Uncategorized WWOZ Blog Posts

The Meter Men described themselves as senior citizen funk, but by looking and listening to them it was hard to agree. George, Leo and Zig were tight and together, playing the low-down grooves they were known for in their Meters days but with plenty of vicious shredding from Leo. Without a doubt this was one of the day's highlights at the Acura Stage.

Little Freddie King was already a big glowing square on my Jazz Fest schedule, but his single-song appearance at the Ponderosa Stomp last night really whetted my appetite. You see, despite his modest moniker and innocent smile on the cover of his MadeWright Records release, Messin' Around Tha House, Freddie's got more fire in him than plenty of performers half his age. Now I don't just mean that he can flick out devious blues riffs in his sleep; he can really (to employ some antiquated slang) shake a leg.

It's hard to tell who was more excited: the adoring Gospel Tent audience or Mavis Staples. But don't let that wide grin fool you — when she does a low-down number, shestill growls like a tiger. And as she demonstrated and told the audience, "I can still shake, baby!"

Guitar Slim, Jr., was in street clothes the first time I saw him, just strolling on in to Jim Russel Records buy their last copy of his own album. Without recognizing him, you could tell by the way he dressed and the way he held himself that he was a performer. Sunday he was in full force, coming out howling "Everybody Knows About My Good Thing" in his ultra-showy outfit, giving every camera lens a personal smile.