Chronic Negress

The Negress shed her rock ‘n’ roll skin some years back like a lizard moving on to the next habitat. But a summons from an old friend had her out in the frigid climes to head to B.B. King’s Blues Club to hear Ian McLagan and the Bump Band. McLagan, a Face and Stone at some point, is on the road with his magic organ and a band of crack Austinites including drummer Don Harvey and guitarist “Scrappy” Jud Newcomb. They sounded good, almost as good as the old Faces (can we pray hard for a reunion and pry Rod away from Sam Cook and the American Songbook?). The Negress drank lightly confining her blues club minimum to one glass of Coppola Rosso Classico, which had a finish like Vicks 44 and a seriously indifferent Oxford Landing Australian Shiraz. As is usually the case, the evening was not about the wine but the company. Mac is lovely and drinker of pints as you would expect. The show did a lot to lift my spirits as I have been dealing with Medicaid and Mom and a somewhat erratic sister. I needed to rock with the old folks, the ones who know when to stop and play with fire and passion and dignity. It’s still a little weird to be integrating a blues club after all these years (I was the only Negro there who wasn’t in uniform), but Mac and some of my old friends made the trip out in the chilly night worthwhile. There was a lowkey afterparty at Manitoba’s, a bar run by Handsome Dick Manitoba of Dictators fame. The walls are covered with rock shooter photos and the booze is agreeable and cheap. I felt alive and comfortable in a way I hadn’t in a while and was delighted to see my old friend Jo Rae Di Menno of Hard Pressed Publicity. She’s working with Mac, and reminded me of how I had helped move an ex’s things out of their shared apartment. She’s friends with the ex now and has a 14 year old. Oh time, we love some of what you do to us, but sometimes I’d like to hold back the torrent long enough to let it all sink in. I was home at 3, like the old days but more satisfied with the night and less hungover. Go see Mac and the guys if they’re anywhere near you. Tell them the Negress asked about the organ. Buy the records and get happy. I did and it was utterly worth it.