SEPTEMBER 27,2008:
MY FRIEND FROM TUSKEGEE,ALABAMA IS A BIG FAN OF THE BLUES AND SOUTHERN SOUL MUSIC.SHE SHARES WITH US HER CONCERT REVIEW. "SOUTHERN SOUL ARTIST,FRED BOLTON'S BIRTHDAY BASH" HI BLUES AND SOUTHERN SOUL FANS, On Saturday, September 20th, I attended Southern Soul Artist Fred Boltonís 40th Birthday Bash in Ensley,Alabama(Birmingham). The party was held at the Handsome Brutes Club. As my girlfriend and I drove up to the club she said, ìNow this looks like a "real" hole-in-the-wall!î I said, ìYes, it does!î It is a certain kind of feeling that only a southern soul and blues lover gets when he/she is about to party at a jukejoint. Before entering the club, the sounds of the late-great Johnnie Taylor could be heard. Indeed, that set the tone for me! When we entered the club at about 8:30, the place was already seriously packed. As greeters met us at the door, several people showed us great hospitality. We found a table and not long after my friend finished her "hypnotic" drink she was out on the floor line dancing with the crowd. I sat for a minute and observed the scenery. The DJ was off the chain!!! Even though this was a hole-in-the-wall, in addition to the southern soul and blues, he mixed it up with some old school and alternative music. Freddie Jones (of Freddie Jones Productions) introduced the birthday boy at about 10. The crowd screamed as Fred walked up to the microphone and commenced to sing his selection, ìIím Gonna Get Mineî.His next selection was his rendition of Sam Cookeís, ìA Change Is Gonna Comeî. Of course, this soul-stirring song always gets a positive reaction from the audience. As soon as the music started playing, I jumped to my feet as he performed the late, great Tyrone Davis'(my all-time favorite-)"Turn Back the Hands of Time". Almost everyone in attendance stood and screamed as Fred belted out, "I know u wanna leave me...!!! After "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", he continued on with another famous Temptations hit called "Papa Was a Rolling Stone". The b'day boy ended his performance with his hit song, "It Must Be Jelly"!!! The next person to hit the stage was up-and-coming Southern Soul and Blues recording artist, Reggie Sears. Reggie did a few selections from his cd entitled, "Sweet Thang"...including "Sweet Thang" and "Dip My Dipper". This guy has grrrrreat guitar skills!!! I could have literally listened to him play his guitar for the rest of the night. At one point I could hardly see him because people--particularly, the women--were standing. My girlfriend--who had a better view--touched me and gestured toward Reggie as he gave his guitar a "mean" lick. Therefore, I made my way toward the stage to get a better view of him working his tongue on those guitar strings. After this episode, there was no sitting down for the rest of the night for me. While snapping a pic of Reggie, he hollered at me as he performed "Sweet Thang". Obviously, I was grinning from ear-to-ear!!! He presents himself as a very humble and down-to-earth person. I look forward to seeing the "Guitar god" in a live show!!! Black Zack took the crowd by surprise as he did his rendition of hit songs such as "If You Think You're Lonely Now", "Tonight Is the Night", "Down Home Blues" and "Hole in the Wall". The entire dance floor was packed as Fred and he performed their re-make of "Sho Wasn't Me". They did a fantastic job on that song!!! More people tried to squeeze onto the dance floor as Black Zack sang his hit selection "the Twist". He got the crowd hyped and he knew how to keep the people "amped". I think he is not just a performer but an entertainer as well. I can't wait to see Black Zack perform again in the near future!!! The last--but not least--performer of the night was the Love Doctor. Believe me when i write that this guy only performed ONE song but it lasted for about twenty minutes. The Love Doctor came onto the stage and the crowd erupted as soon as he said, "I Met A Girl Much Older..." Yep, he did a serious extended version of his hit song, "Slow Roll It"!!! As he did the selection, indeed, he had the crowd's undivided attention. He invited Fred and some of the other artists on stage to help him out. All of the artists did a fantastic job as they did their version of "Slow Roll It". This was the first time that I saw the Love Doctor in a live performance. I look forward to seeing him again in the very near future...and I sure hope he does the extended version of "Slow Roll It" :):). Other local artists in attendance were Bill Avery ("Southern Fried Soul", 2004), Leon Mullins and Arnetta Woodruff. Fred asked the crowd to come onto the dance floor and dance with him to one of his favorite songs...(Reggie P's "Why Me"). Fred thanked everyone for attending his party. I Hope that you all enjoyed my recap of Southern Soul Artist, Fred Bolton's 40th Birthday Bash!!!I had a great time and like my friend Big K9,I just wanted to share it with other fans who enjoy this "GROWN FOLKS" music.Take care! DOT
