Larry Garner at the Bamboo Room
August 30,2002
Went down to that Bamboo Room last nite and heard Larry Garner and his band. Small crowd, mebbe only 25 or 30 people, but he played for us as if the place was packed. What a pro, what a guitar picker, and storyteller too. Him and the band went off on one of those Boombaboombaboom snappy type Chicago fast walkin' blues and he told us the tale of the Pennsylvanian's at a club who sent a tray of Jack Daniels' shots over to the band. The band, being from Louisiana and all, felt that they had an obligation to drink anything that Pennsylvania could put out. It looked like the Communion tray at the church he said, but they drank 'em all. Then came another tray of Jose Cuervo shots, and they drank all that too. Then came another tray loaded with Goldenschlager.... you get the picture...He had us rollin' with this intro and then launched into his superbly snappy "Had To Give Up Drinkin'",
You need to quit drinkin' whiskey
Drinkin' vodka, scotch and gin.
You need to quit drinkin' whiskey,
Drinkin' vodka, scotch and gin.
When you wake up in the morning,
You don't know what you did or where you been.
"Had to Give Up Drinkin'"~Larry GarnerWent down to that Bamboo Room last nite and heard Larry Garner and his band. Small crowd, mebbe only 25 or 30 people, but he played for us as if the place was packed. What a pro, what a guitar picker, and storyteller too. Him and the band went off on one of those Boombaboombaboom snappy type Chicago fast walkin' blues and he told us the tale of the Pennsylvanian's at a club who sent a tray of Jack Daniels' shots over to the band. The band, being from Louisiana and all, felt that they had an obligation to drink anything that Pennsylvania could put out. It looked like the Communion tray at the church he said, but they drank 'em all. Then came another tray of Jose Cuervo shots, and they drank all that too. Then came another tray loaded with Goldenschlager.... you get the picture...He had us rollin' with this intro and then launched into his superbly snappy "Had To Give Up Drinkin'", You need to quit drinkin' whiskey
Drinkin' vodka, scotch and gin.
You need to quit drinkin' whiskey,
Drinkin' vodka, scotch and gin.
When you wake up in the morning,
You don't know what you did or where you been.
And can he ever play that guitar. No pick just bare fingers. At one point he got off the stool and went out in the audience to a good lookin' gal sittin' at the table nearest the stage, took her hand and used one of her fingers for a pick and never missed a lick. He busted the high E string and managed to change it and get back in tune in the time it took the bass player and the harpman to each take a solo.
Larry Garner's cool as can be. Came out during the break and shook everybody's hand and thanked them for coming out and supporting live blues. Matter of fact he shook mine twice, as I'd moved from a table to the bar to talk to Bullethaid Russell. Never heard a word out of him bemoaning the small turnout either. He's there for two nights and Saturday (tonite) should be better I think. Friday's are usually a little slow down there and everywhere I reckon. Bullethaid Russell was tellin' me about a wooden body resonator that he acquired called a Morell. Anybody hear of one of those?
There was a guy came in with a load of camera's who'd set up and was taking pictures during the first set and he came back to the bar during the break. We asked about his work and he went down and brought his whole portfolio of really excellent black and white photos of blues and jazz greats. I have no idea who he was but he sure did some good work. He had one of Larry Garner in a daylight concert setting and explained that he wanted a nightclub shot and that's what he was doing there. All his pics seemed to glow.
Second set started and it was then that people got up and started dancing. Why do they wait til the second set? Always seems to work that way for some reason or other. Everybody sittin' back on the barstools sat up a little higher when the woman gyratin'in the short black dress would raise her arms up, hopin' that dress would climb up a little higher. Yes, I am a pig, and I admit it.
By 12:30, I'd had about seven Kalik's (the Beer of the Bahamas) and my wallet was thin again so it was time to go home and conk out. Larry and the band was still playin' and they were still dancin as I stumbled towards the stairs, feeling like I'd heard some damn good music, and met some interesting folks. A good nite out for Tweed!
Go out and hear some live Blues whenever you're able, it's good for your insides. Go see Larry Garner if he comes to town. Guaranteed to have some fun.