BB King St. Louis Concert

[Ritchie200]

I saw BB King years ago in the 70's.  He was at the top of his game and it was an impressive show.  When I heard he was coming to St. Louis again, I ALMOST went out and bought tickets.  I then got to thinking that maybe it would be best for me to remember him in his prime.  He is obviously getting up there in years and this may be his last go-round.  I really struggled with this but decided not to go.  Here is the review:


King’s shows in recent years have featured as much talk as playing, and the 88-year-old musician is obviously slowing down, just as anyone would. But the balance slipped way out of proportion at this show. King sat center stage and spoke, sometimes in non sequiturs, sometimes inaudibly. He flirted with women in the first few rows and made a few ribald comments, without apology. “I like to have fun,” he said. “I love who I am and what I do.”

For a while, the audience was with him, laughing at his jokes and asides. But it was 45 minutes into the show before King performed anything resembling a song. Even then, his playing was shaky. He explained that he and the band had been off for two months, causing him to lose confidence.After a capable run-through of “Rock Me Baby,” he played “You Are My Sunshine” and asked the crowd to sing along. The house lights came up and King began noticing individuals and waving to them. As the song went around again and again, nattering on for — and this is not a misprint — 15 minutes, audience members began to heckle, yelling out requests or simply calling for King to “play some music!” Some walked out.King sensed trouble, but he couldn’t understand the things being yelled at him. Eventually, the music stopped and the show ground to an intensely uncomfortable halt.Finally, King realized what it would take to save the day, and his guitar sounded the clarion notes that begin his indelible hit, “The Thrill Is Gone.”That moment provided a hint of the brilliance King’s performances can achieve. But it was the only one. He completed just two more songs.


[/size]Wow, 5 songs for $100 a seat.  I really feel sorry for him because the review went on to say the band did nothing to help him or guide him along.  There were no handlers present to give direction to the show.  He obviously needed help.  I'm glad I did not go.Jim

[zendragon63]

Yep, that is about right. I debated going when he came to Boise about 3 years ago but gave in to the hope that I would hear some semblance of the King of The Blues. The expectations were quickly cut short. He played maybe about 6 or 7 songs the entire evening; the band would starting a song and get about a verse into it before stopping abruptly and blabbing about the some obscure event or some less than professional commentary on the women in the crowd--all the while the backing musicians just vamping for seemed like an hour--then playing a half dozen notes and letting the band finish it up. Even with his signature "The Thrill Is Gone" achievement. BB King was one of my guitar idols of my youth but even my lowered expectations met with disappointment. However credit should go to the band behind him that night because it was stellar in terms of groove and musicianship. BB would have--to put it bluntly--really stunk without them.

I suppose that this comes across as only criticism--it is not entirely; it was also a wake up call for me that we shouldn't hold the aging guitar idols to the same standard we think we remember 40 years ago. Most have moved on to broader musical horizons as they mature as musicians (Blackmore is but one example). They most likely will not deliver what they did in their hey day--that was then, this is now. But even the aging artists are obliged to have a reality check about the product they plan to deliver and price it accordingly. Rant end.  regards

dennis