"I've Got the Madison Blues..."

This past weekend was the Build Your Own Blues festival here in Madison, sponsored by my favorite local radio station, Triple M, so I ventured uptown Saturday afternoon, arriving around noon. Bought a snack from Oak House Bakery’s stand, there for the Farmer’s Market also going on that day, and found a semi-shaded spot on the Capitol lawn. There were two stages set up on opposite corners of the Square, and I felt a little guilty that I never walked round to check out the second one, but the group playing stage one, Arkansas Mel and the GoodDogs, was so good I didn’t want to leave for even ten minutes.

It was really the “perfect” day for a blues festival. Blue skies, warm but not excessively hot with just the right amount of breeze – so long as you weren’t standing in the sun too long. The grass was still a bit damp from rain the previous night, but not too bad so long as you had something to sit on. A few people had brought their own chairs, which proved a wise decision as only one stage that I know of (the one at Peace Park) provided chairs. That is definitely something that would improve the event next year. Sure, there were a lot of people content with standing and swaying along, and even a few brave souls who were dancing right up in front of the stages, but most people, I think, would have spent more time at the various stages, were there places to sit and truly enjoy the music.

NOT that people weren’t enjoying the event, I just think they’d have enjoyed it even more sitting comfortably. Still, there were a lot of heads bobbing along, feet tapping or hands beating time against a leg, and a lot of singing along when people knew the words of a song. Yeah…even I was singing under my breath a few times, though it was a more a matter of not being able to keep my feet from moving in time to the music. I’m not nearly bold enough to get up and dance in public by myself, though there were a few people down in front of the stage.

Arkansas Mel and the boys played a good selection of music, most of which I knew, a few I didn’t, like one that I think is called “Cash on Delivery” (Yeah, I heard those gasps of astonishment – hard to believe there’s a song I don’t know, huh? But they apparently do some originals as well as covers, so that might have been one of them). Some of those I did know were, and I think these are the right titles: It’s All Right; Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On (yes, I’ve actually heard this one before!); Change My Mind; Detroit, Michigan; It’ll Come to You (John Hiatt tune!); Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay (there’s an Otis Redding Memorial at the Monona Terrace in Madison); Hold On, I’m Coming; Soul Man; Fa fa fa fa fa fa (gotta love “The Commitments” soundtrack—and the movie!); Heart Made of Gold.

This is the kind of event that’s good for people watching, too. I sat out under the trees with my journal, and had also brought a book to read. There are some truly um…interesting, characters out there. A lot of nuts, too. There were a lot of different people, some alone like me, others in couples or families. A few dads had brought their kids up, and some of the younger ones were really getting into the music. No inhibitions there!

After Arkansas Mel and the Good Boys had done, I started the trek down State Street. There was a small group playing at the top of State, but I didn’t pause to listen to them (bad, I know), instead continuing along for a few blocks to Peace Park, a small concrete plaza on State, where the Whateverlys were performing. I stood through the first song, then found a vacant chair to listen to them a bit. This was the only area where I saw chairs provided, possibly by the stage co-sponsor, Folk at Five. This area was also nearly full sun, and between that and the mellow music found myself being quite sleepy. I could have easily closed my eyes and listened to them for a while, but instead prodded myself up and on, stopping mid-sojourn for ice cream from The Chocolate Shoppe (mmm…mint avalanche!).

I managed to find a spot under a tree near the Library Mall stage that provided a bit of relief from the sun (not a lot of shade, but it was passable), and finished my ice cream while The Danny Miller Band set up for their gig. Listened to them for a while before deciding to catch the bus back home. The sun and heat were starting to give me a headache, and as much as I would have liked to stay a while longer, heat stroke is no fun. Figured it was best to find myself some more water and someplace a bit cooler.

Apparently it was enough of a success that they are planning to try it again next year. I hope they arrange for chairs!

*****
Sunday was another day spent primarily outdoors, at a friend’s backyard barbecue. Another perfect day, weather-wise…blue-blue sky, a few wispy white clouds, warm but breezy. The only problem with this time of year is the bees, which are starting to get active. Ugh! Had a good time relaxing on the patio and listening to the stories and bantering. Lots of great fodder for the imagination there, just wish I could smuggle in a long-playing recorder some times (one that would run for three or four hours!), as I never remember half the terrific tales told.


And yes, there really is a song called "The Madison Blues."