MY FRIEND FROM TUSKEGEE,ALABAMA IS A BIG FAN OF THE BLUES AND SOUTHERN SOUL MUSIC.SHE SHARES WITH US HER CONCERT REVIEW. "SOUTHERN SOUL ARTIST,FRED BOLTON'S BIRTHDAY BASH" HI BLUES AND SOUTHERN SOUL FANS, On Saturday, September 20th, I attended Southern Soul Artist Fred Boltonís 40th Birthday Bash in Ensley,Alabama(Birmingham). The party was held at the Handsome Brutes Club. As my girlfriend and I drove up to the club she said, ìNow this looks like a "real" hole-in-the-wall!î I said, ìYes, it does!î It is a certain kind of feeling that only a southern soul and blues lover gets when he/she is about to party at a jukejoint. Before entering the club, the sounds of the late-great Johnnie Taylor could be heard. Indeed, that set the tone for me! When we entered the club at about 8:30, the place was already seriously packed. As greeters met us at the door, several people showed us great hospitality. We found a table and not long after my friend finished her "hypnotic" drink she was out on the floor line dancing with the crowd. I sat for a minute and observed the scenery. The DJ was off the chain!!! Even though this was a hole-in-the-wall, in addition to the southern soul and blues, he mixed it up with some old school and alternative music. Freddie Jones (of Freddie Jones Productions) introduced the birthday boy at about 10. The crowd screamed as Fred walked up to the microphone and commenced to sing his selection, ìIím Gonna Get Mineî.His next selection was his rendition of Sam Cookeís, ìA Change Is Gonna Comeî. Of course, this soul-stirring song always gets a positive reaction from the audience. As soon as the music started playing, I jumped to my feet as he performed the late, great Tyrone Davis'(my all-time favorite-)"Turn Back the Hands of Time". Almost everyone in attendance stood and screamed as Fred belted out, "I know u wanna leave me...!!! After "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", he continued on with another famous Temptations hit called "Papa Was a Rolling Stone". The b'day boy ended his performance with his hit song, "It Must Be Jelly"!!! The next person to hit the stage was up-and-coming Southern Soul and Blues recording artist, Reggie Sears. Reggie did a few selections from his cd entitled, "Sweet Thang"...including "Sweet Thang" and "Dip My Dipper". This guy has grrrrreat guitar skills!!! I could have literally listened to him play his guitar for the rest of the night. At one point I could hardly see him because people--particularly, the women--were standing. My girlfriend--who had a better view--touched me and gestured toward Reggie as he gave his guitar a "mean" lick. Therefore, I made my way toward the stage to get a better view of him working his tongue on those guitar strings. After this episode, there was no sitting down for the rest of the night for me. While snapping a pic of Reggie, he hollered at me as he performed "Sweet Thang". Obviously, I was grinning from ear-to-ear!!! He presents himself as a very humble and down-to-earth person. I look forward to seeing the "Guitar god" in a live show!!! Black Zack took the crowd by surprise as he did his rendition of hit songs such as "If You Think You're Lonely Now", "Tonight Is the Night", "Down Home Blues" and "Hole in the Wall". The entire dance floor was packed as Fred and he performed their re-make of "Sho Wasn't Me". They did a fantastic job on that song!!! More people tried to squeeze onto the dance floor as Black Zack sang his hit selection "the Twist". He got the crowd hyped and he knew how to keep the people "amped". I think he is not just a performer but an entertainer as well. I can't wait to see Black Zack perform again in the near future!!! The last--but not least--performer of the night was the Love Doctor. Believe me when i write that this guy only performed ONE song but it lasted for about twenty minutes. The Love Doctor came onto the stage and the crowd erupted as soon as he said, "I Met A Girl Much Older..." Yep, he did a serious extended version of his hit song, "Slow Roll It"!!! As he did the selection, indeed, he had the crowd's undivided attention. He invited Fred and some of the other artists on stage to help him out. All of the artists did a fantastic job as they did their version of "Slow Roll It". This was the first time that I saw the Love Doctor in a live performance. I look forward to seeing him again in the very near future...and I sure hope he does the extended version of "Slow Roll It" :):). Other local artists in attendance were Bill Avery ("Southern Fried Soul", 2004), Leon Mullins and Arnetta Woodruff. Fred asked the crowd to come onto the dance floor and dance with him to one of his favorite songs...(Reggie P's "Why Me"). Fred thanked everyone for attending his party. I Hope that you all enjoyed my recap of Southern Soul Artist, Fred Bolton's 40th Birthday Bash!!!I had a great time and like my friend Big K9,I just wanted to share it with other fans who enjoy this "GROWN FOLKS" music.Take care! DOT