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Fate? Karma? Purgatory? Help me put a good spin on this.

My wife and I are heading out to Clarksdale, Mississippi for the Juke Joint Festival which is primarily a blues festival for local delta and hill country blues acts. It is a ton of fun.

We are staying with some old friends in a nearby town. They have graciously invited us to a music series hosted by local country music singer and songwriter Steve Azar. The event occurs every couple of months and features a meal by a prominent local chef (featured in Southern Living, Garden and Gun, etc) as well as cocktails and a casual performance and interview with other songwriters and musicians. It is a small group and the guests interact with the guest musicians. The tickets are fairly pricey and our friends have insisted on buying our tickets.

Other than their love of country music our musical tastes are similar to our friend's. They are going with us to the blues festival. They are also into Dylan, The Band, Van Morrison, etc.

The guest musician/songwriter is named Anthony Smith. I'd never heard of him. Apparently he has written songs for some big names in the country music world as has the host, Steve Azar.

Now, I don't hate country music per se. But I have a hard time with contemporary pop country. Here is a video of Anthony Smith's:

https://youtu.be/sbNVTh2QA7k

It is going to be a long night. Fortunately the music will be acoustic. Just the guest with his guitar. I suspect the food will be great and there will be plenty of booze. And I guess it will be interesting to get some insight into the singer/songwriter world even if it is pop country.

I just think it is funny that the one type of music I can hardly stand is what is being featured. I'd prefer hip-hop or rap to pop country ;-)
n80

Showing 3 responses by glupson

glupson
7,842 posts
 
n80,


"I’ve never been in an actual juke joint."
Those places still exist but they are not "Ground Zero" kind. I am resisting to go into details, but you have to know where to find them and you cannot go looking for them. Not as in some tourist sense "where locals go", but be one of them. As another poster mentioned, most are black and at times I felt I was the only white person who has ever set a foot there, but those were my people and fun was unimaginable. Of note, I even consider Junior Kimbrough’s place as somewhat touristy (before it burned down, of course).

As it seems that you are from the area and being a decent person, I wish this conversation was going on way back when...
glupson
7,842 posts
 
n80,

Once upon a time, it was probably a vibrant town where you could feel people live. I have not been there in 3-4 years, but then I thought it was clearly trying to cash in on the music history. Robert Plant paintings may be just that, in some way. I would not expect them there, but they do not surprise me too much https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walking_into_Clarksdale

Many more years before that, I ended up at Ground Zero. It had the looks of a regular juke joint, mismatched chairs and all. I chatted with the owner, not the actor but the other one, who looked like anything but the guy who owns a rundown place. Think pastel yellow LaCoste T-shirt, or something like that, ironed slacks, etc. At some point, they brought me a drink and I went to the bar and asked for the glass. The bartender pulled the glass out of the freezer. Nice touch, but not what would have genuinely gone with the décor. In short, it was a brilliantly executed presentation of what visitors would hope to see. The band was way too loud, though, and was the only one I remember from those days that did not play well.

Is the fancy restaurant, owned by same person(s?) (right side, walking away from Ground Zero) still there? It was really good although it was really long time ago.

I forgot the story about the crossroads, but there was something about crossroads in question actually not being where it is marked these days. I think it mentioned some other roads. Just in case, I actually did go there (these current "crossroads") at midnight. Nothing happened.


glupson
7,842 posts
 
Do not focus on music, focus on experience and I cannot see how that one could be bad. True, Clarksdale these days may not be Clarksdale of your youth, it is way more commercialized, but some festival there cannot be unpleasant.

Marginally related to this trip, you could invite your friends to be your guests at King Biscuit, It is usually in the fall, October I think. Helena is a historic marker on the USA music map for sure.

Or Memphis in May? You will not regret it. Guaranteed.

EDIT: I just watched the video you linked to. That kind of music usually feels much better live in some small venue. It may not be your preferred thing, but it should be way better than on youtube. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you, just in case.
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