Larry Garner - Live
at "J&J Blues Bar", Fort Worth, Texas
January 1997
Well I had a tough time deciding who to see last night, the usual embarrassment
of riches in DFW, but ended up going to see Larry Garner at J&J Blues Bar in
Fort Worth. The main competition was Koko Taylor, though if I'd been 12 people
I probably could have gone to 12 different places last night and had a very
good time. It was just one of those nights, a lot of very good bands playing
on the same night. I've seen The Queen many, many times, but this was only my
third opportunity to catch Larry live and in person. I was not disappointed by
my choice. Hopefully Guitar Shorty or Long John won't be playing the same
night next time Koko comes through.
Larry Garner is one of the top blues song writers alive today. He is also a
real professional. Larry and the band arrived about 30 minutes before
showtime and he used those minutes to walk around the club and personally thank
every single patron for coming out. Larry is one sharp cookie. The crowd was
a little sparse at the beginning, but the place quickly filled up and by 11 pm
it was a packed house. Cover charge was $7.
The show kicked off at 10 pm with "Juke Joint Woman" and there were lots of
them in attendance. Larry was backed with bass, drums, and Seiji "Wabi"
Yuguchi, the Japanese harp player; the same band he had last time I saw him.
"Wabi's" harp work is getting pretty good! It was good before, but he is
getting _seriously_ good. The fancy white drum kit is gone, replaced by a more
standard rig.
The first hour set was mainly drawn from Larry's two CDs on Verve, with a
couple of covers thrown in and "Garner-ized". By that I mean he added a few
original lines about patrons, local restaurants, etc., that I suspect were made
up on the spot. It's pretty nice to be listening to a standard cover tune,
then suddenly hear a line about the lady dancing in front of you! Larry split
his show up into three-one hour sets instead of the standard (around here,
anyway) two-one and a half hour sets. Kenny Neal did the same last October in
Dallas. Maybe that's a Baton Rouge thing.
In the second set things started getting a little wild, as often happens at J&J
on weekends. About 10 feet above the dance floor, a sign and the
rafters are draped with women's undergarments that somehow make their way off
after a hot sweaty night on the J&J dance floor. This was one of those nights.
Larry had an errant brassiere hanging from the neck of his guitar and Wabi,
who seemed to be the recipient of most of the dainties proffered by the
audience, was unsuccessfully trying to toss other items to the rafters while
trying to play harp and keep from laughing. I'll remember that priceless scene
for a long time.
Larry on stage at J&J Blues Bar
Picture courtesy of Don O. - Visit his
DFW Blues
site
During the second set, Larry invited local favorite Oklin Bloodworth to the
stage to sing a couple of tunes. It was about this time that Koko Taylor's
band came in. The Queen was elsewhere, but guitarist Vino, and Koko's drummer
and bass player were quickly on the dance floor. Larry did a nice long version
of "Love Her With a Feeling", complete with detailed instructions, that had the
ladies hollering. They finished the set off with a hopping little instrumental
that featured Wabi trading harp licks with J&J bartender Dave Jeffery. (Dave
has his own harp rig behind the bar, tied into the sound system, and often
joins in, when he's invited.)
The third set started off with Larry introducing Koko's band and they took the
stage to jam with Wabi. Vino is a very good frontman and vocalist, in addition
to being a fine guitarist. I suspect he'll have a successful career on his own
someday. While he stuck to old standards, his stage patter, presence, and
delivery were star quality. Koko knows how to pick 'em. Larry joined them
onstage for a long T-Bone Walker duet with Vino that packed the dance floor and
led to the appearance of more underwear. Larry and the band closed the
proceedings with several more of Larry's songs and a sizzling version of
"Hideaway" that I think was enhanced by following Vino's hot guitar work. They
closed things out with "Tale Spreaders".
As the last call lights flashed, Larry told us from the stage just how lucky we
are to have a real juke joint in Fort Worth where "you can take off your lady's
drawers on the dancefloor and not get arrested." He suggested we shouldn't try
that at the Loews Anatole. I think we're mainly lucky to have a couple of bars
that will book great talent like Larry Garner. Tonight he is playing at the
Blue Cat in Dallas, though I doubt any underwear will be shed, and, in fact,
will be surprised if anyone even dances. That's the difference between Dallas
and Fort Worth.
Larry says he is currently considering several offers from new record labels
but is in no hurry to commit. He says he wants to take his time and study the
options carefully before signing with anyone. He also said the split with
Verve was mutually agreed upon and was more due to "give a damn" than to money.
( Larry subsequently signed with the German RUF label - Ed )
Larry also said he's been banned from Beale Street in Memphis due to some
comments in a print interview he made about its Disneyland-like atmosphere. Too
bad for Beale and Memphis. Their loss. (my opinion)
Don "up too late again" O.
Thanks to Dallas/Fort Worth DJ Don O for the review and also some photos of
Larry. Have a look at his
DFW Blues
website
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