james blood ulmer

sometimes things work out just fine on the gig front
had thought about going to see this chap at the basement
but the ticket price and relative unfamiliarity ruled it out
so instead the want for a night out meant a film was seen instead
which happened to be in the same area meaning a walk past the venue
and a decision to drop in to see what they would charge for a late arrival
the lady on the door waving me through and so free entry to the show
the man on stage and playing to a average sized but loyal audience
a quick trip to the bar to confirm that this man has serious fans
which seems to be the case with guitar-slinging black blues dudes
he's seated and leaning into the microphone to sing the tunes
a fine looking electric jazz guitar and some effects pedals
a sheet music stand which gets quite regular attention
it takes a while to get the head into the sound
a mostly strummed sound with distortion a-la pedals
bringing to mind a similar sound mostly heard with ed kuepper solo
but once tuned in it's the lyrics and his voice that are then rivetting
such a difference to hear a blues singer that is totally authentic
my feeling is there are countless skilled blues musicians
able to pour their heart and soul into their accomplished sound
but the nature of this genre to me is that the edge factor is important
if the musician is the real deal then there is an exponential difference
james blood ulmer has that edge factor in spades and to spare
after a few tunes i find myself totally absorbed with the lyrics
ain't never been in no white man's jail
my mamma never sent me to no white man's school
ain't gonna live my life by no white man's rules
and you know he absolutely, totally means what he says
so in a way ironic that this black man is playing to a bunch of whities
but then sensing that he's there because he wants to be
providing polite banter between songs despite a few annoying guests
ignoramus types conducting loud conversations as he performed
my pet hate at shows such as this where quietness and respect are in order
lucky me must have been witness to most of his set
as the tunes just keep rolling out and being mostly lapped up
leading me to think i need to see him again and fully
all tomorrows parties here we come...