by Pol Inate on Thu 25 Aug 2005 12:22 PM PDT
I love the Mountain Winery. It is such a good place to see a show. They have good food, decent bathrooms, good beer and wine. Most of all the shows there sound good. The seats are all pretty good.
It does get cold though and the seats are hard and the shows start right on time. I came prepared for two out of the three. We brought jackets and seat pads.
We got tickets last minute from a friend who ended up not being able to make it, so we arrived a little late. That ended up being a real shame as the opening band was The Rippingtons. Helena and I had seen them before and they rocked! So we end up getting there in time to hear the last three songs. As always, the playing was superb. Eric Marienthal played as one of the guests. Made me wish, we could have made it there earlier.
Then Al's bass player came out and sang one song, before another guest of Al's came out. Cassandra Wilson would have been okay if she just sang one or two songs, but she just kept on singing on and on. Some people really liked her. I did not. She might have been okay in a small blues club with a dirtier band.
Finally Al came out. I know a few of his "hits" and was hoping he'd play them. I was not too disappointed - he played some. This guy has got to be in his sixties or seventies, but he has a bit of energy. It was great to hear a really good vocalist using his craft to the utmost. You could tell he was having a blast.
I especially liked the comment he made about not having to grab your crotch, sing about "ho's and bitch's". It's too bad we can't hear more stuff like this on the airwaves.
BTW Al's backup singer had a great voice (and was cute) and his band was tight.
http://www.myspace.com/2aljarreaucom