Eddy Clearwater
Recorded Live at the Rawa Blues Festival
Cleartone
This isn’t a homemade or amateur DVD; it was produced by professional cinematographers. The performance was filmed by Polish
National Television and was originally broadcast on their network. The Poles used multiple cameras including one on a boom. Since
an option did not appear to select a 5.1 mix, it has been assumed the audio is only available in stereo. The concert was filmed at the
Rawa Blues Festival, billed as the biggest indoor blues festival in the world, in Katowice, Poland on Oct. 9, 2004. From the footage, it
appears the festival is held at an excellent venue. A large crowd, who are all standing, is shown witnessing Eddy Clearwater’s antics.
How, a North American Indian stomp dance song is used to introduce Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater. He takes the stage in his
trademark full Indian headdress and replaces it with a cowboy hat halfway through the song. In typical fashion, the lanky Clearwater
is flamboyantly dressed in bright pants, a white shirt, and boots. Chuck Berry’s "Sweet Little Rock n Roller" is a classic rock 'n' roll
song from rock's golden era, but this rendition lacks Clearwater's usual animation. "2x9" has oomph and drive. Ironically, it sounds
like it could have been written by Berry and comes complete with Berry riffs and duck walks. Long considered by some to be a Chuck
Berry imitator, Clearwater incorporated rock 'n' roll into his blues after hearing Berry in 1955.
Clearwater’s vocals are tame and a little high-pitched, but he makes them growl now and then. At times, as on "Lonesome Feeling"
and "Easy Is My Style", Clearwater, who was born Edward Harrington in Macon, MS, on Jan. 10, 1935, sounds like one of Chicago’s
West Side guitar masters. That's no surprise, given the fact the tall southpaw guitarist, who originally performed under the name of
Guitar Eddy, moved to the West Side at age 15. Clearwater’s guitar skills are exceeded by Mark Wydra, who breaks out the slide on
"That’s All Right" and plays the most famous solo in blues. You know the one that Muddy Waters and Bob Margolin play so well?
Throughout Clearwater, named as a word play on Muddy Waters, regularly smiles and genuinely comes across as having a great
time. For the most part, his supporting band is potent. The attractive bass-playing Heather Tackett practically disappears as she
stands to the back and right of the stage. Drummer Merle Perkins is a solid but weary pounder. Irek Dudek, the Rawa Blues Festival
director, makes a guest appearance on harp.
Clearwater has always been more about feeling than virtuosity. His engaging personality will entertain you on this 90-minute DVD.
- Tim Holek -
Southwest Blues DVD Review - March 2008
Current Reviews - 2008
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