JUNE 11, 2006: Hello Blues and Southern Soul Fans.Last night I attended The First Annual SOUL BLUES MEGA FEST at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis Tennessee.The lineup included Latimore,Lenny Williams,Sheba Potts-Wright,Omar Cunningham,Mel Waiters,Denise Lasalle,Willie Clayton and The Manhattans.At first I wasn't going to do a review of this concert because I arrived at the show about a hour and a half late.I was looking forward to seeing Latimore and Sheba Potts-Wright for the very first time.When I arrived I asked some of the people in attendance who had already performed?To my dismay Lenny Williams,Latimore and Sheba Potts-Wright had already performed.I was very disappointed because Latimore was the driving force for me to get to Memphis.I was joined on this night by fellow Dawg Pound member Big Daddy Ram(Rambo) and F.C. Parris(Big C).We had seats reserved right down by the stage so we grabbed a few Bud Lights from the concession stand and settled right in.With an apology to Lenny Williams,Latimore and Sheba Potts-Wright for missing their performances, sit back fans and let me take you on this blues and southern soul ride. By the time we made it down by the stage my man Omar Cunningham was about to hit the stage.The Mid-South Coliseum was the perfect venue for this show.The seating area on the floor was packed and everyone was already in that partying type mode.It was a festive atmosphere in Memphis and I told Ram and Big C we had to play catch up.My man Omar came on stage and received a huge ovation and he was really hyped for his performance.His first song was "Before I Let Go" and the women immediately hit the stage.We were surrounded by dozens of beautiful women who were all screaming and dancing.His next song,"Hell At The House" got me off my feet and I was feeling better by now.As much as I wanted to see Latimore my man Omar was ripping up the stage tonight and this made everything alright.His next song "Married Man,Married Woman" put the crowd in slow dance mode.His next song has become a personal favorite for me,"Sweet,Sweet" sounded just like the namesake.I've been playing this cut a lot lately since I heard him perform it live a couple of months ago.His smooth vocals on this song are terrific.If you haven't heard this song you are missing out big time.He closed his performance with "Check To Check" and the people in attendance were up and dancing.As always my man gave an electrifying performance. The next performer was Mel Waiters.Just like Omar Cunningham before him he received a huge ovation from the crowd when he hit the stage.He opened his performance with "Pop It Baby" and Mel went into a drop and pop dance routine that the ladies in attendance loved.His next song was "Smaller The Club The Bigger The Party" and I believe the whole seating area on the floor jumped to their feet.Mel had the crowd at his command.He left the stage and came down into the audience.Everybody was trying to get a close up look at Mel performing.I'm glad that the crowd didn't get out of hand as Mel made his way back to the stage.As he walked back on stage Mel began his soul-stirring testimony,"Thank You Jesus".I saw him perform for the first time a couple of months ago and I was wondering was this testimony a fixture in his show?I looked around to see how many in attendance would be respectful and receptive to this moment of praise.There are some good people in Memphis,because they like me was pleased to see in a venue where the presence of alcohol and grown folks music is present,people can still be thankful and grateful to GOD for all the many blessings bestowed upon us.I was really moved again by this.His next song was "Got My Whiskey" and the people were right back on their feet and partying.He closed his performance with his smash hit,"Hole In The Wall" and once again he left the stage area and went into the audience.The people in Memphis showed Mel Waiters a lot of love and Mel responded with a hell of a performance.With a strong stage presence,Mel Waiters remains one of the top showman on the southern soul scene.Great performance. The next performer was my favorite female artist,The Undisputed Queen Of The Blues,Denise Lasalle.She was led on stage by her son,Ray.The crowd gave her a big ovation and she was very appreciative.Memphis must be a place the Queen is quite comfortable with because she was very explicit tonight and the crowd loved it.She can talk s**t with the best of them.She opened her performance with "Down Home Blues" and she received a nice ovation,she continued her explicit ad-lib with "Someone Else Steppin' In" and Ram and Big C were loving it.Big C is old school and Denise Lasalle was one of the performers that he was looking forward to seeing.She performed my personal favorite "Trapped By This Thing Called Love" and I was up on my feet and moving to the groove.I love this song ya'll.I've heard her sing this song many times and it seems to get better all the time.Her next song was "Drop That Zero" and the