Missing Monterey

It is one of those years where the Blues Festival would not fall on my birthday week-end. The keyword is would. For the first time in many years I am  not heading down to Monterey to listen to great music and eat my fair share of red beans and rice, chicken wings, and peach cobbler. I have lots of great memories. As those are what will get me through, I thought I would share some thoughts.

I attended the first Monterey Blues festival, when there was one stage with folding chairs and dust, but great music. I missed two or three in the ensuing years, until I reasoned it should not be missed. That meant that my son did not miss the Monterey Blues festival in any in his 11 years of life. I remember his in utero enjoyment of James Brown and Little Richard. Even then he showed appreciation for rhythm, kicking wildly (but on beat) especially through James Brown. I recall James Brown improvising a rap in appreciation of teachers. I will always remember his talking about his father and mother and the educational opportunities they did not have. Through the years I have seen many great artists there. My favorites still remain Clarence Carter, Denise LaSalle, Koko Taylor, Shamekia Copeland, E.C. Scott, Little Milton, Buddy Guy, and of course Kenny Neal. That is ignoring the gospel music on Sunday morning, all of the great Zydeco, and all of the great local artists with whom we are blessed. I now have to say I have attended the last. The world is changing, There is an empty hole in the fourth week-end in June. I am feeling sad. I need it replaced.
Rev. Adj.

Down At the Lakeside-The Search for a Blues Home

It seems we must go through periods of drought as Blues lovers. Our favorite clubs close; their owners move back down south, or die as in the case of Troyce, Carol and Ali. We search for a new home, while we continue stopping at "motels" .

I myself have had a number of homes. I loved the television show Cheers, because it reminded me of Larry Blakes. Many years ago, when there was always a designated "Blue Monday" party, I could go there and find my front row center table waiting for me, along with my Guiness. I sat there every Monday for eight years, with five other Blues lovers, or a hundred, listening to great Blues. Many of the performers there have gone on to be Blues "stars", playing festivals and arenas. They were the family that I had my Blues meal with every Monday. I learned Blues history, sitting in front of people who were living it and making it. I saw Otis Rush, Lonnie Brooks, Gatemouth Brown, and of course Robert Cray, Joe Louis Walker, Nick Gravenites, Mark Hummel. The experience of having those people in my home was phenomenal.

My first home was of course Eli's Mile High club. that was the place I waited to enter. While many young people want to be 21 so that they can legally drink alcohol, I wanted to be 21 so that I could get into Eli's Mile High Club. I knew if I could go there, I could hear Mississippi Johnny Waters, Sonny Lane, Mark Hummel, Sonny Rhodes, and any other great artists who happened to be in town. Once I made 21 and was allowed into my first home, this Blues heaven, it became the place of my Sunday nourishment. Seeing Bobby Murray, Pee Wee, Sonny Lane, and Francis Clay weekly, was a privilege that has sustained my life. Of course there were fights, and drugs, and shootings, but that was a small price to pay for a young person who had not yet learned to fear.

Then musical dollars changed again. It was less expensive to have music that was not live, or music that was not Blues. Slowly, most of my other hang-outs closed. Troyce Key died. Many of us did what we could to keep the family together, but it was not the same. We searched for a new home in which our family could gather. We found the 5th Amendment. Identity was mixed between Blues and Jazz. Yet it became our new home because J.J. Malone, Mamou, and Country Pete McGill lived their Blues there. Like Eli's, we could pick our night and the artists we liked best. Like Preacher at Eli's, we could develop a relationship with our favorite waitress or bartender. Blues people like it when they don't have to order their drink because the bartender or waitress knows their order. When Norm walked into Cheers Coach or Sam or Carla knew to get his draft beer ready. So it is at any good Blues home. Unfortunately the economy took its toll on the 5th Amendment and it stopped featuring Blues. When that happened I was homeless for awhile, until Country Pete turned me on to the "A&C" club. For some of us, for me, the A&C was like finding your first home. In Blues, I searched for a "juke joint". I had the pleasure of finding two in Mississippi. The focus of a juke joint is the music and the atmosphere. It is not a fancy place, it is a funky place, but the music is good and the people are for real. The A&C club had the same feel as a Mississippi juke joint. I spent a wonderful few years there. You know you have a good home when you will not leave at midnight on Sunday and you have to be at work at 7:30 AM on Monday. Sadly, Ali and Carol then died within the same week. Ali's brother kept things going for awhile. The city and state regulations made things difficult. Finally, the A&C closed for good, and I was homeless again. Around this time I found myself hearing about another club, also on San Pablo Ave. It seemed to barely have a name, which is promising if a place is going to be a juke joint. I finally figured out where it was and made it down there. The dress code was a bit much for me, but I was willing to sacrifice all but my baseball cap to go to "The Silver Shelter". At this point it finally dawned on me that all my blues family members kept finding new homes with me. Eventually, we would all end up in the same place. After a good year or two, it planned to relocate.

