Nightflying: The Entertainment Guide

---Heather Crosse

         Mercy, mercy, mercy...I'm diggin' the delta! I've done sooo much LIVIN' in the past couple of months that my head has been doin' the spindy windy thang.
    Well...my first spring festival was the Catfish Festival in Belzonia, Ms. Stan Street and The Hambone Band performed, which included Marshall Drew on guitar, Bill Perry on keys, Lee Williams on drums, and myself on bass.
    Clarksdale's own Juke Joint Fest was sensational. The people round here do these marathon weekends of fun, and I can barely hang these days. The town was flooded with blues fans, the music was abundant, and I must mention the smell of good grub cookin' on the streets. After kickin' it Friday night at The Depot Blues Club with Stan Street and The Hambone Band, I got right up Saturday morning and did my first duo with Super Chikan. There was an eager crowd just awaitin', and how they managed to have those wonderful chez grins so early after a night of jukin' I'll never know. Die hards…
     That night at Ground Zero Blues Club Rev. Peyton and His Big Damn Band opened the show by parading through the sea of people in the audience while playing their instruments, and somehow managed to reach the stage. Everyone loved it! The place was elbow to elbow, and the people danced holes in the floor (a Chikanism). The night went out with a bang by Super Chikan and The Fighting Cocks 'LaLa' (Laura Craig) on keys, myself on bass, and joining us for the first time, Jacqueline Nassar on drums) "shootin' dat thang".
     The Juke Joint Fest weekend also included the Cat Head Mini Blues Fest which took place right outside Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art, Inc. owned by Roger Stolle on 252 Delta Ave. from 10am-5pm. This fest provides free live music, food, and shade for those true blues fans who hang on through Sunday. The night was finished out by one of those after fest jams at one of the coolest true juke joints left...Red's Lounge.
     Memphis In May was special to me this year because I got to play it for my first time. Laurie Bell canceled on Friday to open the blues tent, and guess who got called...Super Chikan! He rounded up The Fighting Cocks (and little Super Rooster) and we went ramblin' on down the road to join the stormy madness. I was scared to death (very nervous) for this turned out to be my biggest audience thus far, and just like the rain kept pouring outside the people kept pouring in that tent. Chikan was on fire, and the show ended with a standing ovation...a night to remember.
     A new event to Memphis In May this year was an after party at The New Daisy Theatre on Beale Street which included Delta Highway, Super Chikan and The Fighting Cocks, and Hill Country Revue. Hill Country Revue is a combination of Chris Chew (bass) and Cody Dickinson (drums) from The North Mississippi Allstars and The Word, Garry Burnside (guitar and vocals), the youngest son of R.L. Burnside, from Burnside Exploration, and Kirk Smithhart. Others joined Hill Country Revue at the New Daisy that night for some major jams, for instance, Luther Dickinson from North Mississippi Allstars and The Word, who recently joined The Black Crowes, showed up after playing the festival to jam it on out. The show was inspirational, and crazy dancin' was a must.
     Hot Springs own Heavy Suga' and The SweeTones, including Jerry Jines, Greg Batterton, and myself, made their debut in Clarksdale at Super Chikan's Place @ The Bluesberry Cafe. At our first show we were joined by Jacqueline Nassar on drums with special guests Super Chikan, LaLa, and Stan and Dixie Street. I then took the guys jukin' at Ground Zero for Razorblade's show. He is backed by Omar Gordon, age 15, on guitar, Jeremy Horton (19) on bass, and Mr. Lee Williams on drums, and they are tight. Surprise to us, our drummer for the evening, Jaqueline (16), got up there and wailed on the guitar and sang. I'm telling you there's something in the water here. These young folks are talented.
     On another occasion Heavy Suga' opened for Delta Highway at Chikan's Place. Delta Highway is comprised of Brandon Santini on vocals and harmonica, Justin Sulek on guitar, Tom Slim Louis on bass, and 'Steady' Keven Eddy on drums. The guys put on a great show that was refreshingly different.
     This past weekend Ground Zero had the 3rd annual Delta Groove All-Star Blues Revue which included The Mannish Boys, Philip Walker, Lynwood Slim, Debbie Davies, Mikey Jr., Lionel Young (winner of IBC solo/duo category), The Insomniacs, Mike Zito, Teresa James, Dave Riley and Bob Corritone, etc. Vincent Productions was hired to film the concert, so watch for it on DVD. The production team was impressive...professionals who know how to do it to it, and sweet too.
     This event sparked a festival atmosphere which involved an outside stage in the Ground Zero parking lot. This stage included acts such as Cedric Burnside and Lightnin' Malcom, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Deak Harp, and many others all day long. A Clarksdale jam came together out there between Super Chikan, LaLa, Stan Street, BJ, and myself, which caused some dirt to fly (dancin').
     I must also mention that Ground Zero Blues Club is now a chain. #2 is in Memphis, Tenn. near the FedEx Forum, so check it out.
     Congratulations to Gary and Carol Vincent and Jeff (Mississippi Media Group) for winning FIRST place in a business plan competition put on by the Mississippi Technology Alliance. You will be hearing more about their business plans for they are to be executed in Clarksdale.
     Coming up soon is a special show in Hot Springs at The Big Chill where Super Chikan will join Heavy Suga' and The SweeTones for 4th of July weekend. The band will also be joined by Clarksdale drummer Lee Williams. It is time for Hot Springs to try sum Chikan and he is looking forward to meeting his new friends.
     Once again I must go and "do the do"!
     If you have information for this column, please call me at (501)538-2842 or e-mail me at groovinbajo@yahoo.com.

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