Churck Berry at the Blue Note

Outside of the Blue Note in the venue minutes before the concert starts.

The man himself - Chuck Berry!

On 26 August 2009 legendary rocker Chuck Berry appeared for a night concert on 9th Street sponsored by the Blue Note. This is a tribute to Chuck Berry, who is now 82 years of age, and a thanks to the Blue Note for continuing to bring top notch entertainment to Columbia.


Under the lights of a hot humid night and at 82 years of age Chuck Berry was outstanding.
A classy articulate guy: Charles Berry, Jr., Chuck Berry's son.


Member of the band.


Here is an audio excerpt not so much of the concert but of the event ambiance with sound from the beginning, middle, and end of the concert. It gets a little better as it goes along so give it some time:



The venue was packed and VERY crowded with many participants drinking their beer but was surprisingly free of incident and trouble. Everyone was in a reasonably good mood considering it was hot and humid as well as the amount of drinking going on. Inside and outside the Blue Note it was an eerie feeling because the faces, the noise, the mood, and the atmosphere of anticipation was just like the French Quarter in New Orleans.

Berry played for about 50 minutes and it was a remarkable show considering his age. I think few people left disappointed. I had considered taking my younger kids but I am glad I did not. Short people were at a disadvantage on Wednesday night and what few kids I did see seemed to be leaving early with their parents because they simply could not see anything. Also, there were some people in wheelchairs who were similarly disadvantaged. Some of the concert goers, mostly older ones it seemed, came very early with their lawn chairs. It did not appear to help because sitting in a lawn chair makes you short too and it means you just came early to sit out in the hot to be surrounded by a jostling crowd towering above you blocking your view one the venue started to fill. So it goes.

Here are some video excerpts from the concert:




Notice that the video has an announcer mentioning the Roots 'N Blues 'N BBQ Festival which is scheduled soon for September 25th - 26.






View of the venue after the concert facing North on 9th Street.

Walking North out of the concert area on 9th Street.


Overall? It was a great event, and a great concert, and I am glad I went. This is another reminder for me that when an opportunity becomes available you take it. Turn off the TV, better yet get rid of it, and experience life.

When Time magazine compiled a list of the top ten electric guitar players guess who made that short list?

1. Jimi Hendrix
2. Slash
3. B.B. King
4. Keith Richards
5. Eric Clapton
6. Jimmy Page
7. Chuck Berry
8. Les Paul
9. Yngwie Malmsteen
10. Prince