A Night With Johnny Winter

July 24, 2004-Arlington, Mass.

I had the pleasure of seeing a blues legend perform last night. John Dawson Winter III, well known as Johnny Winter, got the 600 seat Regent Theater in Arlington, MA into a steamy red-hot groove with a career encompassing set along with some smokers from his latest recording I’m A Bluesman.

Before Winter played on into the humid July evening, there was a young and vibrant talent that set foot onstage to warm up the crowd-a guitar slinger in the mold of Eric Johnson named Julien Kasper. I talked to Kasper briefly during the break and told him I thought he may be influenced by Johnson, and he responded "Well, no, I don’t listen to him." In any event, he does sound like the great guitarist in many ways, which is a big compliment by anyone’s standards when looking at a guitar player’s abilities.

When they were setting up before Winter came on, the stage crew put a chair right in the middle of the stage, which bewildered many in attendance. Johnny is still recovering from major hip surgery and he is walking around gingerly at this point in his recovery, so he sat down for the entire evening and commenced to blow us all away with some guitar licks that would have made his adopted musical father, Muddy Waters, proud. Standing up or sitting down, at 60 years old, this man has not lost a step in his guitar mastery, he has lost a bit in the vocal department, but it's still da blues, and Winter remains a respected talent in blues worldwide.

Winter’s good friend and mine, Paul Nelson, who also co-wrote and played on the new album, was there to make sure we got into our seats, which were as good as they get, and he treated myself and my wife like we were royalty. I did not expect this at all, but it was certainly a welcome pleasure indeed. Paul is also playing with Johnny on tour but on this night, he was busy doing some other things for the band. Nelson is a classy guy and he really made the evening very special for us by arranging a meet and greet with Johnny after the show. Watch for more smokin’ licks from Nelson on a studio album at some point after the tour is over.

The incredibly entertaining James Montgomery, a blues legend in his own right, played the harp and sang his heart out (most notably on "Hoochie Coochie Man") complimenting Johnny wonderfully. The drummer Wayne June can belt out a tune as well; he found his groove on the classic "Tore Down," covering it as if he owned it. The only member of the band that did not sing was the bass player Scott Spray, who played his bass like a man on a mission in an eternal Winterized chill out; he kept in perfect step with June all night. When I saw Spray on the tour bus he was very cordial and all smiles, he seemed genuinely happy to be part of Winter’s entourage, what musician wouldn’t be? Winter is a sweet guy and he was a pleasure to chat with.

Johnny has managed to put together another crackerjack band, doesn’t he always? They are really cookin’ live and I felt privileged to witness a blues legend in action. When he launched into "Blackjack" and "Johnny Guitar," the crowd went into a frenzy, all 600 blues fans were living their own personal glorious once-in-a-lifetime evening with Johnny. I sure felt that way after I left, knowing that I witnessed something special I never would forget.

Set List:

Hideaway
Sugar Coated Love
She Likes to Boogie Real Low
Blackjack
Tore Down
Start All Over Again
Lone Wolf
Hoochie Coochie Man
Johnny Guitar
Mojo Boogie

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com

Pictures Courtesy of Barry Miller- http://www.eye4music.net

Johnny Winter Website
Artist Site