By definition, for Watermelon Slim and the Workers, a break means interacting with the crowd. Some of this time was a one-on-one interaction, but a lot was with small groups. Just like going down to the local bar with the people you work with. At the Road House, it was CD Release night. This worked effectively like a book signing, but with CD's. You buy a CD and one, or all of the band will sign it. Again, just getting to know the crowd!
Giving the Workers an additional break, Watermelon Slim came back on stage and did two solo numbers on his slide guitar. The first was one that has not been recorded yet, but was written by drummer Michael Newberry who asked Slim to make it into a Cowboy blues song. Slim made it very clear that he was a Cowboy (he earned his Master's degree from Oklahoma State University; home of the OSU Cowboys) and not a Sooner. He also did a second song, of which I did not catch the name.
In talking with bass player Cliff Belcher during the break, I commented on how they can take what is traditional blues and give it a flavor all their own, and still make it so fresh. I said that what was remarkable to me was they could do it in both the live show as well as the albums. He remarked that when they do a CD, they try to get it down in as few tracks a possible and it dawned on me that that is really what makes their albums so good, is that they sound like they are playing to an audience. What makes their live show work is that they are playing to an audience.
The band came back on and commenced with the title track from their second album "Wheelman", followed by "Black Water and "Truck Driving Mama". It was here that they invited Oklahoma Blues guitarist Chebon Tiger, from the band House to sit in for a couple songs. As seems natural with this band, Ronnie Mack blended in with the crowd and watched the show and interacted with the fans. At times you could not tell the difference.
Article comments
1 - Josh
Well done, man! Sounds like a great show. I've yet to see Slim & The Workers in concert -- I hope to rectify that this year on The Wheel Man tour.
2 - T. Michael Testi
Thanks Josh,
It was a lot of fun. Definitely go see them!
T.