Live Review  23 Years at JJ's Blues Bar

23 Years at JJ's Blues Bar was truly a night to remember.  James Hinkle opened the night to an over packed house. His delta style of blues gave the night a feeling of party beads and ettoufee. It was so crowded that if one were to step back and take a look  it would appear as though we were watching  a group of 1950's frat brothers trying to cram into a phone booth.  Dave Millsap was up next.  His down home blues is no stranger tothe walls of this world famous Road House. The revelry was high and the talent was stacked up wall to      wall. If you weren't there then you were not part of the who's who crowd .
 Only God knows how many husbands and wives have met under that bra strewn celling. Thousands of some of the best Blues men and women have come and gone under that blue neon sign which illuminated the tin awning hanging over the front doors. Folks like Jaz Stevens who opened the bar 23 years ago and helped make the legend  by beeing one of the first bands to play at JJ's was in attendance. As was     the former mananger booking agent and mouthharp bartender "Dave"  who took  the stage to a thunderous applause and played with a fiercness that brought back many memories.  Along with other musicians who joined in  the celebration, Linda Harding got up on drums. Bobby Counts played some bass, and the horn section from the party band Latin express also played. Even  Elvis T Busboy  sang a few. Oakland  closed out the night with the same style he has been using for the last 23 years. Their are  a lot of stories to be told about the oldest Blues club in north Texas. Some are as true as the notes that they were played on, and some are just fun to play  because they strike a chord somewhere deep inside like the first time you heard the legendary Bugs Henderson or met that someone of your dreams. As I reflect on my time in this place I remember the 13 years ago which was when I first worked as the sound man at JJ's for 3 great months and now for the  past 3 years. I would not trade any single moment of that time for anything in the 29 years that I have worked in show business. Is the club closing ? Who knows but for now the stage lies dark and silent . If I may Tim McGraw said it in a song "I think I'll take a moment to celebrate my age the ending of a era and a turning of a page well now its time to focus on where we go from here" JJS blues bar till 2:00am........has come to an end .Goodbye from the crew, owner Jim,sound and booking Darin and Cristy, and the girls behind the bar that we all call sister,  Live long and never forget the day the music died.

Darin Wakeley
soundman JJ's
dallasmusic.com