ladies were feeling this one.She closed her performance with "Snap,Crackle And Pop" and once her again her explicit and raw ad-libs had the crowd cracking up.Her reference to Clarence Carter(Strokin'),Love Doctor(Slow Roll It),Theodis Ealey(Stand Up In It) and Marvin Sease(Candy Licker) was the best part of her performance.As always I was delighted to have the opportunity to see my favorite female artist perform. There was a late addition to the show and soul and r&b singer Glenn Jones performed next.He received a nice ovation when he came on stage.For most of his performance I was in the hallway area talking to Sheba Potts Wright because she was about to leave.I did catch the performances of two of his most popular songs, "We've Only Just Begun" and "Baby Come Home".The people in attendance appeared to have enjoyed his performance. The next performer was the dynamic Willie Clayton and he received a thunderous ovation when he came out on stage.The people in attendance were all on their feet and would remain this way for much of his performance.I would have to say that Memphis,TN is Willie Clayton country.He opened his performance with "Party Like We Use To" and it was one big party going on at the Mid-South Coliseum.His next song was "Simply Beautiful" and plenty of the ladies in attendance were all flocked down by the stage.By now the Bud Light had Ram,Big C and myself feeling like the rest of the people in attendance and that would be damn good.His next song was my personal favorite "I Love Me Some You" and one of the ladies by the stage wanted to dance and me being the southern gentleman that I am,I felt it was my duty to oblige her.WHEW! I was having a good time folks.He followed that with "Love Mechanic","Wiggle" and "Unconditionally" and again the same young lady joined me for a dance.His next performance was the highlight of the night.Southern Soul meets Hip-Hop.He performed Kanye' West's "Gold Digger" and the place erupted.He was joined on stage by his son Young Bap and the two of them together was awesome.They went into a dance routine that make the crowd go wild.Memphis,TN was alive and jumping tonight.He closed his performance with "Three People Sleeping In My Bed".I've seen his show many times and like all the others he was vintage Willie Clayton,totally AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The last performers of the night were the legendary soul and r&b group THE MANHATTANS.I've enjoyed their music for a very long time and I've never had the opportunity to see them perform.They walked out on stage and received a nice ovation.Big C was ready for this performance.I left out briefly to go speak to Denise Lasalle and Willie Clayton.When I arrived back to the stage area The Manhattans were performing many of their classic hits."We Never Danced To A Love Song" found me dancing with a different lady in attendance this time.I tell you,only at these shows will the women approach the men and ask them to dance.I was very impressed with lead singer Gerald Alston's voice.They performed a number of their classic hits including "Don't Take Your Love From Me","There's No Me Without You","Turn Out The Stars"(received a huge ovation), and "Shining Star".The last two songs were the best.The rest of the group left the stage and Gerald Alston performed a solo rendition of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" and people it sounded oh so good.Gerald Alston is one of the best singers in the world and he did our beloved Sam Cooke justice on this one.It was one of the most gut-wrenching performances that I've ever seen.They closed the show with one of my all time favorite songs,"Kiss And Say Goodbye" and everybody in attendance were all on their feet.It is good to see after over forty plus years of performing that The Manhattans Show still remains a must see.I was glad that I got the opportunity to see them perform and I'm looking forward to seeing them again in the near future. I did learn a couple of things last night though,if you plan on attending a show at a large venue in Memphis you better be on time because unlike the country they start their shows on time.Another thing that I learned was due to the large number of acts at a large venue in Memphis the performers time is limited and their usaul shows are cut in half and that really explains how I missed Lenny Williams,Latimore and Sheba Potts-Wright performances.I did have the opportunity to speak to Sheba and she just like so many other divas that I've met lately is truly a down to earth and humble young lady.She told me about her upcoming shows and I told her that I wouldn't miss her performance again.Ram,Big C and myself took a photo with her and THE SLOW ROLL IT DANCERS.She gave me a big hug and we agreed to stay in touch.Damn,I love this blues and southern soul thang.To Ram and Big C I enjoyed you all at this show and I look forward to us doing this again.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
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