It wasn't entirely my fault, though. My band is traditionally very busy during the month of October, having been a Halloween band ever since we recorded a Halloween CD for a novelty company some 20 years ago. It was no surprise that we were booked to play on Saturday, October 27th, essentially, Halloween weekend.
What was a surprise was that The Rock Hall's American Music Masters Concert was October 27th. It's always been mid-November. I know, because it's usually the day of my daughter's birthday party (no, I don't skip out on my daughter's birthday party. I just make sure that it's early enough in the day so I don't miss the show...).
Lo and behold, we're booked to play on the 27th. At least it was a cool gig; The Akron Civic Theater. Saw The Clash there. And Dylan. And George Jones. And my high school graduation was there.
Still, Chuck Berry was #1 on my list of performers that I have to see before I die (and, frankly.... well, the guy is 86 years old...). I had never seen him play (had chances, but never worked out). I couldn't miss this show. Period. I had tried to see Chuck on many occasions, but it always fell through. And the American Music Master shows that the Rock Hall puts on are always all-star events.
So, dilemma. Play and make my band happy, or not play and see Chuck Berry.
Well, I eventually said "let's play our gig..."
And I bought a ticket to see Chuck.
Understand that only a sick mind would be responsible for a decision like this.
OK. You knew that.
How would this work? Actually, I had no idea. One thing was for sure; I knew the Chuck Berry show would sell out (which it did). So, if the universe allowed this idiotic situation to somehow work out, I at least had my ticket. And at $30, it was a steal. And how about this all-star line-up: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Ernie Isley and Darryl DMC McDaniels, Dave Alvin, Joe Bonamassa, Rick Derringer, Rosie Flores, John Fullbright, David Johansen, Ronnie Hawkins, Steve Jordan, Malina Moye, JD McPherson, Lemmy Kilmister, Merle Haggard, Chuck Prophet, Vernon Reid, Duke Robillard, Ray Sharpe and Earl Slick.
Not bad, huh?
See, I've been to quite a few of these things. I knew it would start at 7:30 and probably would run till 11:30. The real problem was that the show was in Cleveland. Our gig was in Akron.
OK. So from what I understood about our gig, it was a Halloween ball. We'd be playing a short set (thank God!) from 8 to 9PM. Tear down, and I'm in my car by 9:15 (with band cooperation) and I'm in Cleveland and in my seat by 10:15 (that's taking into consideration the assumption that I immedialtely found a place to park that was close to Playhouse Square).
Amazingly, what happened was even better than my supposed best-case scenario. We find out (at our gig, about an hour before showtime) that we're playing from 8 to 8:45! JACKPOT! Hopefully, I thought, that would actually be the case. With my luck they'll love us and we'll have to keep playing!
As it turned out, the gig came off without a hitch (we had a ball and they loved us) and I was in my car on my way to Cleveland at 9.
I was in my seat by 9:45.
Jackpot, again.
When I got in the theater, the house band was playing an instrumental. I assumed the intermission had just ended, but the usher corrected me and said that there was no intermission. They're playing straight through. That spooked me. Who did I miss? Obviously Chuck was the guy to see, but had I missed Merle Haggard? Lemmy? How about Ronnie Hawkins (C'mon, folks! How freakin' often do you get to see Ronnie Hawkins?!)?
I didn't ask anyone who I had missed.
I didn't want to know.
So, first up (for me) was Rosie Flores. If you haven't heard her and you love rockabilly, check her out. Backed by the house band, she belted out a few numbers and whaled on guitar. Nice. She's the real deal.
At this point I heard a few audience members yelling, "Where's Chuck?!" Good news for me as it seemed that he hadn't played at all yet.
Next up, Merle Haggard. Yes! Hadn't missed him! He did two songs: Workin' Man's Blues and Chuck's Memphis, Tennessee. His voice and guitar were spot-on. First time seeing Merle, I'm ashamed to say.
Better late than never.
