"Chicago, September 21st 1974, Saturday.
... After taking their child Bobby to Wes Race's for babysitting, Bob & Sue
Koester & I went by car to the West Side club Ma Bea's - great atmosphere. Jimmy
"Fast Fingers" got on-stage after his band'd played quite a few blues
standards ("I Believe", "Sweet Home Chicago") - he did some
soul first, but his two blues numbers were great - he is a hell of a guitarist.
Very withdrawn, he just stands there in his well-dressed manner PLAYING.
People I
met invited me back - but I stayed in the hope that Dawkins had another set:
no, but I spoke with him again, got his autograph; he told me he's playing
Europe in November - good , I might get to see him. Steve and Rebecca took me
back.
Chicago, September 22nd, Sunday. Rose at 1:30 PM, left Steve &
Rebecca's flat - Wes'd called me at Koesters' - I apprehensively got the El to the
South Side, 54th & Shields - Florence's bar, where there's blues every
Sunday 1 - 7 PM! A black bar obviously - glad I got there! - Steve Cushing plays
drums for Magic Slim's band - they got on-stage again - God, how good, how raw!
Blues dead? - SHITE! Old, middle-aged mamas & papas dancing - everyone
enjoying themselves! Magic Slim played mean, loud, inspired guitar - like his brother
the bassist, he's a giant, and so friendly. There was also a third large
brother there! "All Your Love" & others, so great! Wes Race
arrived, I went to sit in Hound Dog Taylor's car - he, his "wife" Peaches
& her sister Frances - waited for a long time. Frances & I re-entered
Florence's, Pat somebody on the stage - loud electric Maxwell Street guy, with
his 2 young sons, and then more Magic Slim - ah! Got his autograph! Hound Dog
was trying to recruit a bass player, and eventually got Slim's large brother -
Dog drove madly (and alcoholically) to Aurora, Ill., trying to tail his drummer
Snake – an ordeal!
Got lost
in Aurora – had received bad directions to new club Opposition, in basement of
Aurora Hotel. I "roadied", helping to carry equipment, thus getting
in free & getting free drinks!
Whole lot
of...jerks, over-excitedly ordering Taylor to "boogie all night long
man". I sat with the band's friends next to the platform stage, with
Frances who was very friendly. Left Hand Frank played excellent Jimmy Rogers
style rhythm gtr - Hound Dog was too drunk at first to make anything but noise
- hot coffee remedied it somewhat.
Lucretia
sang first, then Dog laid down some excellent slow blues and boogies with words
like Sweet Home Chicago. I danced a few with Frances - the "bump" -
hip to body! - and a couple of slow dances.
Band was
stopped at 1:30 – there was a hassle because Dog was only paid 2/3 of his money
as he had arrived late – he was mad, hacked off with xx who wasn't even there.
We 4 in car ate (at LAST) before leaving Aurora for Chicago. Hound Dog is
a CHARACTER! Dog and the two women left me at Wes's at 5 am – he let me in, I
slept on floor."
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| Jimmy "Fast Fingers" Dawkins at Ma Bea's on the West Side |
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| Magic Slim at Florence's on the South Side of Chicago |
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