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 Tail Dragger Tail Dragger - My Head Is BaldA Chicago Blues Club ExperienceGuide Rating -   Blues vocalist Tail Dragger (James Yancy Jones) has been a part of the local Chicago Blues scene for years. His style reminds fans of Howlin' Wolf, (who gave him his nickname). He still performs in local bars and Delmark Records captured a show in the summer of 2005 at Vern's Friendly Lounge. This DVD release showcases Vern's atmosphere as much as Tail Dragger's music. If you've never been to a real Chicago Blues bar, this DVD will lead you right to the party. Pros:
Cons:
Real Chicago Blues ExperiencePop this DVD in and take a trip back to 1960's west-side Chicago. Tail Dragger, along with some of the Windy City's best, bust into a set of real Chicago Blues in a real Chicago Blues bar. The performances are adequate, but what makes this DVD groovy is the whole package. The band, the bar, the cigarette smoke, the dirty mirrors and neon beer signs. The scene reeks of the Blues. Joining Tail Dragger onstage, or to be exact, in the corner, are some of Chicago's favorite Blues artists. Lurrie Bell and Kevin Shanahan on guitar, Billy Branch on harmonica, Bob Stroger on bass, Kenny Smith on drums, and joining the band on later cuts are Jimmy Dawkins on guitar and Willie Young on sax. Tail Dragger's voice does remind fans of Howlin' Wolf but unfortunately not his stage presence. His originals can be generic but he manages to tell his story. He does a good job of working the crowd of hard-core Blues fans, making you feel like your on a barstool in the middle of the show. The Real StarThe real star of this DVD is Vern's. This ain't no fern bar. The lights are crass, the place is dingy, there is no stage lighting, or stage for that matter, they need to take some Windex to those mirrors, and you can almost smell the stale beer/bleach fragrance that graces most great Blues bars. The place is perfect for the Blues! The bottom line on this DVD, do you want to experience the real Chicago Blues club scene? The musical performance is good, but the ambiance is better. If you've never been there, it's a great peek into the party. If you've been there, you'll appreciate the "real" aspect of the evening. Makes me want to head to Vern's for a boilermaker. |
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