If you've never been to that awesome section of Memphis called Beale Street, or that not so awesome war zone know as Iraq, then there's a good chance that you may not have had the wonderful opportunity to experience BILLY GIBSON.  And I used the word "experience" because that's exactly what seeing this wild man perform is - an experience.

 

    In Memphis, BILLY GIBSON, aka the "Prince of Beale Street", is a staple equal to BBQ.  Up until recently, when he decided to take his act on tour, you couldn't cruise Beale Street without smelling some BBQ or hearing havoc coming from a club featuring BILLY.  More often than not, that club would be the RUM BOOGIE CAFE.  

 

    American troops, the great men and women that they are, recently had a chance to experience BILLY GIBSON as he, and many other blues musicians, displayed a great act of patriotism touring Iraq and Kuwait to entertain them.  For that we owe BILLY and the rest of the Bluesapalooza ensemble a great big thank you.

 

    Now, the "LIVE AT THE NORTH ATLANTIC BLUES FESTIVAL" DVD, is a great chance for the rest of the world to have a BILLY "WILD MAN" GIBSON experience.  In past reviews of his work, I've referred to B G as the Mick Jagger of harp players.  If you've ever seen Mick's gyrations and romping around every inch of the stage, then you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.  As a matter of fact, back home at the RUM BOOGIE CAFE, BILLY'S use of the rail that's in front of the stage would make any stripper and her pole envious.    

 

    On the DVD, BILLY GIBSON on harp and vocals is joined by many of his Beale Street musical counterparts - DAVID BOWEN on guitar and vocals, JAMES JACKSON on bass, CEDRIC KEEL on drums and CHARLIE WOODS on piano and B3 organ. 

 

    On the opening track, an original called "DOWN HOME", BILLY wastes no time getting into his antics - one of which is acting like he's attempting to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records for not coming up for air for a very long period of time while frantically blowing on a harmonica.  The crowd's already howlin'

 

    Desperately needing to refill those lungs, BILLY mellows down a bit - but trust me, this can't and won't last long - and allows the guys to get into a nice funky groove on "KEEP DOIN' WHAT YA DOIN".

 

    On "BAD BOY", BILLY features all the guys in the band and it's quite obvious they've got some of their leader's enthusiasm.  After CHARLIE WOODS, a former "Beale Street Entertainer of the Year" winner, tears up the B3 organ on a fabulous ninety second solo, BILLY then turns it over to CEDRIC KEEL who goes into a two and a half minute rampage on the drums.  Of course, BILLY'S next and, as usual, he proceeds to literally empty his lungs through the harp.  This one's easily the DVD'S highlight.

 

    Other tracks include a slow cover of Willie Nelson's "FUNNY HOW TIME SLIPS AWAY", "TELL IT LIKE IT IS" - which features DAVID BOWEN at his best on nearly a four minute solo, and "POLK SALAD ANNIE" - on which BILLY tells the crowd "this is the portion of the show where I play the harmonica as hard as I can and try to make myself pass out" and the "wild man" actually means it.  Fortunately, after nearly six minutes of blowing out his brains, BILLY does not collapse and ends his act by jumping off the stage and partying in the crowd.

 

    I can't think of any other way to end this review other than to say you have got to see this DVD.

 

    Check BILLY GIBSON out at www.billygibson.com.  While you're there - just before you buy the DVD - tell him that one of his "Florida fans" - a group he dedicates a song to on the DVD - Pete the Blewzzman sent ya.

 

    This review has been complimentary written for your newsletter by Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro, a contributing writer for BLUESWAX and the Blues Editor at www.Mary4Music.com where you can read many more CD and live show reviews, view lots of blues photographs and find an abundance of blues material. I can be reached at Blewzzman@aol.com