[rating=7.00]
David “Honeyboy” Edwards’ entire career is a testament to the nurturing power of the blues and his last recorded performance is a microcosm of the genre’s greatest qualities. Live at the G Spot preserves the way in which this man’s strength, endurance, and good humor elicited such well-founded tributes from the likes of Keith Richards.
No less heartfelt is Jeff Dale’s short essay in this double-disc package. Producer, director and accompanist on this set, the guitarist and bandleader of The South Woodlawners certainly has a vested interest in this project, but the attitude he purveys in his writing is much the same as in his playing: down-to-earth and to-the-point. Which is perfectly in keeping with this performance overall, the first three tracks of which consist of Edwards, Dale and the principal’s long-time manager Michael Frank. As contained in the video, this music comes naturally to Edwards and he displays not only how effortlessly but passionately he performs it.
The elemental style of playing combined with the innate simplicity of the blues doesn’t call for high polish—some might argue it undercuts its virtues—but there’s no denying how engrossing this show turns out to be. The cumulative momentum begins with “Ride With Me Tonight” and continues through a setlist of originals by Edwards (“Sweet Home Chicago”), juxtaposed with tunes from McKinley Morganfield, aka Muddy Waters (“Country Boy”) and the aforementioned opener written by Chester Burnett, nee Howlin’ Wolf. The ambiance of the Los Angeles room is so palpable, it’s difficult to resist a compulsion to turn the volume way up
As if the loose spontaneity of the musicianship during this 2010 performance wasn’t enticing enough, “Honeyboy’s” reminiscences of contact with the likes of Charley Patton and Big Walter Hortonon the DVD lend tremendous value to more than just the title of this set. And while a select few of the tunes on CD will be familiar even to blues neophytes, such as “Goin’ Down Slow” and “Catfish Blues,” it’s the more novel inclusions like “Apron Strings” that further elevate the worth of this package to a level deserving of David “Honeyboy” Edwards’ legacy.
