X rated Bobby Rush takes the Biscuit

The headliner on the Houston-Stackhouse stage on the final day of the King Biscuit Festival was crowd favourite Bobby Rush, who treated the predominantly black audience to his full raunchy revue, with two dancing girls, who changed their costumes several times and shook their booties. Bobby was rude, lewd and definitely not PC, and the show was not for prudes, but it was fun and it is hard to believe that he is approaching 80. Backed by the Paul Brown band, he was in good voice, starting with So Fine, featuring the booty girls to good effect. His songs were about big women (featuring a pair of oversized knickers), cheating and hunting for women, with impersonations of Michael Jackson and Elvis.
Earlier in the day I flitted from stage to stage for a while as many of the acts were rather similar, with harp players dominating. Big George Brock, an 81 year old Delta bluesman, was good, but Dr Feelgood Potts and the Kenny Smith Band featuring Bob Margolin were so so. The Peterson Brothers, aged 17 and 14 proved to be excellent guitarists and are ones to watch for the future, but it was Bill 'Howl 'n Madd' Perry, playing with Chess sideman Cash McCall and Bill's attractive daughter Shy, was top notch on songs such as The Blues Is Not Exclusive,  Miss Mary Called Me This Morning, Shy's It's Alright and Banks Of The River from his new CD. I took a quick look at Larry McCray on the main stage, singing Love The One You're With, and some of the David Kimbrough Band, before thoroughly enjoying Blind Mississippi Morris, a harp man with a deep Howlin' Wolf style voice, also with Joyce Henderson doing Id Rather Go Blind.
I checked out another harmonica player, blues legend James Cotton, on the main stage, playing with Darrell Nulisch, before thoroughly enjoying Joe Louis Walker, who was on top form with I'm Not Messing Around,  Have A Natural Ball and You've Only Got One Time Around, among others.
Overall, a pretty good day, but a long one. Looking forward to a rest some time soon!
Nick Cobban.