King and his court grant an audience.Byline: LEWIS TAYLOR The Register-GuardTO GEORGE THOROGOOD George Thorogood (born December 31, 1950) is a blues-rock performer from Wilmington, Delaware. He was raised on Clearview Avenue in Naamans Gardens, a suburb of Wilmington. , being on the same stage as B.B. King means a lot. "He was the first blues performer I ever saw play live," Thorogood said, speaking by phone from Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . `It was a show at the Fillmore East in the fall of 1970. Elvin Bishop Elvin Bishop (born October 21 1942, in Glendale, California) is an American blues and rock and roll musician and guitar player. Bishop grew up on an Iowa farm. His family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he was ten. There, he attended Will Rogers High School. was playing with the Paul Butterfield Paul Butterfield (December 17, 1942 – May 4, 1987) was an American blues harmonica player and singer, and one of the earliest white exponents of the Chicago-originated electric blues style. Band. `I watched them play, and there and then, that's when I said, `That's what I want to do.' ' Although Thorogood has shared the stage with Muddy Waters, been in a music video with Bo Diddley and rubbed elbows with too many old blues Founded in 1873, Old Blues RFC is one of the world's oldest rugby clubs. Originally comprising of former scholars of Christ's Hospital, Old Blues Rugby was founded two years after the Rugby Football Union itself and the year after the very first Oxford University vs. greats to count, the Delaware blues rocker has never toured with B.B. King - until now. He and his band, the Destroyers, have joined the B.B. King Blues Festival as an opening act, along with junior blues-rock artist Joe Bonamassa Joe Bonamassa (born May 8, 1977) is an American blues guitarist/singer, well known for his gritty voice and technically accomplished playing; Guitar One Magazine has stated that he just might be the best guitarist of his generation. and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. The tour kicks off in Eugene on Saturday at the Cuthbert Amphitheater amphitheater (ăm`fəthē'ətər, ăm`pə–), open structure used for the exhibition of gladiatorial contests, struggles of wild beasts, sham sea battles, and similar spectacles. . B.B. King was touring through Europe with his famous Gibson guitar Lucille and was unavailable for an interview, but Thorogood had plenty to say about the 76-year-old star, who is widely acknowledged as blues royalty. "He's B.B. There's probably three entertainers in the world like him - entertainers who nobody doesn't like," Thorogood said. "The thing I like about B.B. is he's always stayed true to whatever it was he was about. He's always 100 percent devoted to his craft. `The other thing is, he never forgot the black community, and I always admired that about him." Unlike Thorogood, Bonamassa, the young kid on the tour, has a long history of performing with King. At the age of 12, the blues prodigy opened up a series of dates for King. Now 25, Bonamassa credits King with teaching him how to be a true performer. "It's not only about singing and playing well," said Bonamassa, speaking by phone from the hornet-plagued town of Pomeroy, Ohio Pomeroy is a village in Meigs County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,966 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Meigs CountyGR6. During the late 19th century, Pomeroy was an important producer of coal and salt. . "You've gotta got·ta Informal Contraction of got to: I gotta go home. shake hands and sign autographs. He taught me how to conduct myself in a professional manner." Bonamassa also has toured extensively as an opener for Thorogood. He said all the artists on the B.B. King tour were closely affiliated with one another. "I don't look at them as old guys. I look at them as great acts, and it's just an honor to be on the same stage as they are." Bonamassa and the other opening artists will play 45-minute sets. As the name of the tour suggests, King will be the highlight of the evening. With his vocal-string bends and left-hand vibrato vi·bra·to n. pl. vi·bra·tos A tremulous or pulsating effect produced in an instrumental or vocal tone by minute and rapid variations in pitch. , King's guitar style is unmistakably his own. His playing mimics his voice, and his pleading vocals echo the sounds of his guitar. King already has made his fortune and no longer needs to tour, but he continues to do so because he simply loves to perform. You might hear the multiple Grammy-winner play some of his concert staples, such as "Rock Me Baby," "Everyday I Have the Blues" or his 1970 crossover hit, "The Thrill Is Gone." Thorogood, who hopes to release an album of new material in the fall, should play a bluesier set of music than usual to reflect the theme of the show. Still, don't be surprised if you hear a little rock thrown into the mix. You can expect to hear Thorogood's version of the Hank Williams Noun 1. Hank Williams - United States country singer and songwriter (1923-1953) Hiram King Williams, Hiram Williams, Williams classic "Move It on Over," or his breakthrough 1982 hit "Bad to the Bone." Kim Wilson, co-founder of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, will bring his harmonica harmonica. 1 The simplest of the musical instruments employing free reeds, known also as the mouth organ or French harp. It was probably invented in 1829 by Friedrich Buschmann of Berlin, who called his instrument the Mundäoline. and his band's hybrid blues, which incorporates rock, soul and Cajun influences. The T-Birds are likely to play some slower songs along with some of their barn-burners from the 1980s, including "Tuff Enuff" and "Wrap It Up." Bonamassa, who is about to release a new album, "So It's Like That," promises a bluesy set of music with a little bit of rock mixed in for the sake of Thorogood's fans. Joined by his trio, he will play a combination of new and old songs. `Any time I'm able to go out and tour with B.B. King, I'll answer, `Yes,' ' Bonamassa said while running across the street to escape a swarm of hornets. "It's great to tour with people who are good musicians and nice people." Entertainment reporter Lewis Taylor can be reached by phone at 338-2512 and by e-mail at ltaylor@ guardnet.com. B.B. KING BLUES FESTIVAL WITH: B.B. King, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Joe Bonamassa WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Cuthbert Amphitheater, Alton Baker Park Alton Baker Park is located in Eugene, Oregon, United States, near Autzen Stadium. It features duck ponds, bicycle trails, and a dog park, and directly touches the Ferry Street Bridge. , Day Island Road TICKETS: $49.50 through the Hult Center box office, 682-5000, or on the Internet at www.hultcenter.org or www.hob.com ALSO: To hear music by Joe Bonamassa, call GuardLine at 485-2000 and select category 7664 CAPTION(S): "I don't look at them as old guys,' Generation Y bluesman Joe Bonamassa says of the headliners. `I look at them as great acts.' The thrill is here |
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