Chicago Blues Festival 2009, Sunday: David "Honeyboy" Edwards

At early 94 years old, David "Honeyboy" Edwards can still command a stage - and draw a crowd. His performance on Sunday afternoon at the Mississippi Juke Joint stage was a highlight of the festival.


Honeyboy's Mississippi Delta style of slide guitar and moaning vocals hasn't changed at all since I first saw him in the early 1990s, and I suspect (but can't tell for sure) that it's just about the same as it was back in the 1930s when he hung around Robert Johnson and Big Joe Williams. This is living blues history, and everyone present knew.


Honeyboy started out with "Sweet Home Chicago," and played other classic blues songs.


Backing Honeyboy was Devil in a Woodpile. That's Joel Paterson on guitar and Rick "Cookin'" Sherry on harp (and occasionally, washboard). This acoustic-style band is perfect for Honeyboy's style, and they've played with him often.

















After taking photos, I stood off to the side and just listened. I was amazed at the way he plays guitar. It's so personal and intimate, more of a reflection than a performance. You can see his slide and the fingerpick on his index finger in the photo.

The only thing I would take exception with is his choice of baseball teams! But I guess if you're going to sing the blues, you might as well be a Cubs fan.