RSS 2.0 FeedJuly 8, 2010, Freeport-Baldwin Leader
Freeport businessman plays the blues
Last week’s Long Beach Blues and Arts Festival brought out Mike Barnett, one of the area’s most tasteful blues guitarists, for a show at the Long Beach Library.
A veteran musician in the jazz-blues vein, who owns Michael’s Music in Freeport, Mr. Barnett has opened for such musicians as B.B. King, Muddy Waters and John Mayall. Providing informative comment on songs for the audience, he started the set playing Muddy Waters’ Delta-blues-tinged “Rollin’ and Tumblin’ ” on his 1923 resonator, a steel guitar with cones that resonate to provide a louder sound.
Changing guitars to his favorite Fender telecaster, he then played Willie Dixon’s “The Same Thing,” a slow 12-bar blues before segueing into B.B. King’s “Lucille,” articulating the feel of the original with slow, forceful notes. Mr. Barnett then played “Londonderry Air,” from his CD “Bay Blues and Other Grooves,” a song familiar to all who know it as “Danny Boy.” “Londonderry Aire” is several hundred years old, he said, but is known as “Danny Boy” when lyrics are added to it.
He continued with a funky Freddie King composition before introducing Long Beach blues siren Pam Falcon. She began with “Summertime,” belting it out with verve. Explaining she had sung this song with Southern blues guitar great Johnny Winter, she then broke into “Tobacco Road,” exchanging flourishes with Mr. Barnett on guitar to keep her local fan club entertained and eager for more.