Next up, Ernie Isley. I've seen the Isley Brothers before, but have never heard Ernie sing solo this much (he's the guitar end of the Isleys. That great guitar you hear on [Who's] That Lady? That's Ernie). It was cool to hear how much he sounded like his older brother Ron. Obviously their simialrity is not a surprise, still, it was neat in a family sort of way. His voice is like Ron's, but is a little grittier. Ernie's signature fuzz-guitar sound was in full-force.
Darryl DMC McDaniels was joined by Ernie Isley on a version of Chuck's School Day. Darryl first explained that School Day was something he had been hearing MC's do for years, not knowing it was Berry who had written it. He told his story with humor, but made sure to make the point that we must give credit where's it's due. "Chuck was rapping before there was rap!" Always nice to see and hear Darryl. With Ernie along, it was great.
Next was Chuck himself (the bad news was I realized I must've missed Lemmy and Ronnie Hawkins. Hey, I tried). After being introduced ably by the Rock Hall's Terry Stewart, the curtain still didn't come up. Actually, Terry ended his intro with, "Next up, Chuck Berry."
And we waited.
After another long few minutes, a voice over the PA announced, "And now, Chuck Berry."
The curtain rose. On stage was a different band (I assumed it was Chuck's regular players). Out ambled Chuck, sporting a captain's hat and his signature Gibson Red ES. Turns out two of the players are his kids (daughter on harmonica and vocals) and son on rhythm. Chuck keeps it in the family.
Johnny B. Goode. Is it fair to say that it was a little strained? I mean, he's 86. Still, this is the man. Better strained than not at all.
The next number was Reelin' and a Rockin' which Chuck stopped almost immediately. Something was wrong, at least to Chuck's ears (to me it sounded better the first time around, but what do I know; it ain't my song!). Anyone who has seen the Chuck documentary Hail, Hail Rock and Roll knows that this sort of on-stage occurance is always a possibilty when it comes to Mr. Berry. Maybe he was just giving us what we expected. Once the song got going, it was good 'ol Chuck. In true Berry fashion, some of the lines were from the hip. I'm sure he's never sung this song the same way twice. Unfortunately in mid-song, he changed keys a half step (accidentally, I'm sure). This went on for a few moments before he found his way back home. After years of loud music, this sort of thing is going to happen. The crowd went with him anyway. And they went wild when, at 86, he went into his famous duck walk.
After the song, Chuck got his American Music Masters award. He seemed truly humbled. He brought his wife onstage and gave a shout-out his extended family in attendance.
Traditionally, these shows end with an all-star jam and this night was no exception. The finale brought everyone out for Rock 'n Roll Music. It was cool for me because I at least got to see all the folks I had missed earlier in the evening. It was a little rough (there were a TON of people up there), but they were there for Chuck and he seemed to really appreciate it.
Show over.
For me, all I can say is' "What a night." It was hectic, but I knew I couldn't miss this show. And I didn't. And it was all in the name of rock and roll.
On the way home I was relieved that it all worked out. It really shouldn't have. All kidding aside, I had created quite a bit of stress on myself, my band and my wife (who is also in my band). Still, it all worked out.
It should come as no surprise that one of my favorite artifacts found in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum is a brown piece that's home to some great lyrics: "Hail, Hail Rock and Roll. Deliver me from the days of old." Chuck's song School Day is, for me, the greatest, most iconic rock and roll song ever written. If a person were to ask what rock and roll is, all you would have to do is play that song. And I had to finally see the man who wrote it and recorded it.
I read in another review of the show that good old Terry Stewart (who is unfortunately retiring from The Rock Hall this year) had said during one of his intro's that he wanted to live in a Chuck Berry Song. Indeed. Actually, my evening was a lot like a Chuck Berry song. It was a wild ride, but it had a happy ending.
Lord knows, I needed to finally see Chuck Berry.
And I did. It wasn't easy, but I did.
And I was delivered.
