JUNE 3,2006 MEGA BLUES SHOW Hello Blues And Southern Soul Fans.Last night was a great night for the people from the Mississippi Delta.The king of the blues,B.B. King had his annual homecoming in Indianola,Mississippi and 15 miles down the road in Greenwood,Mississippi a MEGA BLUES SHOW with a lineup that included Willie Clayton,Omar Cunningham,Jeff Floyd,Reggie P and Roni took place.I honestly don't know who booked these two shows on the same night but I wish that they could have made an adjustment.I was going back and forth on which show to attend last night.I've seen B.B. King in concert numerous times,dating back some twenty(20) plus years ago but with the passing of some of our most beloved artists the last couple of years it made me wonder if I would ever get the chance to see him perform again?He is now in his early eighties(80's)and he only come this way once a year now.On the other hand I've never had the opportunity to see Jeff Floyd,Reggie P and Roni perform live before.I didn't want to miss the opportunity to see someone perform for the very first time because you really don't know if you will get that opportunity again so I decided to go to Greenwood for the Mega Blues Show. When I arrived in Greenwood at the Leflore County Civic Center,I couldn't believe my eyes.Showtime was at 8:00 pm and it was now 7:45 pm and the building was just about empty.I was joined by my co-worker,Micheal Simms(Big Mike) and his friend Jackie.Three months ago in this very same building they had to turn away fans who didn't already have an advance ticket for a show and now tonight it was barely a hundred fans in attendance.We had no problem getting a good seat right down by the stage.I saw Willie Clayton and his bodyguard,Steve over by his merchandise table so I went over to say hello.I asked Willie was the show going to be postponed and he simply said, "no way Big K9".This is why I truly love this blues and southern soul thang,with an empty building the artists and the promoters said the show would go on.I went back to my table and let Big Mike know that the show was still on.He said the smaller the crowd the better so we began to sip our gin and juice and chase them with Bud Light.So with about only 200 hundred fans in a building that seats thousands sit back fans and let me take you on this blues and southern soul ride. My homegirl(Mississippi native),Roni was the first performer of the night and just like Ms. Monique a couple of weeks ago this was a much anticipated performance for me.We both were looking forward to meeting each other and I told her that I wouldn't miss an opportunity to see her perform.She and Jackie Neal were good friends and it was in this same building that I saw Jackie perform for the first and only time.As Roni walked out on stage she made it clear that although the house wasn't packed she was ready to let it do what it do.She graced the stage with a S-E-X-Y outfit and myself and a few of the guys in attendance were simply blown away.LAWD HAVE MERCY!I got the same feeling when I saw Jackie Neal hit the stage.She truly deserves the title of "Sexy Lady Of Southern Soul".With the face of an angel she began belting out Betty Wright's "Clean Up Woman" and we all gave her a nice ovation.She has an amazing voice and everybody down by the stage was feeling her."Do You Want What I Want" was her next song and the guys at the table across from us all said in unity, "hell yeah".It was nice to see with the small crowd that everyone was still having a good time.Her next three songs "Hit It Like U Miss It","Not Gonna Beg" and "Freaky" continued to keep the guys across the table from us hyped.Before she began her show Big Mike and Jackie weren't familar with Roni but by now they were loving her,her next song "Call Me" got the two of them up and slow dancing and they continued on dancing with "Cheating On Me".By now I observed that although she is a new artist she knows how to carry a show.I just hate that it wasn't a full house to see her doing her thang.She saved the best for last "A Fool On My Hand" she began to ad-lib with some explicit language which got a nice ovation from the people in attendance.Just like Denise Lasalle,Millie Jackson and Big Cynthia to name a few she delighted the crowd.She closed her performance with "Lets Shake It" and she asked the guys if anyone wanted to join her on stage?I'm from the old school and shaking it ain't my thang and I guess I hadn't had enough gin and juice to go on stage and make a damn fool of myself.I hate that the other guys in attendance didn't join her on stage but when she asked if any of the ladies wanted to join her she was able to get a fan to join her.Together Roni and the fan began to work it together and the fellas were loving it.I love how the artist in this genre of music allow the fans to be a part of the show.Before she ended her performance she said she had to really SHAKE IT and LAWD HAVE MERCY did she ever.She began to shake and wiggle like an exotic dancer and this received a nice ovation from everyone in attendance.Roni has the stage presence of a veteran recording artist.Her live vocals are terrific and those exotic dance moves makes her the total package.Sexy and soulful would describe her best.She is truly a major star on the rise.The divas of southern soul are getting stronger and along with a few more divas I can honestly see females dominating shows in the very near future.Take a bow Roni,your friend Jackie Neal is looking down smiling.This was a great performance that set the tone for the rest of the show.After her performance I had the opportunity to talk to her and like so many of these beloved artists from this genre of music she is very humble and appreciative to the fans who support their music.We took several photos and agreed to stay in touch.While taking pictures Miss Equal Opportunity,Pat Brown came over to say hello and this was my first time meeting her.She wasn't performing so I was suprised to see her,she joined me and Roni for a photo.This is why I love this blues and southern soul thang. The next performer was my man Omar Cunningham and just like Roni he acknowledge that the house wasn't full but he was going to deliver big.He opened his performance with "Before I Let Go" and the ladies in attendance started making some noise."Hell At The House" got me up and juking.He slowed it down with his next three songs."Baby Don't Leave Me","Married Man" and "Sweet,Sweet" got Big Mike and Jackie out their seats and slow dancing again,by now they were having a great time and this was just amazing to see.Omar had the people in attendance at his command.I've always boasted about his live vocals and with only a small crowd on hand he still delivered.A woman by the