Sounds like a good blues song, right? Hurricane Nate is travelling up the coast and sending some staggering humidity and thunderstorms our way. Had another quick breakfast at Yazoo Pass and then headed for the Biscuit knowing that we would need to be a bit flexible with plans today. There were a couple of panel discussions at the Orpheum in downtown Helena that we enjoyed. Several performers and event organizer led by a journalist talking about state of the blues, their personal stories (totally awesome tales) and the Biscuit festival.
we grabbed a seat by one of the side stages and enjoyed some noodles and a little Jimmy Duck Holmes with storm clouds threatening and humidity up around 99.9%
A lady came along with her grandson and sat down next to us on the curb using a towel for a bit of cushion. I could tell she wasn’t in the best of health and she fairly quickly packed the grandson off with some money to go have a good time while she listened to the music. We started to chat about kids and grandkids and when I told her that we were heading for Memphis she stood up and showed me that her towel was an Elvis towel, told me that she works at Graceland and gave me her cell and work numbers so I could call her and get free passes to Graceland! Yet another example of Southern Hospitality. She comes to the Biscuit every year and now just goes to the side stages as entrance to the main stage has gotten too expensive. As she said though, the music on the side stages is some of the best!
When it looked like storms were close, we packed up and headed to Friars Point and the North Delta Museum. Sadly, the museum was closed and no sign of anything like regular hours posted
Back at Delta Digs around 4, we finally walked across the street to the Blues and Rock and Roll museum.
The museum is one guys very amazing collection of blues and rock and roll memorabilia. A warren of small rooms, we were there for over an hour, blowing past their closing time which I did not realize til we were leaving and they were very gracious about!
And then, we partied like a pair of middle-aged people which is pretty darn good cause we have waved good-bye to middle age some time ago. PB sandwiches in our room and then we hit Red’s Lounge around 8 to see TailDragger Jones and then went on to the ground zero blues club for Super Chikan. Ground Zero really ramped up a bit after 10 when Super Chikan started to play a whole bunch of young, white, college age kids descended on the club. Guys in suits, girls in not a whole lot of clothes. Firing down shots and cocktails and I’ll skip the details but they were not a good addition to the club. First time I’ve mentioned color of anyone in this trip report, but it was,I think,sadly, relevent. Rolled back to the Delta Digs around 11:30 and slept real well!