Always up for a challenge

The King of all Blues

My Honey bought us tickets to see Peter Frampton’s Guitar Circus for my birthday. The main reason I wanted to go was because BB King and Buddy Guy were on the bill. Also, Robert Randolph whom we’d never seen before. We love blues. Love love love. One of our best dates was seeing Buddy Guy in a bar early in our relationship. I even pushed my way to the front of the stage and got his autograph for My Honey. It was a really outstanding show.

One of my few regrets in life–of which there haven’t been many–was that we had the opportunity to see John Lee Hooker in Los Angeles and didn’t take it. All we’d have had to do was stay one more night. One more night. We didn’t do it and the man died within the year. Major opportunity lost.

ANYWAY–back to the concert. Ava and Ed were coming with us, but Ed got sick so The Girl Who Lives At Their House came instead.

First, let me just say, it was hotter than HELL in the outdoor amphitheater. It was still 92 degrees before we packed ourselves in with the hundreds of other bodies. It was all good, though, when Buddy Guy came out. He was awesome as always. He worked his way through the crowd, playing his guitar up and down the aisles. As Ava said, he labored

The 4th song

for labor day. We also decided he seemed like a great deal of fun to party with. See below the plan for BB King and insert Mr. Guy as a substitution.

We adore BB King. Just let that be clear. We’ve seen him five or six times, but sadly this will be our last. He’ll be 89 years old this month and that’s a hell of a thing. Sadly, though, he seems so diminished and I’d rather remember him from his earlier shows than this one. Still, Ava and I would have been happy to kidnap him. TGWLAHH was appalled that we’d even suggest such a thing. We told her that the first time you get arrested it really should be with your mother and her sister. Once Mr. King realized we were just taking him out for pancakes and fun conversation, we’re certain he’d enjoy himself. He seems like a fun guy.

The 5th Song – because really

The bulk of the crowd seemed to be in attendance for Peter Frampton. He has a bit of a reputation for being an ass when people take pictures at his show. A disembodied voice announced before he came on that pictures would only be allowed during the first three songs. Well, you’ve probably known us well enough to know that we don’t like being bossed around AND we’re not good with following asinine instructions. We waited patiently through songs one, two, and three and then took 75 pictures during song number four – cause F you, ya know what I mean?

Then Pete declares we are his friends and family. Apparently at family dinners his friends and family can only take pictures with him until the potatoes are served.

Nevertheless, the blues was good. The people watching was MOST EXCELLENT. Our company was the best. We had a good time eating $38 dollars worth of dessert at the buffet and we didn’t die from the heat.