We left Evelyn with her cousins in Port Townsend and set off to San Fran by ourselves! I almost wanted to drive down just for old times’ sake (Michael and I used to drive to events all over when we lived in Salt Lake City). But since we already had our plane tickets . . we flew in Thursday evening and spent all day Friday being together. A much needed sabbatical day in a nostalgic city.
The exchange itself was so much fun! I’ve clearly forgotten how much fun I can have at a Lindy exchange. The feeling of watching the dancers and pointing out who I wanted to ask to dance next, getting to the middle of the dance floor, and staying there song after song after song as different people stopped me from leaving the dance floor . . exhilerating! I was surrounded by a few old friends, and got an avalanche of new friends that made the whole weekend eventful.
The blues room at THIS event ROCKED. Full and energized, I was able to play songs that are a little different to experiment with the crowd. I got to see how my somewhat different blues made the crowd react, and I got great feedback from everyone, which makes me feel really really happy. I got to dance and DJ responsible-free. I got to be just me for those few nights and I’m so grateful to the SFLX staff! As promised, I've listed most of my set list from the 5 hours that I got to play:
Louise Hoffsten: The Seduction of Sweet Louise
Bonnie Raitt: Love Me Like a Man
Ray Charles & B.B. King: Sinner's Prayer
John Lee Hooker: Every Night
Little Milton: Little Bluebird
B.B. Kind: My Own Fault
Janiva Magness: That's What Love Will Make You Do
Etta James: Hawg For Ya
Jimmy Reed: Odds and Ends
Booker T. Laury: Blues With a Feeling
Johnny Walker: The Sky Is Crying
Brother Yusef: Blues Is My Story
Susan Tedeschi:'TAn't Nobody's Business
Christ Thomas King: Come On In My Kitchen
Ruth Brown: Good Day For the Blues
Sonny Boy Williamson: Cool Disposition
The Robins: Smokey Joe's Cafe
Fiona Boyes: Red Hot Kisses
Koko Taylor: I'm A Woman
Janiva Magness: I Don't Want You on My Mind
Pinetop Perkins and Elvin Bishop: How Long
Jimmy Reed: When Girls Do It
Fiona Boyes: Canned Heat
Ray Charles: It Makes No Difference Now
The Fabulous Thunderbirds: She's Tuff
Keb' Mo': Keep It Simple
Blue Harlem: Drown in my own Tears
Earl Hooker: Drivin' Wheel
The Insomniacs: Maybe Sometime Later
Louise Hoffsten: Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes
Nathan James & Ben Hernandez: Black Rattler
Norah Jones: All Your Love
Katie Webster: Pussycat Moan
Elmore James: It Hurts Me Too
Etta James: Son of a Preacher Man
Solomon Burke: Cry To Me
Muddy Waters: She Moves Me
Bar Scott: Everyday People
Kim Massie: Come On Into My Kitchen
John Hammond, Jr.: Heartache Blues
Gordon Webster: Mo' Better Blues
Janiva Magness: Lost and Lookin'
The Staple Singers: Sit Down Servant
B.B. King: Rock Me Baby
John Lee Hooker and Bonnie Raitt: I'm in the Mood
Stevie Ray Vaughan: The Things I Used to Do
Elvis Presley: Relax
Katie Webster: I'm Bad
Bobby Jones ft The Mannish boys: How Long Will It Last
James Cottonm Blues Band: Cotton Crop Blues
Ray Charles: Busted
Melissa Pace: Am I blue?
Albert King: Cold Feet
Ronin Rogers: Can You Hear Me Now
Martin Sexton: Can't Stop Thinking 'bout You
Charles Brown: I Lost Everything
Susan Tedeschi: Little by Little
Doug MacLeod: Sweet Ride
Mark Hummel: City Livin
Seth Walker: Sun down
Nora Michaels: Black Coffee
I say MOST of my set, and looking at it now, it's not my best work, because I usually try and switch up my artists more and avoid overplayed songs, but I have 2 excuses for that: 1)My second sound card was not working so I had a much more difficult time trying to re-listen to songs on my iPod and determine the transition quality and 2)they fit really well. My favorite complement about any set of mine ever was give after my Friday night set: "It's like you told a story with your music." Right on, that makes me feel awesome.
My music nugget is most definitely the Saturday night blues and Big Bones. That was the night that I was too exhausted to move but somehow found the energy when he started playing. Dave Madison told me all about how Big Bones used to play on the streets. Kent then filled in the details of getting the tip to go hear him at a nearby venue. Inspiring and amazing. I absolutely loved every minute.
Thank you Ben for hosting, and everyone else for the amazing weekend!