For many unfamiliar with blues, the names listed as performers at the Slippery Noodle have little familiarity but for those who attend the live shows the names become embedded in their memories from the performance witnessed. The same happened on Thursday as Grady Champion passed through town stopping at Indiana’s oldest blues club. Grady is a seasoned performer with a feather under his cap. The feather came after winning the International Blues Challenge last February in Memphis, home of www.blues.org and a tradition of blues greats!  On this night Grady displayed why he was a winner as he commanded attention with his unique vocals and harp play. Blues harp or harmonica is part of the traditional blues genre but Grady took it to new heights with all the songs he entertained with. For even the least knowledgeable of music fans his songs would have been familiar with classics like Sweet Home Chicago, Stand By Me, Shake your Money Maker, and Midnight Hour. Grady gave stirring energy charged performances on Hoochie Coochie Man and his best of the night, Smokestack Lightning.

Grady’s energy energized the audience and entertained as he moved throughout the place with his harp and wireless microphone and he rarely stopped dancing as he played except for a few moments when he was playing for a couple or someone seated. With the amount of charisma and stage presence flowing from Grady it was obvious he was born to sing the blues and his harp was another extension of the passionate soul that sought out to entertain the masses. After the Indy appearance Grady would be on his way to a blues festival where he would perform to a much larger audience but his performance was no less on this night as he knew any time he could express himself through music he was in a state of euphoria and it showed. From his unique but exciting vocals to his harp play and showmanship Grady showed many good reason to feel good and he made mention of it all night long. You never know what to expect with someone new unless you’ve previewed an artist on youtube or their site but even then you can’t get the real flavor until you’ve seen it live and Grady was no exception because his performance was so much more than any ideas created through media. I’m always preaching to readers to get out and experience the music live especially in small venues where it’s up close and personal and you get the spontaneity from it. I was recently at the Crossroads Guitar Festival and as great as it was you didn’t see the spontaneity I speak of at that event but on any given night you can see it from those live on the small stage, and they need your support. Grady was a great show and if harp music has appeal to you then check him out www.gradychampion.com and follow the blues schedule at www.slipperynoodle.com to see who else you’d like to discover! The music is out there and it’s better to find it now and enjoy it for years to come, so come on out and get your blues on!

~ Mark