Blues at Lafayette Hotel

By John Hickey
Upwards of 500 blues fans converged on Marietta’s Lafayette Hotel Feb. 18 for the River City Blues Competition, and dozens of them had to be turned away. The event, which runs from noon ‘til midnight, sold out by 6 p.m. for the first time in its 14-year history. This is good news in one respect; the event is getting the great reputation it deserves. But it pained the folks of the Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society of Marietta to have to turn people away. Cindy Deem, who’s part of the group, said that they would hate to have to leave the Lafayette Hotel, which has a funky yet elegant atmosphere that’s perfect for the event.

The fans who did get in got another year of great blues, with some standout moments. Don “Big Daddy” Gopp of Big Daddy and the Hoodoo Men opened up the blues skies playing T-Bone Walker’s “Cold, Cold Feeling.” Lightning Joe King ignited blue fire up and down the fretboard at will. Angel of Angel Blue and the Prophets traded “voices” transcendently with the sax of Joe Maryanski, who himself was pure gold on every lick he played.

The evening’s first-place winner was Austin “Walkin’ Cane” Charanghat, who evoked an old-time bluesman with his mastery of acoustic slide guitar. He pocketed a thousand dollars and won a spot at the River City Blues Festival March 18 at the Lafayette, on the bill with the likes of Sharrie Williams, Watermelon Slim and Slick Ballinger. Second place was taken by local favorites Marci Stanley and the Ride Kings. Because first place in the competition was taken by a solo artist, both acts will go to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge and the national exposure it brings.