Lil' Ed brings 'old-school' sounds to UM-Flint Theatre

Lil' Ed brings 'old-school' sounds to UM-Flint Theatre
April 17, 2009
Timothy Flynn
mlive.com

FLINT, Michigan -- Lil' Ed Williams, frontman and leader of Chicago's Blues Imperials, usually takes a no-nonsense approach to his band's high-energy stage shows.

"I don't talk a lot on stage," the affable guitarist said. "People aren't interested in when the song was made; they just want to have a good time.
Flint Journal extras Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials

"I play my music, and I play what comes to me," he added. "I try to have a good time. That's all I try to do. And I think the people really love the music."

As a mainstay artist with Alligator Records, Williams has been honing his brand of raucous blues for the last few decades. "I'm an old-school player because I hung around a lot of old-school guys when I was coming up," the guitarist said.

He certainly has the pedigree to back up his words; Williams counts Chicago blues legend J.B. Hutto as both his uncle and musical mentor. Emulating his famous kin from the get-go, Williams quickly mastered his "Chicago slide" guitar style.

The Imperials will hit town Saturday as Williams promotes his latest album, "Full Tilt," a collection that showcases his classic blues sensibility through both original tunes and covers.

Williams said fans can expect a fairly loose show this weekend as he's still translating his newest studio tracks to the stage.

"Some of the songs I'm still learning," he said. "Like 'First I Look at the Purse.' You play these cover songs because they ask you to. But the mind isn't as young as it used to be," he said, laughing.

"My philosophy is, I'll make up songs right on stage and see how it goes. I'll just let 'em go, and my band will say, 'What is he up to?' And I'll say, 'I don't know!'"

But when it comes to his overall career, Williams knows exactly what he's doing. And these days, it's a real family affair.

"Right now, we're just doing the shows, and we're going to run that road for a while," he said. "But I'm working on some new songs now. I write a lot of stuff, and my wife does too. We get together, and she lets me put the music down. She does a lot of the lyrics.

"I try to stay ahead of the game. If anyone from Alligator Records calls me for a new album, I want to be ready."

According to Williams, domestic bliss keeps every aspect of the music business, including the accolades and prestigious blues awards he's won over the years, in perspective.

"At some point, I know I'm going to have to retire," he said. "It won't be a choice. I saw my uncle play until the day he died, and I kind of don't want to do that. At a certain point, I'll just want to relax with my wife.

"I believe that I'm blessed in what I've got," he added. "I'm not trying to reach for B.B. King or Eric Clapton status. I love those guys, and King is one of the most modest men I've met.

"Where I'm at right now, I've got music and a family and a nice house. But if something else comes to me, I'll be willing to take it. I'm not going to turn it down," he said with a laugh.