April 11 & November 7, 1999 - "Die Blende", Düsseldorf/Germany

Smokey Wilson (voc, g) - N.N. (p, org) - N.N. (b) - N.N. (dr)

On October 7 Mississippi bluesman Smokey Wilson returned for his this year's second performance to 'Die Blende' club, located in the city of Duesseldorf. Credited as one of blues' best entertainers of the last years he entered the stage with a furios version of his trademark song 'Thank You For Making Me Your Star'. He did quickly let everybody know that 63 years on the road of life and one wooden leg can't stop him from playing some mean blues. Smokey put the spell of his very own style on the supportive audience and made the people feel the deep soul of his music. This time he surrounded himself with a very young and white american band consisting of bass, drums and keyboard. The man behind the keys surprised with his solid boogie woogie piano sound and some fantastic organ grooves (Hammond XB2). That groove put a whole lot of funk behind the funky guitar lines Wilson played. Wilson's guitar - well, he got his own thing. Straight bended notes created with his thumb and forefinger that made feel something special, hammerons be reminiscent of the delta and his interplay with the keyboards. All of this paired with a deep barking voice that only few singers have - he even tried to do the 'Wolf'. During his two sets - each of one hour - he only got time to do 2 slow tunes. When he did the intro (about 3 minutes) of the first one - playing with such a power and spirit most listeners screamed - I felt the special touch of Smokey's blues: chills going up and down my back. These are the moments no record and no live recording is able to capture. You got to feel it 'live' down at a club, just a few steps away from the stage.

Link: Smokey Wilson's Biography

In the 90s Smokey Wilson did three fine recordings for the Bullseye Label. His charismatic guitar playing and singing stands in the center. No overplaying by white rockers just true high energy blues with strong roots in the delta and the BIG city. Check it out...

           

Set list (1999): (incomplete)
Thanks For Making Me Your Star The Man From Mars Too Drunk To Drive You Don't Drink What I Drink	Down In Virginia (Jimmy Reed) The Things That I Used To Do (Guitar Slim) You Don't Love (W. Cobbs) If You Love Me Like You Say (Little Johnny Taylor) Got My Mojo Working (M. Waters)