This past Friday, April 23, WMNF presented the Blind Boys of Alabama and Bird Street Players on the Skipperdome stage. Unfortunately, my plan to arrive early enough to grab a bench was foiled by a predominantly older crowd; the extra-early birds got the worms and the good seats, which were filled with fans who'd been listening to the group for decades. [Picture below from the 2009 Roots ‘N Blues ‘N BBQ Festival in Columbia, Mo., courtesy of the band's Myspace.]
The show took off promptly at 8 p.m. with the Bird Street Players. I’d seen them perform at the Zombie Christmas show. On this noght, they proved to be far more energetic and funk-tastic. With bass, timbales, drums, keys, and electric guitar, they rocked the opening slot and announced that after the Blind Boys of Alabama finished their set, the Players would return for more.
The crowd was steadily filling in as the sun setting and the sky grew dark overhead. Mosquitoes were on the loose but the crowd was too excited to care, the place buzzing with anticipation. This particular 'MNF event had a completely different feel than the ones I'd attended prior. Perhaps it was the bluesy-gospel-harmonies about to ensue, but the vibe was simply amazing.
Decked out in sharp, sapphire blue suits and their signature dark sunglasses, the Blind Boys of Alabama were helped onto the stage to a huge welcome of applause, whistling and cheering from the audience. The group announced, "We don’t like to play for a conservative crowd, so if you want to jump up, jump up!" Then, they launched into a few of what they referred to as, “Grammy songs" and left the crowd in awe with their infectious energy and bellowed three-part harmonies.
This article appears in Apr 21-27, 2010.