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Fingers Taylor in Concert
Fingers Taylor,
the original Jimmy
Buffett Coral Reefer, makes occasional appearances with the
Wright/Spell Blues Band.
• In The Future: An Interview
With Fingers
Imagine seeing Kobe Bryant
go 1-on-1 in a high school gym. Being in a screening room with Martin
Scorsese. In a studio a jam session with Eric Clapton.
That's what it was like at Pancho's in Manhattan
Beach, CA, and Anthony's in neighborin El Segundo when Greg
"Fingers" Taylor made a brief tour of dive bars in Los Angeles
in February and March, 2003. Playing with the Wright/Spell Band, he
was as electric as his harmonica.
The intimate settings – the venues were no bigger
than a middle American living room – made for incredible experiences
for the fans. The band mainly played blues, mixed in with a bit of Cajun
spice. (Sorry Parrotheads, no Buffett tunes!)
Fingers thrilled a small but enthusiastic crowd in Manhattan Beach.
With a passionate playing style that brought a fascinating
fury to such a small instrument, Taylor leaned back, bent forward and
got down on his knees as if he was begging for something from the heavens.
Instead, it was the crowd that was begging – for more!
Taylor, a down-home man from Mississippi with a deep Southern
drawl, may have been the main draw but the other band members displayed
equal musical achievements.
Jay Spell, a blind keyboardist who has played with Canned
Heat, Buffett and just about everybody else, was, simply spellbinding.
Drummer Pete Miller of Pool Party Records, perhaps the most mellow man
to ever slap a stick, put the whole thing together and kept the beat
blastin'. Alan Wright was the silent star, a rockin' blues guitarist
with a perfectly gritty singing voice who often took the focus away
from the electrifying harmonica genius of Taylor.
Together, they were the incredible quartet. There hasn't
been foursome like this since Nicklaus, Tiger, Palmer and Trevino played
a Skins Game. A favorite song was the Cajun-heavy "Some White People
Can Dance," which Parrotheads will recognize from the "Margaritaville
Cafe" CD. Most of the songs were originals and they didn't reveal
titles. In fact, they pretty much just played with Fingers occasionally
making small crowd acknowledgments.
It's more natural to expect to see such talent playing
big clubs, something like a sold-out House of Blues. Perhaps one of
the side tents at JazzFest, where one would feel fortunate to slide
up to the front for a few songs.
But here they were, playing little venues like in Manhattan
Beach and El Seguno where people sat at tables just a few feet away
from the stage. Taylor and Spell have played in front of 20,000 or so
with Buffett and here they were giving it their all in front of a couple
of dozen bar folks. At Anthony's, it was a typical sunny Southern California
Sunday on an old patio with a worn wooden stage that usually holds a
one-man guitarist. The
Los Angeles Parrothead Club was there, phins up and all.
It was truly Margaritaville.
The band (left to
right): Wright, Miller, Fingers and the spellbinding Spell.
In control of the
keyboard, Spell is sensational.
Pete Miller provides
the pulse from his perch behind the drums.
Alan is 'Wright'
on with his singing and masterful guitar play.
The passion of Fingers
(top, bottom).
Allan
Wright Blues Band
• The band's home bar is The Londoner 18511
Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, California 91387 (661) 252-2597
(Corner of Soledad & Sierra Highway in the Albertson's Shopping Center.)
For performances, visit the web site, where you can also
purchase Alan's strong, new Blues/Rock CD, Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog
, and see pictures of his BB King's' Concert, as well as Hear and
See that Live Concert, at: www.AlanWrightBluesBand.com
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