the blues in L.A.
Wednesday, November 24th, 2004 | otherStuff
hey, i havent done a review of any kind for a while
…so how bout these apples?
…went to a joint called ‘babe’s & ricky’s inn’ in the leimert park neighborhood, [does L.A. have neighborhoods like chicago's got neighborhoods? ...not quite], last monday nite to hear some blues
…i’d been hearing it is THE place in los angeles for the blues & even tho there was not a ‘name’ act booked, [as mondays are open-mic/jam session nite], i was not in the least dissappointed in the talent on the stage …the cordial ‘mama laura’ who has run this club in one location or another since i was still in diapers sat at the door taking the cover charge & greeting patrons …at her her request i pulled the door shut behind me so as to not let in the chill …older ladies are not the only ones who think that 58 degrees is ‘cold’ in southern california,
& i had to laugh as other patrons came in all bundled in down & scarves & gloves & overcoats …dont none of these folks know nuthin ’bout the hawk that rips thru chicago this time a year, & if youre cryin about the cold in november, you better get movin’ south quick like, cause you aint even gonna LIVE to see february …those that survive a chicago winter have EARNED spring …so there we all were, outta the ‘cold’, diggin the blues, all kinda folks up in there, very friendly atmosphere …then 10:30 rolls around & they lay out a buffet table w/greens & black eyed peas & hot links in bar-b-q sauce, & hush puppys & potato salad & fried chicken …it was all so good i didnt have time to think ‘yo, wheres the catfish?’ …its one plate to a customer, but dig this: the spread is figured into the $8 cover charge! …the blues & a soul-food dinner for $8?!?! …hotdamn! …you know i’m goin back to this place next monday, next monday, & three or four months a mondays after that
…& if alla this wasnt enuff; the highlight of the evening was after supper, when ms. micky champion stood up & started singing the blues …she didnt have to take the stage to grab your attention, she just started beltin, it out while walking amoungst the jaw-dropped patrons, filling the room wall-to-wall w/her voice, [that has been accurately described as 'a cross between a smooth shot of hennesy's & an acetylene torch'] …shes got to be pushin hard on 70yrs old, & all of five foot nothin’, [aint as big as a minute, as my mama would say], but she OWNED that room & had no trouble showing alla the folks up in there how itzzupposed to be done w/out even picking up the microphone! …she sang the low-down, rowdy, bawdy blues, but then she took us to church too for a minute, singing about how jesus has his eye on the sparrow, & you know he’s watchin over alla yall too …we got 5 or 6 times the cover charge’s worth of entertainment on that ‘cold’ blue monday, & you will see me there again & again
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