Just got back from a BB King concert and it was FANTASTIC!

This was at the Performing Arts Center at the University of Texas at Austin and we had seats in the fourth row, just to the left of center. Jimmy Vaughn and his band opened for the King with Lou Anne Barton contributing to vocals. They played a great set for about an hour.

After intermission, the King's eight-piece band played a couple of sets: baritone sax, tenor sax, trumpet, flugelhorn, drums, rhythm and lead guitar (in addition to BB,) and piano/organ. They played a good 90 minutes and had the crowd out of their seats dancing. At the end, he tossed guitar picks and necklaces to the crowd but we were a little too far back to catch any.

It was truly an emotional experience to see and hear such a legend up close and personal like that.

On a political note: BB mentioned several times some Austin celebrities, especially Willie Nelson, and, of course, the huge crowd cheered. But when he mentioned Bush*, the crowd groaned.

Now if EYE could only learn to play the blues like that... I'm in Austin too... where'd you see him at?

I don't know if it was sold out but it was a big crowd. Lots of fun!

I gotta see him before one of us takes the dirt nap. Consider yourself lucky!

Duh.... you said where you saw him in your first line :-)

I hope that means years and years of more BB King!

BB is the King. I did not get a pick either. :-(

I saw BB years ago at the Roseland in Portland. Forgot who opened, but the place was SRO packed after the warmup, and he kept us all waiting. He'd peek out from offstage, the audience would see him, we'd go wild, but he still made us wait. By the time he got onstage, a good half hour later, the crowd was worked up. A masterful showman.

In what context did he mention *?

too long.

He was mentioning people he knows in Austin and then he said something about the "president's" brother being from Texas and everyone sort of groaned. Then he added that the "president" was from Texas too and again, a groan. That was it. He didn't comment on the groans.

Didn't he?:eyes:

Almost might as well have done a gig in Ann Richards' back yard as in the "Super Drum"!:D

But, lucky you; good grief! You got to see the King of the Blues...oh, man; wish I was in YOUR shoes for this one!:7

B-)

it could have been! I think if he had mentioned him one more time, the crowd was really going to let loose!

This concert wasn't at the Super Drum but at the Bass Concert Hall across from the LBJ Library. It was cool -- they normally don't allow refreshments in there but tonight, we could bring in our $2 pretzels and $5 cups of wine! :D

I think that BB suffers under the delusion that they are still the party of Lincoln. Great talent, though.

Nothing positive or negative -- just groans from the audience.