Seven years ago, almost to the day, Texas-born bluesman Johnny Winter appeared in this Vermont venue, largely looking and playing like a shadow of his former self. It was only on the very last song of the evening, his signature rendition of Dylan’s “Highway 61 Revisited,” that the albino man came alive to the extent his lightning playing compared favorably with that of his heyday.
2014 was an almost entirely different story. The only frailty the venerable musician displayed was the stiff posture he exhibited being led on and off the stage. In that respect, he joins the ranks of many venerable bluesmen. Winter’s voice sounded weak at the outset of his seventy-five plus minute set as well, but that may have had to do with the level of volume on his mike or simply the need to warm up; he didn’t wait long after completing his band’s mercifully brief warm-up interval to dive right into “Johnny B. Goode.”
Chuck Berry’s ode to a guitar slinger came to be one of Winter’s signature tunes early in his career and it may be no coincidence the tune appeared early in the set, so he would prove how fast and fluid his playing remains. He went on to reaffirm his facility on the fretboard as the night went on, with few miscues, even when navigating the somewhat tricky chord changes of “It’s All Over Now,” including its angular riff of a refrain.
The venerable guitarist was in close connection with his band, engaging in harmony guitar with Paul Nelson on at least two occasions. The quartet found its way into the spooky melody of the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” after a gutsy reading of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” the likes of which Johnny Winter may have sped through at twice the speed 40-years ago, but now applied markedly more authority—perhaps due to his experiences in the time between.
Just shy of 70-years old, the albino wasn’t exactly animated as he sat on a stool stage center, but with obvious verve he introduced and counted off intros to tunes ranging from well-know culls from his prior repertoire. These compositions included “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl” and “Bony Maronie,” a Ray Charles cover titled “Black Jack” as well as Muddy Waters’ “Got My Mojo Workin’”
Elmore James’ arrangement of Robert Johnson’s “Dust My Broom” took flight via the slide Winter applied to his Gibson Firebird, just one occasion of many that brought fist pumping and yells of acclamation from an expectant audience. That response was nothing compared to the affectionate, well-deserved standing ovation Winter received after he tore his way through Bob Dylan’s “Highway 61 Revisited,” like more than a few tunes this late January evening, he sang only because he had to, cutting himself off with scorching runs that effectively lent the lyrics an even more comic/nightmarish edge. Based on this guitar hero’s latest return to the Green Mountains, it will definitely not be his last.
One Response
rest in peace