Mavis Staples...

We have a list. It's the musical performers we would love to see. Mavis Staples is one that has been on my list. We got to see her at the Rail Bird Festival. Reportedly Mavis was once on Bob Dylan's list, but a different sort of list. He asked her to marry him. She said no. Makes you wonder if she let him down gently and thoughtfully or laughed him out of the room. Whatever this was a joyful, rousing set of inspirational music. 

It does not get much simpler or more powerful than a three piece band where everyone is a great singer. Mavis is 80 years old and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After singing in church and on local Radio in Chicago where she was born on July 10th, (same birthday as Mary) the family band, The Staple Singers took it on the road in 1957 when she graduated from high school and by the mid 60s they established a friendship with Martin Luther King and became the a musical soundtrack and spirit to the civil rights movement. That commitment to those ideas continues today. The Staple Singers hit the top 40 eight times in the 70s with two #1 hits. The awards and recognition have continued to come is the years since as have the critically acclaimed music releases. Ever wonder why your music does not get off the ground? Maybe you should examine the career Mavis has built.  

Mavis's dad Pop, Stables was a study on simple, economical, groovingly clean Fender guitar riffs to propel the music along. With Pops gone you can often find Rick Holmstrom and his group leading Mavis's band. Rick has a great Telecaster guitar Vox amp combo sound with delightful tremolo that leads the charge. Some of his solo work mixes samples, loops, acid jazz and trip hop with the blues based guitar sounds.   

At 80 years old Mavis had a chair handy and occasionally took a seat during the set. The stage this band was on looked right into the afternoon sun and Mavis mildly complained that the flooring was "hot on my feet." She said "I should have wore my other shoes." 

It was a great show, I hate to heard what Mavis sounded like if she woe more comfortable shoes.