Doheny Blues 2010...

This is seriously one of my favorite adventures of the year.
Dad and I have gone 4 years running now. It all started as a fluke due to he and I being huge Tower of Power fans. We noticed they were playing at something called The Doheny Blues Festival. Sounds fun we thought, local…lets go! It was the day after my brother’s wedding. Tired and hung-over as we were – we headed out. Amazing.
The next year T joined up with us, the 3rd year my bro and his lady joined up with us, and this year we missed T but my friend Tully and Nat joined up with us.
Dad and I are the originals.
I am a huge fan of blues music. I don’t know why, but it gets me. You HAVE to be a brilliant musician to pull of the blues. And what better place to listen to the blues then right next to the beach. This is why I look forward to it every year – I’m never disappointed. Ever. Dad and I have got it down to an art – how we arrive, what we bring, etc. I love it.
So this year:
The headliners were Black Crowe’s and Crosby Stills and Nash – I’ve always wanted to see Black Crowes and Dad and I both had seen Crosby live before – so we opted for Saturday.
I arrived bleary eyed, coffee in hand at my brother’s house a little before 7am. Nat followed suit and the 5 of us piled in Dad Tahoe and headed out. We got there well before 8am, got prime parking and set up our chairs in line – a bit closer then last year! “What time are we let in” Nat asks. “11am” we tell her. She looks confused, but we explain the need for early arrival for good parking and good spot in line – she thanks us later. Out come the newspapers, coffee, snacks, magazines and we camp out. 3 random fellows – 2 with guitars and one with a harmonica start to jam at their car. Our own breakfast set!! They rocked. Sometime around 9:30am we wander up to the line in front to exchange out our tix for wristbands and here is where we find Bob. He now joins our crew. We chat, people watch, become friends with our neighbors in line and all start to move.
The dudes didn’t even look in my backpack…this making me think I can sneak in some food/booze for next year pretty easily. We make the mad dash for a good spot at the mainstage. I’m a little disappointed we’re behind the handicap ramp again, but we make do. We’re here. Event cards are purchased and the 1st band comes on. Lisa Haley and The Zydekats. They were ok. Not great, for sure not bad. Not very bluesy – more folksy. Lisa Hayes sounded like she’d smoked a few too many whenever she’d speak to the crowd. After her set I was starving, so Bob and I got ourselves some amazing bratwurst and some booze. Blackstone Winery was there of course – so that was my frequent stop. I start playing with my fancy camera over booze and food as we laugh and chat and people watch. We notice the family with the zillion kids and crazy kid tent contraptions are in front of us again (3 years in a row now), the drunk dudes with the American flag chairs (2 years in a row) and the crazy lady with the mask (2 years in a row). Too damn funny. Igor Prado fro Brazil with Lynwood Slim start playing on the 2nd stage and Dad and I wander over and watch their whole set. AWESOME. Igor played the guitar fantastically and the bass player never stopped bobbing his head. The harmonica player was decent and they put on a great show. I also found out I have a killer zoom on my camera. Back to the mainstage for The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Kim Wilson – best harmonica player I have ever heard in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He played straight for about 20 minutes!!!! Who has that kind of breathing power!! They rocked. Black Joe and The Honeybears started on the 2nd stage – this was another food/booze run and Bob and I got part of their set – very cool. We also did the free wine tasting with Black Box Winery – a wine I plan to research more. Its boxed wine and it tasted really great! Next on the mainstage was Taj Mahal and The Phantom Blues Band – this was my surprise highlight. I always have one. They were f-ing awesome! Taj Mahal is the epitome blues guy – you blues fans I’m sure know him well. His raspy voice tore it up and they played the blues like their supposed to be played. My favorite of the day. Outstanding musicians, outstanding show, just f-ing outstanding! 2nd stage was Jackin Greene – we listed from mainstage, but he was just alright – didn’t really get bluesy until the last few songs. At this point our friend Nat got quite fried because she refused to put on sunscreen and was our main napper the whole day. Last but so not least – our headliner – Black Crowes. I have never seen them live but always loved their music and they did not disappoint. The took a lot of their hits and funked them out. Took different spins on a few favorites and Chris Robinson was pitch perfect. They had a bit of an annoying light display, but it didn’t distract from the brilliant set they put on.
As we rolled out, I was tired, sunkissed and happy. Another perfect day at Doheny Blues Festival. I can’t wait for next year!