Eastside Kings Festival underway

Our US trip continued with a visit to San Antonio - my third - where we heard the news that the Queen had died, one of those 'where was I' moments that will stay in the memory. Back in Austin we bought our tickets for the Eastside Kings Festival, had a look around Antones record shop on Guadaloupe and ate a fairly average Mexican meal. Next day we had a look at Stevie Ray Vaughan's statue by the river and then took a long walk in the heat to the Texas Music Museum. When we got there it was closed but luckily one of the curators, Clayton Sharkey turned up. He showed us around and his love of all types of Texas music, from classical to conjunto, was obvious. In the evening it was back to Antones club for the first night of the festival. First up was Gypsy Mitchell, an Austin bluesman who I hadn't seen before. He made a big impression dressed in a black and white checkerboard suit and wielding a guitar. Numbers included 'Take Me I'm Yours', a deep Soul version of 'Closer To You', some funk, an excellent cover of 'Knocking On Heaven's Door' and 'Movin', with good support from two backing singers. He's a fine guitarist and a showman, as evidenced by a stroll around the audience, playing his guitar behind his head and standing on a table. A great start and the excitement continued with Ernie Johnson from Dallas, as he told the audience several times. A tall old school soul/bluesman with a voice similar to Bobby Bland his act was much the same as the show he did at Porretta in July with excellent versions of 'Dreams To Remember', 'It's Party Time' plus a tribute to Bobby Bland with 'Stormy Monday Blues', 'I Take It Where I Find It' and 'Drifting Blues'. It was easy to picture Ernie in small clubs on the chitlin circuit and his set was over far too quickly. Final act of the evening was Chicago bluesman Taildragger, a singer very much in the style of Howlin' Wolf who he worked with and who allegedly gave him his nickname because he always turned up late. Looking smart in a wide brimmed hat and brown suit he sat for his act as he was clearly none too mobile, but his deep voice was excellent. Numbers included 'Trouble', 'Where Did That Woman Go' and 'Be Careful' and backing by guitarist Hash Brown and harmonica player Keith Dunn was excellent. All in all a great way to start the festival.