By the time we made it down to the Lakeside, everyone else had found it already. The Lakeside is home now. A place to find consistently good Blues and R&B on Sunday nights. Like Eli's people who are in town and in the know will drop by and sit in. There is enough of a dance floor to get a little exercise. It encourages a crowd of people over 35. This makes it possible to have intelligent conversations with people who have experienced life and can appreciate the blues. They know about Willie Dixon, and they may even know about Lonnie Johnson. With the challenges of 2011, it sure is great to have a home again.

Rev. Adj

Church of Blues and Baseball History

The Church of Blues and Baseball began over 20 years ago. As the founding minister and as a profoundly spiritual person, I needed a church that would meet my needs. I was raised in traditional Christian Churches (Baptist and Congregational). I enjoyed the oratory, the music, and the celebration of my history and culture. I suffered because I did not suffer from the same limiting beliefs as other church members.
Growing up in Berkeley and the East Bay, I was resistant to the dogma. I am the descendant of ministers, and "witch doctors". My roots are Southern Baptist, pagan, and everything in between. I studied all of the worlds' major religions. I found things of value in all of them. I am experienced enough to know that what works for me does not work for everyone. Thus I tried non-denominational churches. We shared our concept of a loving Christian God, but not the way in which we would worship him. I needed people who could worship like me, but would not judge others who did not believe in the same concept of God/Great Spirit.
I discovered I needed appreciation for emotion and the spiritual presence of Great Spirit. I needed hope. I needed people who felt the presence of the Great Spirit in the same way that I did. Then we could share that joy together. I have always had friends of many different faiths, or of none so,in short, I needed other people who experienced spirituality through Blues and/or Baseball. I found them and started the Church of Blues and Baseball. We have members on two continents and many states. We held meetings and published a monthly newsletter for several years. Then life intervened.
I started a family. Motherhood was my primary responsibility. Like any good mother I introduced my son to my passions. I did not give up Baseball, or Blues, but I had to make some tough choices. I could no longer travel whenever I wanted and see every Blues show or attend all the Baseball games. I even had to miss the World Series games in San Francisco (though I did manage the recognition ceremony when we chanted for Dusty Baker to stay).
Now, my child is old enough for me to follow my spiritual quest again. The bible asks for us to gather together. So here we are. If you are Jewish, Buddhist, Animist, Muslim, Christian,or anything else you are welcome in this Church. The requirements are that you try to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and that you are able to experience spirituality through Blues and/or Baseball. If you were unable to read the Church newsletter in the past, I hope you will enjoy the blog now. Whether you are new to the Church of Blues and Baseball, or an old member, let's continue on our spiritual journey.
In Love and Peace
Reverend Adwoa Mante'ete'

Inspired Again

Hello Blues and/or Baseball Fans. I know most of you have continued your journey in enjoying the experience of spirituality through Blues and Baseball. We have had a chance to share together at the Blues Festivals in Monterey, Pittsburgh, "Russell City" and wherever we are able to gather and listen to good music. On the eve of the observance of Dr. King's birthday, I feel inspired to share the gospel. I need to spread the good news of how God's glory can be revealed through the "devil's music". So, whether you are a member of our church, or just a curious and connected person, read on and allow me to share my experiences with you.
Rev. Adwoa Asabea Mante'ete' aka Rev. Adj.