My heels click on the sidewalk as I cross the street and walk down the avenue towards the Commercial Hotel. I don’t know why, but I’m nervous. I’ve been to concerts before, but never a Blues concert and I’m not really sure what to expect.
The bar looks pretty empty from the outside, a few guys sitting by the window and some people playing pool. It’s not until I step into the space between the two sets of doors that I can faintly hear the music.
A man dressed from head to toe in leather lets me past the chain and I am pointed towards ‘the beautiful Cheryl’ who is perched on a stool behind a cash register. The four dollar cover is no big deal, I’ve paid more to get into clubs that don’t have live bands, and I get my stamp and turn towards the sound of the music.
The guys playing pool to my right give me a nod as I pass and I follow the direction that all heads seem to be turned.
Passing under an arch, I find myself in a crowd of people and tables. The music hits like a wave, it washes over me as I weave through the people and find a spot directly across from the band to watch the show. I feel like my entrance has made a rift in the magic, but as I settle into the crowd, I’m being woven into the fabric of the spell.
“I got a big bag o’ blues, sittin here waitin on you
I got a big bag o’ blues, sittin here waitin for you
You say you like it blue, let me show you what I got for you”
The white ceiling fans aren’t spinning and it’s hot, really hot. The back door has been opened and there are people fighting for the coveted spots that get hit by the cool night breeze. And then, without warning, there he is — Sonny Rhodes.
He glows under the spotlight, dressed in a full-length white pinstripe jacket and trousers. His white tie pops off of a deep grey shirt and his white hat tops off the flashy ensemble. His musicians fade into the background, by comparison, mostly dressed in black t-shirts or vests. Sonny is obviously the star — and knows it. He shakes out his hands, says hello to a tall redhead dancing near the stage, and sits down to play his lap steel guitar.
The music never stops.
The dance floor is packed. There is a short, grey-haired man doing what looks like a mix between the jitterbug and having a seizure dancing in front of me, and the lady he’s dancing “with” is wearing a long flowery dress, eyes closed, and doing the two-step by herself. A girl who looks like a modern-day hippie is swaying near the front of the stage and her friend in red is just jumping up and down. Everyone is moving to a different beat, hearing and feeling the music in their own way.
Security is surprisingly tight, and the guards continuously walk through the crowd, chucking out the drunks and chatting with those who are just having a good time. It’s comforting in a way, the lady standing next to me says that it’s always this tight, but it makes her feel safe and she is comfortable just ‘letting go’ while she is there. Everyone around me seems to be letting go.
The universality of the blues is apparent. All factions of society seem to be represented in this one, cramped little room. I have never seen such an eclectic mix of people existing, dancing, and feeling together.
“I got fast blues, slow blues, blues in between
Up blues, down blues and blues telling me
Big bag o’ blues, sittin here waitin for you
Sit down and take a listen, that’s all I want you to do”
The music fades and Sonny announces that he’s going to head back home to Texas now and “bring out some good ol’ Texas Blues”. This seems to get everyone going and more people flood the dance floor as Sonny sings out “you the one”.
There is no dress code for the blues.
A man in jean shorts dances with a lady in plaid, and a group of women dressed in formal work clothes and heels are swinging each other around. Some people look like they’re already dressed up for church the next morning, maybe they’re planning on having a really long night. The dancing isn’t just happening on the dance floor either. There is swaying in the aisles, and movement in the seats. Everyone’s toe seems to be tapping, not all together, but to some inner beat that the music is bringing to the surface. Some move with their eyes closed and I can see the intensity of their feelings in their faces. Some, like the Rasta, (Bob Marley shirt and all), spin on the stairs, holding a bag of chips and singing all the words that he knows and even those that he doesn’t.
Sonny passes the honor of a solo to his fellow guitarist and a cheeky smile crosses his face as he looks up over the crowd. His white teeth flash in the spotlight and he nods his head at the girl swaying in front of him.
“I got a big bag o’ blues, sittin here waitin for you
A big bag o’ blues, sittin here waitin for you
If your mind is all blue, I got just the thing for you”
I am now fully emerged in the atmosphere of the room. There is an energy that is connecting all of us and continues to be woven as people come and go and the band plays on. The music feels spontaneous and there is a feeling that anything can happen. I can feel my adrenaline starting to reach the same high that the people around me have hit and the music is making me happy.
No one seems to be trying to impress. Like the music itself, they are real, raw. They are just there to be. There are no masks being worn tonight.
A man who looks about forty-five asks me to dance, I’m not quite brave enough yet, so I turn him down. We chat for a bit and then he heads to the bar.
There have been few lyrics in the music for the last little while, mostly long instrumentals and guitar solos that have kept a steady crowd on the dance floor. Out of nowhere, Sonny throws out the classic line “Keep on keepin' on” and the drummer jumps to his feet. We all seem to be raised up with him, even those of us that are already on our feet. He hammers at the drums and every eye is trained on this man in black who is leading us all towards an amazing climax. Hearts beat faster and I can feel the drum right down in the bottom of my stomach. As quickly as it started, it’s over and with a crash of the cymbal, the drummer sits down and Sonny starts singing again.
“I got blues as new, and blues as old
And blues is guaranteed to satisfy your soul
Bag full o’ blues, sittin here waitin for you
Sit down and take a listen, that’s all I want you to do”
There is a tall, well-dressed older man standing beside me. He tells me that no one should be standing still during this song and somehow, I am convinced. Edison and I start dancing. He closes his eyes, presses his hands together and just moves. I’m self-conscious at first, but I give in, close my eyes and do the same thing. The song ends in what feels like a second, and Edison thanks me for the dance and goes back to his friends.
I turn my attention back to the people in front of me. Their reactions to the music are intense and personal.
After a long bout of instrumental, Sonny leans into the mike and announces, “We’ll be here all night”. A cheer goes up and the guest keyboard player takes it away.
“Oh! Big bag o’ blues
Oh! Oh! Big bag o’ blues”
I pry my eyes away from Sonny and weave my way back through the crowd and towards the arch. I can’t help looking back one last time to see him shining in white.
The front of the bar is empty, just as before, and I exit out the side door leaving the last few chords of music behind. Despite the crowds and cars, the street feels empty. The spell has been broken.
Who is Sonny Rhodes?
Born Clarence Smith, Sonny was born in Smithville, Texas, USA, on November 3, 1940. He plays the lap steel guitar and sings the blues and delta blues. This legendary artist has recorded more than two hundred songs (!) and continues to play for fans all over the world.
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Meet The Author
Lindsay Shapka is an avid traveler and the creator of The Anthrotorian — a website dedicated to sharing travel tips, stories about adventures, culture quirks, artists you should know, fascinating bits of history, and more!
She is also an artist, marketing specialist, editor, and freelance writer who has work featured on websites, blogs, and in magazines like National Geographic Traveler.
