“I’m Ready” (lyrics: Willie Dixon; music: James Moore), from “King King”
I’m ready, ready as anybody can be
I’m ready, ready as anybody can be
I’m ready for you, I hope that you’re ready for me
Continue reading
Archive for April, 2009
“I’m Ready” lyrics
Posted in red devils with tags i'm ready, king king, lester butler, lyrics, red devils, slim harpo, willie dixon on April 24, 2009 by J.J.“Goin’ to the Church” lyrics
Posted in red devils with tags goin to the church, king king, lester butler, lyrics, red devils on April 22, 2009 by J.J.“Goin’ to the Church” (Lester Butler), from “King King”
I’m goin’ to the church
Fall on my knees and pray
I’m goin’ to the church
Fall on my knees and pray
Got a bad old man
People I just can’t stay
People I just can’t stay
People I just can’t stay
People I can’t stay
Continue reading
DVD review: Red Devils at Moulin 1993
Posted in red devils with tags bill bateman, blues, dave lee bartel, dvd, harmonica, jonny ray bartel, lester butler, moulin blues, music, paul size, red devils on April 19, 2009 by J.J.By the 1993 Moulin Blues Festival, the Red Devils had been touring for several months on end, and the wear and tear can be seen — but not heard — in the three bonus tracks on the DVD.
While the band looks beat up, they are as tight a musical unit as one could hope for. The devastating, muscular tunes show why the band became legendary in just a few short years, and why they imploded just as quickly.
Paul Size at Moulin 1993
Immediately, you see a different Lester Butler from the 13 era. He looks dirty and heavy, with a bandana failing to keep his long hair from his face. A baggy shirt drapes his frame, and he sways precariously from side to side. His eyelids are heavy, and he has a not-all-there smile on his face. It’s a wonder that he can stand up, let alone perform.
The mini-set starts off with “She’s Dangerous” in the now-familiar live style, with the stop-time riff gone in favor of a piledriving rock beat. Bill Bateman swings hard on the drums, flipping his wrist to emphasize the snare beat. Paul Size, shirt open, cigarette dangling from his lip, eyes half-open, plays aggressively. The Bartel brothers hold down the cool: Jonny Ray swinging his bass at his hip, while Dave Lee strums frantically at his Les Paul Goldtop.
Continue reading
DVD review: Photos show Butler’s private side
Posted in lester butler with tags dvd, lester butler, photos, tattoos on April 16, 2009 by J.J.Besides the stellar concert, the DVD “Live at Moulin Blues Ospel 1998 — Lester’s Legendary Last Gig” boasts a photo gallery totalling about 80 pictures, many of which are never-before-seen personal images of Butler and his family.
Over a music bed of 13’s “Pray for Me” and “Way Down South,” the images on the DVD extra scroll across the screen in a rough timeline, beginning with Lester as a young, tow-headed boy with a girl assumed to be a sister. He’s wearing a tie and a red vest, with an angelic smile. It’s a great way to start this tour of Lester’s life.
Those close to Butler have for years talked about his love of surfing and the ocean, and here you see pics of an athletic looking Lester in surf gear at the ocean, looking like anything but the crazed harmonica player we’re used to seeing on stage. Pictures of Butler on a boat, or playing with children in a tent or gathered with his family at Christmastime show a more human side to the mythical “Lester Butler.”
Many of the candid photos look to have been taken between the Devils and 13 periods — Lester is thin and healthy, but missing his sleeves.
And fans will also laugh at a couple of photos showing a young Butler dressed in full blues-geek uniform: Short, slicked-back blond hair, poofy bowling-style shirts tucked into his pleated pants. Looking underage and scrawny, it’s easy to forget that Butler was just a blues fan like so many others, and did take some time before he found his own voice and style.
Less essential are still grabs from both 13’s and the Red Devils’ Moulin concerts. They are generally repetitive, especially given the moving images on the DVD’s concert footage. More interesting are backstage photos of Butler at Moulin, partying with Paul Size, signing autographs for fans, and intently watching another act from the audience.
DVD review: Lester Butler at his best
Posted in 13 with tags 13, alex schultz, billy branch, blues, dvd, eddie clark, harmonica, james harman, joe louis walker, lester butler, mike hightower, moulin blues, music, paul size on April 7, 2009 by J.J.It’s very easy in hindsight to project added significance to the DVD “Live at Moulin Blues Ospel 1998 — Lester’s Legendary Last Gig.” Every song choice, every note, every glance can take on a different meaning knowing that Butler would be dead just a week later.
The reality is he probably considered it just another gig. A great gig, a lot of fun, but a gig nonetheless.
On any level you choose to watch it, this DVD is required viewing for Lester Butler and Red Devils fans.
Long available on bootleg video, this new official version actually enhances both Butler’s myth and his reality. It shows him to be an outstanding frontman and bandleader and also, for the first time, gives a glimpse at the offstage Lester his family and close friends knew.
While the opening graphic demures, “These recordings were never meant to be published. Therefore we apologize for the poor video and sound quality,” this DVD of the May 2, 1998, concert is a significant step up from the VHS version circulating among tape-traders. The sound and picture quality is very good most times; some mixing problems mar a few otherwise fine performances.
Continue reading
