Review: Paola Roots Festival

Above: Bernard Allison, a blues guitarist with a blue guitar. Photos by Bill Brownlee/Special to The Star

The $10 price of admission to Paola's 19th annual Roots Festival buys a lot more than a concert.

Along with the entry fee comes boundless small-town charm, the delectable aroma of barbecue and carnival-style children's activities.

Approximately 2,000 people took advantage of the bargain Friday night at the festival grounds in downtown Paola's picturesque Park Square.

"I like to see this many people come together for a blues show," Tommy Castro marveled. ""It gives me hope."

It's easy to hear why Castro recently won Entertainer of the Year and Contemporary Blues Album of the Year awards from the Blues Foundation. The slick showman's impeccably tight band plays punchy, well-constructed songs. Castro is also a dextrous guitarist who can expertly recall T-Bone Walker, Albert King, B.B. King and Eric Clapton. Even so, Castro apparently doesn't realize that his guitar solos grow tedious after three or four minutes.

Extended guitar solos aren't an issue for Shemekia Copeland. The formidable 29-year-old keeps the focus squarely on her powerhouse voice.

"I'm a woman who sings blues," she joked. "AKA: a woman with a lot of ex-boyfriends."

The pain Copeland conveyed in wrenching songs about domestic heartbreak ("The Other Woman") and societal troubles (her father Johnny Copeland's "Ghetto Child") provided the evening's most best moments.

Bernard Allison, a blues-rock guitarist, is also the progeny of blues royalty.

"We love you, daddy," Allison said after performing his father Luther Allison's "Serious." "He's still with us, y'all. He's with me everywhere I go."

Allison follows steadfastly in his father's footsteps. Copeland revisits the styles of Etta James and Koko Taylor. Castro's pleasing party music splits the difference between B.B. King and Boz Scaggs.

Honoring the blues tradition is admirable. Yet not a note presented by Allison, Copeland or Castro would have sounded out of place 20 years ago. This unwillingness to contribute new elements to the music creates a sense of stagnation. Providing a reassuring refuge for aging rock fans does not qualify as a great artistic achievement.

| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Comments

[C. Purvis, music critic impersonator]

While I went to the Saturday night event rather than Friday, some of Bill's comments would apply to that night as well.

I agree that 3-4 minute guitar solos get old--Saturday night's final two acts were chock full of shrieking guitar solos. However, that is what, I suppose, would constitute the opposite of stagnation--adding your own touch to cover songs, such as Johnny Lang's cover of "Living for the City". For me, a little of that goes a long way.

I only got to see and hear the last half of the last song of Patrice Pike's set but it sounded fresh and had promise of being something I would have really liked. That's what I get for showing up late.

Between Hamilton Loomis and Johnny Lang, it seemed to me that Hamilton Loomis had the better night of the two, especially when his bass player took a solo. Both play similar styles, and that style seems to place emphasis on jamming the maximum number of notes into any given song. While being an excellent method of demonstrating mastery of the instrument, it invariable produces very forgettable music. For me, the key is the right note, at the right time--that does it.

For ten bucks to see a half dozen acts (if one wants to spend all day there) and eat more fried food than one should in a lifetime, though, you can't beat it.

Go Lee Mott! The Roots Festival is be best thing that's ever happened to Paola, at least in my lifetime.

[gonzo]

Yo Tim are we going to get a review of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones show last night at the crossroads?

[pellboy]

Great lineup, great time Friday night! My 9-year old son even got to strum some power chords (and was given his pick)on Bernard's guitar when he came out into the crowd. A highlight he won't soon forget. First time seeing Shemekia...she was amazing. Thanks again, Lee for putting together another great festival.

[Casey]

How are you going to have a review on the freaking PAOLA music festival and not have a word mentioned about Club Wars finale??? No love for our home-grown rockers out there, but lots of love for nowheresville

[pellboy]

Let's see, do we review nationally known touring acts playing at a hidden gem of a festival (next year will be the 20th Anniversary) in close proximity to the metro or do we review some greaseballs with varying talent at some crap club in KC that nobody over 30 goes to? Tough choice.

[Laura]

We had waited over a year to see Bernard again and were not disappointed.

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