Big Sam's Funky Nation
Santa Cruz American Music Fetival
Aptos Village Park
Aptos, Ca
May 24,2015

Recorded by Daspyknows

Recorded dead center 12th row circle of gold seats

Schoeps MK4 w/NBox Tascam DR-2D 24 Bit 48K

Processed using Soundforge 11, resample, to 16bit 44.1K
TLH to convert to Flac

Master 2015.18


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http://www.santacruzamericanmusicfestival.com/pages/general-info

After attending the Santa Cruz Blues Festival last year I wondered why I had not
attended the festival before. This year it was presented by a new group and billed
as the Santa Cruz American Music Festival. Given Steel Pulse was playing at the
Catalyst I had a doubleheader on my mind. I reserved a room on Airbnb close to the
Catalyst and had a plan in place. I arrived Fri night around 7 exhausted and fighting
a nasty cold. I was asleep by 8:30 and up at 7. I arrived at the festival around
8:15 and found neighborhood parking 1/2 mile away and walked downhill to the venue.
The line was 1/4 mile long but most people had GA tickets. At 9:30 I was leaving a
ticket at will call as the doors opened. This was a no food venue so search looked
tighter than usual.As I got close I noticed two guys who were not searching as close
as others and knew that was where I was heading. The person directing people to the
searchers was no match for me. All I lost was an empty coffee cup and a few rotten
berries. Although they sold lots of good food here there would be no time between
sets to wait on line. I got in and found seats dead center in the 12th row.

The weather alternated between sunny and overcast with a slight breeze. The first band
was Big Sam's Funky Nation out of New Orleans. They were a lot of fun and opened the
show the right way. The sound was good and they got the crowd up and moving. Next up
Ana Popovic who played last year. I was looking forward to her set. What is there not
to like? A woman who can play the blues as well as the men. She is also a tall blond
Serbian woman with legs that go on forever in a short red dress and heels. Besides the
visuals her set was on fire. Next up was Coco Montoya. I had never seen him before and
really enjoyed his set. As with many of the other artists, there was a tribute to BB
King who was an influence on the blues in a way that can't be overstated. Fourth on the
bill was JJ Gray and Mofro. I was totally unfaviliar with their music but was told they
were very good by a guy sitting behind me. I enjoyed their set but if I had to rank
them I would have put them fourth. That is just my opinion but not meant as a knock.
All the artists were great. Finally the last act was Bonnie Raitt. She is always a
favorite and put on a different set than usual. Some new stuff and other songs I don't
recall seeing. Again, homage played to BB King.

I got out of the show as fast as I could and had the walk up hill to my car. Not as
easy as the morning. I got back to the place I was staying, changed clothes, batteries
and took off the the Catalyst figuring a 9PM opening act.


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