talking to Ms. Beverly about music and her life. She said she has been wanting to write a book about her life and expressed interest in having me help her with that! If that happens, I am going to be so happy. She is a fascinating woman, and I am so glad we got to meet her in this way. It's an experience I will treasure forever.

As for her performance..well! While everyone who came before her was excellent in every way. it was Ms. Beverly and her guitar, with the incredible assistance of The King Bees, who was the only act to get the people up, rushing the stage and dancing, singing along, and shouting, completely blown away by this 72-year-old, six-year cancer survivor. She sang, she danced, she played hot guitar and danced across the stage. She told me that working with Piano Red for so many years, she learned how to perform. He expected perfection, and she expects that now of her band. Well, last night, she and the King Bees were perfect.

You think Jimi Hendrix was special, playing guitar behind his head? Ms. Beverly can do that. You think Jagger can work a stage? Ms. Beverly can work a stage!

Here in Atlanta, we have the opportunity to see Beverly "Guitar" Watkins play regularly. In fact, she's playing this Wednesday at Sweet Georgia's Juke Joint. Everybody should go to see her! You owe it to yourselves.

And as for the Carolina talent who performed: CeeCee James, Matt Walsh, J. Edwards Band, Freddie Vanderford, and The King Bees, I really hope to see them all in the Atlanta area soon. ( I know that Matt Walsh and the J. Edwards Band have been at Blind Willie's recently, and hope to see them back.) Much thanks to She D'Ambrosio and Tim DeLisle, and here's hoping this is the start of an annual tradition that will just get bigger and better!