Johnny Winter at Black Music Festival

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BLUES // LIVING LEGENDS

STRINGS ON FIRE

Two guitarists with extensive careers, Texan Johnny Winter and Argentinian Pappo, will open tomorrow the second edition of the Blues, Funk, and Soul Festival in Salt, near Girona.

Johnny Winter, a blues hero, performs in Salt.

By Jordi Bianciotto

DETAILS

Location: La Mirona (Salt, Gironès)

Date: Saturday, 3rd. 22:30

Price: 25 euros

A pilgrimage is in sight for fans of blues-rock legends: Johnny Winter, a seismic guitarist and a cornerstone of this hybrid genre from the '70s, will give a single performance at the Blues, Funk, and Soul Festival in Salt (Gironès). In its second edition, the festival, running from tomorrow until 9th May, will feature other notable names such as the Frenchman Nico Wayne, Los Deltonos, and Big Mama. Winter stands out on the lineup, and the attention is well-deserved: the albino guitarist, known for his incendiary and personal playing style without ever falling into mere virtuosity, has rarely performed in Catalonia (his memorable gig at Palau d'Esports de Montjuïc on 18th May 1990, crowned with a rousing and Stones-like "Jumping Jack Flash," is still remembered). His classic albums, such as Second Winter (1969) and Johnny Winter And (1970; featuring another monster, Rick Derringer), remain cult pieces still circulating through word of mouth.

THE STAGE, LIKE HOME

The career of the 59-year-old Texan guitarist has leaned increasingly towards blues, leaving behind the more explosive sound that, in the '70s, brought him closer to hard rock. It must be said that the interest in his recent albums has waned, but the power of his live performances makes him a must-see for those who still believe that watching Eric Clapton at Palau Sant Jordi is the biggest favor one can do for blues music. In Salt, Winter will perform with the support of a band that has received much praise, featuring James Montgomery (vocals and harmonica), Wayne June (drums), and Scott Spray (bass) . Together, they will revisit The Best of Johnny Winter , released last year. And don’t miss the night’s opening act, Pappo's Blues, led by guitarist Norberto Napolitano, also known as Pappo. Another historic figure, in this case, of Argentine rock, which is to say, Spanish-language rock: Pappo worked in the late '60s with two pioneering groups, Los Abuelos de la Nada and Los Gatos (alongside Litto Nebbia), before launching projects like Riff and Pappo's Blues. A guitar hero with pedigree.

Published on page 7 of the Friday, 2nd May 2003 edition of "Viernes".

JORDI BIANCIOTTO

SALT

Fear hovered over the La Mirona venue in Salt, Girona, where Johnny Winter gave his only performance in Catalonia on Saturday night. Would the guitarist finally break down, as he had hinted during his troubled performance at Poble Espanyol in 1999? But the albino bluesman held his ground. He made his way to the stage with the help of a cane and performed the entire concert seated. His fingers didn’t fail him: even with a faint voice, Winter survived through a warm setlist of blues-rock, kicking off the brand-new Black Music Festival in Salt.

It’s been some years since Winter was the wild stage beast he was during the days of Captured Live (1976), and he now safeguards his performances by leaning on a singer and harmonica player, James Montgomery, who takes on much of the vocal load. Scott Spray (bass) and Wayne June (drums) round out the tight ensemble. In the center stood a vulnerable Winter, his right leg trembling constantly, with a cowboy hat on his head and his pale, tattooed arms resting on the guitar. He played with deep concentration, not looking beyond the neck of his guitar.

When he took the stage in front of over a thousand people, there was reason to fear the worst. But this was no living funeral: while our eyes saw a Winter aged beyond his 59 years, our ears heard a guitarist still lucid. Long ago, concerts built around guitar solos turned into caricatures, redundant rituals akin to gymnastic routines. And that’s precisely why it’s refreshing to see a lead guitarist who still has something to say beyond flashy finger exercises through "the six-string jungle," as Salvador would put it. Sure, Johnny Winter doesn’t have the technique of Joe Satriani or the speed of Yngwie Malmsteen, but his personal style is still worth far more than any flashy clone from a younger generation.

BLUES, ROCK, AND BOOGIE

Backed by James Montgomery’s strong voice, wild harmonica, and commanding stage presence—like a bluesy Tom Jones with a chest of reinforced concrete—Winter settled into his chair and got down to business, coaxing temperamental scratches from his guitar ( She Likes to Boogie Real Low ) and delicate, rural-tinged flourishes ( Blackjack , sung by Winter himself). He addressed the audience sparingly, in whispered English that was hard to decipher, and stuck to a script of rather fiery blues, tinged with rock and limping boogie moves. Wayne June had his moment of glory, not with a tiresome drum solo, but by singing Tore Down from behind his kit.

As the show drew to a close, Winter pulled out surefire crowd-pleasers like Got My Mojo Working (a Muddy Waters classic), Mona (Bo Diddley), and his anthem Johnny Guitar . Reluctantly, since mobility is not his strong suit, Winter left the stage with the help of his cane and a couple of friendly shoulders to prepare for the encore. The grand finale was a blistering Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan, transporting the audience back to Second Winter from 1969.

Back then, Johnny Winter was a storm on stage. Today, the storm has passed, but the wisdom remains. And one clear truth: rock (and blues) heroes are getting older.