Benefit for Philadelphia Jerry Ricks, Oct. 28, Commodore Barry Club

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Benefit for Philadelphia Jerry Ricks, Oct. 28, Commodore Barry Club

POSTED: Wednesday, October 31, 2007, 7:17 PM

Filed Under: Music Show

Shemekia Copland, closing the show

Before we had Warmdaddy's, it was the Philadelphia Blues Machine who presented the best blues shows. Philadelphia Jerry Ricks' misfortune —being sick and without insurance, far from home — brought PBM's co-founders, Doug and Peggy Waltner, down from the Poconos to the place where they started, the Commodore Barry Club.

The CBC was wall to wall people, with non-stop music for over seven hours. Peggy estimated there were “well over 500 very generous people in attendance.” At $25 a pop just to walk through the door, thats concrete love, genuine encouragement to Ricks on his road to recovery. Peggy figures there was already $10K gathered prior to today and that with all the sales of donated CDs and T's, guitar raffles and 50/50s, etc, there could be another $10K added to the pile.

“We have another guitar coming that we'll be selling on eBay, plus [blues harp legend] Charlie Musselwhite has promised to send us a box of stuff once he gets off the road.” Seems like everybody knows Ricks and is eager to help. Peggy hopes people will continue to give, via the internet: www.mountainofblues.com the place to check for latest news and links to online fundraising sales/donations.

Late arrival keeps me silent on all the fine talent like the Dukes of Destiny and Ari Eisinger who played early on. Rolly Brown gave his usual tasty solo set, then joined harmonica player/singer Saul Broudy. If you know the latter and have seen him multiple times over the years you, too, might've found a certain comfort in knowing his set by heart -though, as Ann Mintz pointed out, the sound of the late, lamented Winnie Winston's steel guitar was sadly absent. David Bromberg made it a solo evening, also choosing comfortably familiar material.

After much pulling of tickets and awarding of raffle prizes, XPN'a Jonny Meister, guest hosted to warm up the crowd -as if that were necessary!- for Shemika Copeland. She set the tone from the jump, with “I'm a Wild, Wild Woman (and You're a Lucky Man).” Dancers crowded between tables, turning up the heat. What better way to honor Ricks and send concentrated good luck wishes for a speedy recovery?

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