San Fransisco Lindy Exchange

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!