Review: Ottawa Bluesfest 2007

My thoughts on Bluesfest after three days of integrating back into the real world…I can’t say I left it completely; we still went to work (well most of us did) and we still managed to function at 80% which is more than anyone can ask from us; but now we are back into it fully. We are still feeling the aftermath of Bluesfest and the need to drink beer out of plastic cups. In fact, Karilee has just sent an invitation for a plastic beer cup party next Monday. Beautiful idea, beautiful.

Bluesfest was pretty well what I expected. I went in there not knowing a lot of bands fully so my expectations were low. I came out from every show amazed at the tunes I had just heard and the memories I walked away with. I did not have one bad concert experience other than the fact of not being able to see Buddy Guy that much because we had to finish our beer before going over to the River Stage. Gripe #1.

Gripe #2 is as always, the ever longing lawn chair debate. Bluesfest organizers, you did the best you could, and in the end, the people standing up won the battle. I feel empowered. Next year, make a separate section off to the side for the people with the lawn chairs. We’ll both be happy.

My top four shows:
– Steve Miller Band
– Sam Roberts Band
– The White Stripes
– George Thorogood and the Destroyers

This was my first year that I bought a full pass to Bluesfest and I did not regret it. If the lineup is worthy next year, I shall do the same. I enjoy the time I spent with my friends on the festival grounds and the music we heard.

Here’s some stats from an article about Bluesfest. In fact, go visit this site for a lot of information: www.ottawacitizen.com/blues

– Number of people attending Bluesfest – 300,000
– Cups of beer sold: 250,000
– Litres of wine: 62,000

One litre of wine equals roughly 3 beer, therefore
62,000 * 3 = 186,000 beers

– TOTAL Cups of beer sold: 436,000

Roughly 1.45 cups of beer sold per person attending Bluesfest 2007.

Not too shabby.

We left the festival grounds on Sunday and headed to McDonalds as it was our safe place from the real world – a world full of going to the gym, watching what we eat and drink, and conducting ourselves responsibly. You see, we escaped the real world for 10 days and we just needed a few fries and a burger to soak up all the good times. Going to McDonalds was a rite of passage back into the real world, one where we wouldn’t be touching beer every day, or staying up until the wee hours of the night, or having a burger from the greasy spoon.

It’s good to be back, but damn…it was a good ride while it lasted.

iplaying: Pinned Together, Falling Apart – The Dears (No Cities Left)

White Stripes Setlist

Stop Breakin’ Down Blues [Robert Johnson]
When I Hear My Name
Cannon
John the Revelator [Traditional]
Death Letter [Son House]
300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues
Lord, Send Me an Angel [Blind Willie McTell]
Wasting My Time
Instinct Blues
I Fought Piranhas
Let’s Build a Home
Give Me Back My Wig [Hound Dog Taylor]
Catch Hell Blues
Astro
Cool Drink of Water Blues [Tommy Johnson]
Ball and Biscuit

Icky Thump
In the Cold, Cold Night
Hotel Yorba
Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
Black Math
I’m Slowly Turning Into You
Seven Nation Army
Boll Weevil [Lead Belly]

Steve Miller Band Setlist

Fly Like an Eagle
Living in the U.S.A.
Abracadabra
Mercury Blues [K.C. Douglas]
Threshold
Take the Money and Run
Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma
Swingtown
The Joker
Serenade
True Fine Love
The Stake
Wild Mountain Honey
Dance Dance Dance
Rock’n Me
Winter Time

Jet Airliner [Paul Pena]

George Thorogood and the Destroyers

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer [Amos Wilburn]
Rock Party
Who Do You Love? [Bo Diddley]
The Fixer
Night Time [The Strangeloves]
I Drink Alone
Gear Jammer
Cocaine Blues [Clarence Ashley]
Bad to the Bone
I Got My Eyes on You [Mike Morgan & The Crawl]
Get a Haircut
Move It On Over [Hank Williams]
Love Doctor [Susan Angeletti]
Madison Blues [Elmore James]