CHUCK BERRY - STILL REELIN' & ROCKIN'...

I've been back in St. Louis for almost two years, but somehow I just kept missing out on those legendary Wednesday night performances at a little club/restaurant called Blueberry Hill...  So, finally finding a night when I knew I would be able to attend, I booked a ticket for August 18, 2004... I'd seen Chuck many other times over the years, but the last time was probably 1996 at a big festival.... Had age slowed him? Did he still have it?  Well, this turned out to be one of the best shows I've ever seen him do... Unfortunately, it was kind of dark, so not many photos turned out well... If you're ever in St. Louis on just the right night, you should go check out this legend.  Chuck really hasn't gotten his due.  In some ways, I think he was even more influential than Elvis... Think about it: Every bar band in America knows the Chuck Berry playbook by heart, but I don't think the same could be said for The King... I'm already planning for the day when I get to see him again!

         
   

   
         

Once upon a time, no one had ever heard of Chuck Berry... They couldn't even spell his name!

         
   

   
         

Here's the fancy single cutaway jazz-box that inspired thousands of pimply faced kids back in the '50s to pick up a guitar... This is the actual guitar used on all the early Chuck Berry classics, and is on permanent display in the front of Blueberry Hill... I'm thinking it's a Gibson Byrdland, but I could be wrong... 

         
   

   
         

Chuck opened with "Roll Over Beethoven", and threw in some odd gems along the way, including "Put Your Red Dress On", and even a slow version of "Havana Moon"... He seemed to be genuinely having fun, even teasing the crowd with "My Ding-A-Ling", and alternate lyrics on several songs...

         
   

   
         

Here's Chuck Berry jamming with Chuck Berry, Jr... I guess I'm just ignorant, but I didn't even know he had a son... Then to find out he's a GREAT guitarist, too, was just a wonderful thing to see...

         
   

   
         

By the end of the show, the stage was crowded with enthusiastic young women, as both Chucks jammed on into the night... I'm thinking this photo was taken while they were playing "Rock and Roll Music".... Along the way, he also did a GREAT version of "Let It Rock", (his best song of the evening) and a nice, choppy reading of "Nadine"...

         
   

   
         

As with most any concert, or club show, the momentum always builds near the end... Chuck was smart to avoid the typical encore.  Leave 'em on a high note...

         
   

   
         

After pops went back stage, Junior stuck around, and graciously signed autographs long after the show was over... Not surprisingly, Chuck Jr. has his dad's licks mastered, but still has his own style... But, he seems to prefer a Strat...  Ingrid Berry also played along with some fantastic harmonica, and she's a terrific singer... Thanks Chuck!

         
 
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