No matter what, music helps. Today I needed a John Lee Hooker break. Check him out doing Boom Boom from the movie The Blues Brothers. Make sure to turn it up really loud!

I was lucky enough to see John Lee once during the summer of 1999 at Suffolk Downs in Boston at a festival called The Guinness Fleadh, before he finally moved on to the great gig in the sky. 

It was a music lover’s dream of a festival with names like Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Richard Thompson and John Lee Hooker and a ton more! The running joke days before the concert was whether or not Van Morrison would show, as he is known for just not playing when it doesn’t feel like it. True to form, he didn’t show. But for me, I couldn’t wait to see John Lee anyway. And as he was pushing 80 years of age I likely wouldn’t have another chance.

My friend Tom and I got right up front for his set so that when he came out we could see both of his teeth perfectly! He played great and it was worth every penny. Everyone in range of hearing the music was moving with the blues. He’s was a musician the likes of which we don’t see much anymore. 

One thing that sticks in my mind from that day is that word had it that he was supposed to be introduced by legendary Boston DJ Charles Laquidara (a.k.a Dwayne Glasscock), but some promoter decided to screw Laquidara out of this once in a lifetime chance. It’s too bad to think that some yutz like me was able to be closer to that old legend than he was.

Anyway, take a minute to check out the video. I don’t think it’s possible to do so and not to move with the music. It’ll shoot you right down, knock you off of your feet… A-HOW HOW HOW HOW!