The city has a pulse, a rhythm that gives it life. From the roar of the “El” as it races across the tracks to the bustle of people as they go about their day Chicago lives and breathes. No other music captures the heart of the city like the blues. The blues helped put Chicago on the map.
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Chicago Blues Fest 2009
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 Entertainment
Art
Grant Park
Chicago, IL
June 14, 2009
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Once a year Chicago gathers together to show its appreciation and it is always memorable. This year was no different. For three days Chicago went back to its roots and filled Grant Park with music lovers of all ages.
Sunday was the perfect day to take it all in. The sun was shining and the heat was blazing down. There is something about watching live blues that goes right to your soul.
On Sunday nobody captured the spirit of the blues better than David “Honeyboy” Edwards. At nearly 94 years-old “Honeyboy” is one of the last links to the roots of blues in America. In his prime Edwards played with Robert Johnson, Charlie Patton, Howlin’ Wolf, Lightnin’ Hopkins and many others. Instead of putting Edwards on a big stage like the Petrillo band shell he took his place in the small and intimate Mississippi Juke Joint stage at the end Grant Park.
Just watching Edwards play was magical. He may be nearly a century old but he can still tear it up with the best. “I can still do everything, it just takes me a little longer” Edwards said during a break. Age has caught up with him; it was hard watching someone else tune up his guitar because he could no longer do it. But once you put the instrument in his hands it was became an extension of his body and it was as if no time had passed.
With four stages music was everywhere you turned, pulsing through the air. Closing out the festival with Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings was a smart choice. Though her repertoire can’t necessarily be classified as the blues she embodies the spirit of the music and takes it in new directions.
Unlike Edwards, Jones needs all the space she can get. Bursting on stage at 8:30 p.m. she didn’t let up until the show was over. She will yell like a preacher and dance like she’s possessed. I’ve always considered her the rebellious love child of Koko Taylor and James Brown. If she ever decided to pair up with George Clinton (which she defiantly should) they would literally tear the roof off of whatever venue they played.
As the last song finished the sun made its way across the horizon. The weekend may have ended but the spirit of the music would live on well into the night.
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