Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, 69, is a longtime Chicago electric bluesman and roots rocker with an affinity for wearing a full indian headdress that was given to him for good luck somewhere along life's winding path.
Originally from Mississippi then Alabama, "Clearwater" (a play on "Muddy Waters"), played guitar behind various gospel groups - including the Five Blind Boys of Alabama - and he was still playing gospel when he arrived on Chicago's West Side in 1950 at age 15. He soon got into the West Side blues sound of Magic Sam and the rock 'n' roll of Chuck Berry, and he's been rocking Chicago ever since.
Clearwater's latest (Grammy nominated) album, Rock 'n' Roll City, where he is backed by the outstanding instrumental roots rock quartet Los Straitjackets, is a pure delight (and imagine this fivesome live with Clearwater in his headdress and the Straitjackets in their Mexican wrestling masks). Focusing on the rock 'n' roll side of Clearwater's repertoir, this collection of mostly originals by Clearwater (who sounds a lot like Berry) and the Straitjackets rocks with abandon and good time verve.
Highlights include the Berry-inspired "Ding Dong Daddy" and "Hillbilly Blues," the mysterioso rocker "Monkey Paw," '50s-ish ballad "Before This Song Is Over," the Carl Perkins-like "Old Time Rocker," and a nice take on Fats Domino's "Let the Four Winds Blow." All hail the Chief!
Article comments
1 - HW Saxton Jr
Cool post Eric.I spend a lot of time in
Chicago digging the Blues & Jazz scene.
Mostly small lounges & bars in the West
and South Side neighborhoods well away from the usual tourist haunts & sterile
joints on the North Side.Anyway,the last
time I was there I went to Eddy's place
on Milwaukee "Reservation Blues Club".
It is a pretty cool little joint.Door $$
isn't too bad,drinks are reasonable,the
sound is good,the crowd a good mix of
young/old,black/white & tourists/locals.
Worth checking out if you're in Chicago
as it isn't as trendy overpriced as the Kingston Mines,Legends,etc.Plus Eddie is
usually holding court there if he is in town and not gigging somewhere else.He's
a real nice guy and still rocking his ass off to boot.Again,great post.
2 - Eric Olsen
Thanks HW, I was going to mention the club in the post but it closed in September!
With the increasing demands of his performing/touring schedule and his new high-profile release, "ROCK 'N' ROLL CITY" (Bullseye Blues & Jazz/August 12, 2003), Chicago blues legend EDDY 'THE CHIEF' CLEARWATER has reluctantly decided to close the doors of his restaurant/music club "EDDY CLEARWATER'S RESERVATION BLUES", 1566 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wicker Park, Chicago, IL on MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2003. Always hands on in the day-to-day operation of the venue, Clearwater and his wife Renee Greenman no longer can devote the time and energy necessary in running the club.
Frown.3 - HW Saxton Jr
EO,Thanks for letting me know about the
closure of the "Res".I went there in Aug
2003(saw Vance Kelly and The Backstreet
Blues Band)and had a pretty good time.I
got to meet Eddy but didn't get to hear
him play.I saw it was still listed in the Chicago Reader's club listings (as of last week)and I assumed(wrongly)that
it was still open.Guess that's the way
it goes.Eddy is really good live and he
is a real underrated guitarist.
4 - Eric Olsen
sort of an approachable Chuck Berry, or something
5 - HW Saxton Jr
EO,Thanks for letting me know about the closing of
the"Res".I was there back in August 2003(saw Vance
Kelly and The Backstreet Blues Band)and had a good
time.I got to meet Eddy C. but didn't get to hear
him play that night.I've seen him before at a club
on N.Halsted:"B.L.U.E.S".I saw that it(Reservation
Blues)was still listed in the "Chicago Reader's"
club listings(as of last week)and I just assumed
(wrongly)that it was still open.Eddy Clearwater is
a really good showman and an extremely underrated
guitarist.Hopefully,with this new release he will
get the recognition that he deserves while he is
still alive.
6 - HW Saxton Jr.
WHOOOOOOOOOOPS!!! I didn't mean to post that twice sorry!