He Can't Stop The Train, He Got To Let I Roll On!!! There were 300 very lucky people in St.Louis, Mo. the other night that came to see a show at Blueberry Hill to be put on by Charles Edward Anderson Berry at one month and two days shy of his 83rd birthday. What we got was a performance "Time Warped" straight from 1972 to the present!! It was like going to a baseball game to see your favorite player and have him hit a Home Run every at bat. Well each time Chuck stepped to the mic, every song he played and sang he absolutley hit out of the ballpark!! The Duck Room crowd rose to its feet as the "Father of Rock" took the stage playing his famous Rock and Roll guitar riff that he invented that led straight into Roll Over Beethoven. Part way through the song the "Son of Rock" CBII steps forward and takes a lead solo as Chuck steps back and plays rhythm side by side with the "Amazing" Jimmy Marsala on bass swinging and swaying their guitars in perfect unison, its Rock History still being made right before our very eyes!! Next is Everyday I Have The Blues with the "Daughter of Rock" Ingrid Berry on Harmonica. Then Memphis with Bob Lohr taking another solo on Chuck's very own lyrical masterpiece. Chuck's got his Rock and Roll Express in high gear as he unleashes Let It Rock!!! CB adds more coal to the fire while Ingrid joins in wailing away on the harp!!! You can hear, feel, and visualize the Train's drivers working back and forth with Keith Robinson's rhythmatic pounding beat on the drums. The crowd rises to its feet at the end of the song for a Standing Ovation!!! Chuck seems humbled by this and just a little embarrased saying - "There's more to the show" and he wasn't lying!! 3/4 Time is next on the list "Enchiladas and Ol Eldoradas" a song that you can tell Chuck especially likes doing, Bob Lohr tickles the ivories here also. After that always a crowd favorite whether you're young or old, Ding A Ling is sung with full audience participation. Next is Around and Around, again Ingrid joins in blowin' on the harp. I must mention now this is a fast paced concert, not much time between songs sometimes none, Its like one big Chuck Berry Medley. Bob Lohr told me after the show that when Chuck's in that groove and he's ridin' that wave, you just got to get up on that wave with him and that's when Bob gets going on the keyboard!! CB had a certain look in his eye all night long, you could tell he and the rest of the Band were having as much fun playing as we were watching them!! Chuck now makes the anouncement - "You name it, We'll play it"!! The Blueberry Hill crowd starts shouting out a wave of Chuck Berry Gold, he hears Rock And Roll Music and Nadine, the later I was holler'n for. "Ohh" Chuck says "You want some more fast ones"?? "You just want to see if Ol Chuck can still cut the mustard"!! he says teasingly. With that he broke into perfect renditions of both songs. Thanks CB for Nadine!! During Rock And Roll Music I see something flutter to the ground, I know immediatley what it was, El Maestro's PICK laying at his feet!! So without hesitation I rose out of my seat lean over, retrieve the dropped pick and place it back in CB's hand!! He hollers "Thank you Brother" and CBII gives me his approval too. Can the night get any better??!!!!! He then starts singing the blues, Mean Ol' World, CB then turns most of the vocals over to Ingrid who is not only an excellent harmonica player but a fine, fine, blues singer, she plays harp on this one also. Sweet Little Sixteen is next followed by a request from the bands own Jimmy Marsala, he leans and whispers in Chuck's ear. Jimmy wants to hear - You Never Can Tell - "Cest' La Vie". After that Charles informs his Dad that he hasn't played Johnny B. Goode. "I ain't played Johnny B. Goode yet"?? he says to the audience, "No Johnny B. Goode"??? And with that he proceeds to put Whip Topping and a Cherry on top of a already unbeleivable night by playing the Greatest Rock and Roll song ever Johnny B. Goode!! I scream GO JOHNNY GO GO!!! trying to help him out as best I can. Bob Lohr's riding Chuck' wave pounding the keyboard for all its worth!! Chuck then eases to one side of the stage, everyone in the Duck Room knows whats coming next... as he whirls around and does the "SCOOT" across the stage the audience goes nuts!!! He ends the song, and again the crowd of 300 rise to their feet giving Chuck and the St. Louis Band yet another Standing Ovation. The night ends with Reelin' and Rockin' Ingrid helping with lyrics and on harmonica then with the song winding down Chuck, Charles, and Ingrid bow to the audience, a gesture Chuck learned years ago from his Father Henry Berry a fitting way for the show to end....................
Chuck Berry and the St.Louis Allstar Band perform at Blueberry Hill once a month, every month of the year. Buy your tickets today..........
Doug
Move On Up Just A Trifle Further!!
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My friend Paul came with me this time, he's a lead guitar player, been playing for over 30 years with local Bar Bands. Paul is the one in the black shirt in the first picture standing with Joe Edwards Blueberry Hill Owner. I'm in the purple shirt and NY Yankee hat. We had a blast!! Near the bottom we are standing with CB Super Fans - Karen, Judy -"Chuck's Mascot", and all the way from Hawaii Mark "Maui" Peterson. Mark's plane was late getting in St. Louis and he walked in the Duck Room just after the opening band got done, Wheeew!!!! Mark's going to New Mexico tonight to see Chuck perform!! Karen and Judy are not just fans they are true ambassadors for Chuck. I was given the 'Royal' treatment by them and Mark. Judy's stories are great!! CBII is the best guy in the world, he makes you feel like a long lost friend. The bottom picture are the treasure's I brought back with me from St. Lou along with the memories I will have of this fantastic evening.........Thank You Chuck, Thank You Charles, Thank You Ingrid, Thank You Jimmy, Thank You Bob, Thank You Keith.....
Not near as cool as Motorvatin' though!!