stage was wanting to hear his song "What Makes A Man" and it probably wasn't on his playlist but staying true to this genre of music Omar carried the tune by himself( this song is a duet with Jennifer Robyn)and everyone gave him a nice ovation.His next song was a rendition of Freddie Jackson's "You Are My Lady" and his soulful vocals were showcased to the maximum on this one.Damn that boy can sing!He performed his first big hit "Check To Check" and once again I began to get my groove on.He closed his performance with a sample from his new cd,"I Think I Have Made My Move To Soon" is the title and he was joined on stage by his friend and mentor,Willie Clayton.It looks like he's got another hit with this one.As always my man did one hell of a performance for us country folks tonight. The next performer was Reggie P and this was my first opportunity to see him perform.I didn't really know what to expect from him especially since the house wasn't packed.He came on stage and received a nice ovation.He opened his performance with "Nobody Wants You" and this was one of his songs that I really liked.I've never been to a Blues/Southern Soul show where an artist didn't have good live vocals.I just can't believe how good the artist from this genre of music sound live.Since the place was not full I was able to really study the artist during their performances last night and Reggie just like the other performers before him,he belted out every lyric with lots of energy.This energy carried over to the people in attendance because they were really into his performance by now.His next song "Come On Girl" allowed him to get the fans involved.He was joined on stage by a female fan and he and his band members began to cut up big time.This got everyone up on their feet.She was a large woman who was on stage doing her thang an those cats had a job on their hands.I don't won't to call it freak dancing that they were doing,I will refer to it as grown folks dancing.Enough said.I did get a big chuckle out of it.His next song was "Hold On" and went he left the stage thats exactly what he did.I thought the brother had lost it for a minute,he was walking around and not singing at all for about two minutes.I was worried about a brother for a minute but after the long pause(I still didn't get it)he resumed his singing and was even joined by Pat Brown to close the song and their vocals blended very well together.His next song was Z.Z. Hill's "Down Home Blues" and the small crowd made lots of noise.He closed his performance with my personal favorite "Why Me" and he was joined on stage by his neice and daughter.Reggie P is a solid performer who did exert a lot of energy for the people in attendance.Somebody just got to explain to me about that long pause in "Hold On". The next performer was Jamming Jeff Floyd and I've been a big fan of his for awhile now.I know that southern soul legend,William Bell has been a friend and mentor to Jeff since he began his recording career.I was looking forward to his performance.When he walked out on stage several more people had showed up and though still small in number he received the loudest ovation of the night.He opened up his performance with "Let Me Know" and for anyone who has seen this young man perform already know what I just found out,he has the most P-O-W-E-R-F-U-L live voice that I've ever heard.Whew!His voice echoed through the civic center like thunder.Damn!I can't count the number of fans in attendance but all of them were on their feet now.I stood in awe as Jeff began singing "I Got My Woman Upset".I've listened to his cd "The Power Is Still On" but I never really noticed how POWERFUL his vocals were.By now he had my full attention.The next song was "Lets Git It On" and I tell you people,the more Jeff sang the better it sounded to me.His next song was a rendition of Solo's "Heaven" and if you remember this song you know you got to have some strong pipes to pull this one off and my man didn't disappoint at all,he received another big ovation from all in attendance.The small crowd in Greenwood,Mississippi was loving Jeff Floyd.His next song was "Somebody's Gonna Lose A Good Woman Tonight" and just like Omar Cunningham had earlier carried a duet solo,Jeff Floyd did the same thing.I wish William Bell could have been there but Jeff didn't disappoint.He closed his performance with my personal favorite "I've Found Love On A Lonely Highway" and once again he displayed his POWERFUL vocals.Jeff Floyd has a strong stage presence and much charisma,as a matter of fact I would say much like T.K. Soul,Omar Cunningham and Sir Charles.Did I also mention that he has a POWERFUL VOICE?I've always loved his music but last night I became a BIG FAN.Damn good show!After his performance I got the chance to talk to him briefly.I told him that I was looking forward to seeing him on The Young Guns Tour.We took a couple of photos and agreed to stay in touch. The final performer of the night was the dynamic Willie Clayton.Believe it or not it appeared to be more people in attendance now or the Bud Lights were beginning to get to me.Anyway he opened his performance with "I want U" and the country folks appeared to want him too because now everyone was right at the stage for the final performance.His next song was "Party Like We Use To Do" and partying down by the stage they were.He slowed it down with "Simply Beautiful" and Big Mike and Jackie along with everyone else was again in slow dance mode."Cheating On Me" kept everyone up and dancing.His next song was my personal favorite"I Love Me Some You" and people I never get tired of hearing it.I've said this a thousand times,I can listen to Willie sing this all night long.He closed his performance with "Love Mechanic",Kanye West's "Gold Digger" and "Wiggle".Wille Clayton remains one of the top performers on the Southern Soul scene and I continue to enjoy all of his shows. I found out a couple of things last night.First of all the bigger the venue and the smaller the crowd,you can still have a great time at a blues and southern soul show,secondly the artists and the promoters for this genre of music are simply the best,thirdly B.B. King is still THE KING IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA because everyone was in Indianola and finally Jeff Floyd has a POWERFUL VOICE.To my co-worker Big Mike and his friend Jackie I really enjoyed you all at this show.I hope that we can continue to take this blues and southern soul ride together.Good people I had a great time last night and like always I just wanted to share it with you.Take care and MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. Big K9
WELCOME 2 DA DAWG POUND! DA HOME OF BIG K9
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