A Surprise Guest makes my Weekend!

Once in a while we experience something extraordinary at a show, a bit of magic that leaves us floating on cloud 9 for days afterward. These moments most often happen spontaneously and unexpectedly. I am happy to share one such experience from this past weekend. My husband and I went out on Saturday night to the Downtown Kitchen in Canton, GA. to see Col. Bruce Hampton and the Quark Alliance. Col. Bruce is a music mentor and hero to many, and a legend in the Georgia music scene. Col. Bruce and his current band of very talented musicians, the Quark Alliance often play this awesome little venue in downtown Canton that is just fifteen minutes from us, and we rarely miss an opportunity to see them there. We were enjoying our cocktails as the band started playing when casually in walks Jimmy Herring! Currently the lead guitarist for Widespread Panic, Jimmy Herring was formerly a member of the Aquarium Rescue Unit along with Col. Bruce. He has performed in several other projects including the Dead, Jazz is Dead, Project Z, Phil and Friends, and most recently the Jimmy Herring Band. If you haven't yet picked up a copy of Lifeboat, Herring's recently released and long awaited solo cd, I highly reccomend you add it to your collection. Jimmy Herring is one of the most talented and skilled guitarists playing today. He definitely makes my top 10 list of favorite guitarists of all time. He has lightning fast fingers and can dazzle you with his speed but will also stir your soul with hauntingly beautiful melodies. His versatility is amazing, and his improvisational ability is nothing short of phenomenal. You can only imagine how thrilled I was, as was my husband at our good fortune to see a musician of Jimmy's caliber at such a small venue. I walked up to stand front row as Jimmy was adjusting his amp and preparing to play. He looked right at me and I know I had a huge goofy grin on my face. He said "Hi," and I replied, "Hi, I am so glad to see you here!" He said he was glad to see me too and I hate to admit it but I was a bit star struck. After a few songs Jimmy handed his guitar to a young man who I learned was his 17 year old son, Carter. Throughout the evening they traded off, and the younger Herring was quite impressive and really held his own. I was honored to meet and speak with Jimmy, his wife and his and daughter. They are some of the nicest folks you'd ever want to meet, down to earth and friendly. Jimmy is humble and kind and very easy to talk to. What an incredible experience to unexpectedly meet one of my favorite musicians at one of my favorite little venues! I want to voice my appreciation to Col. Bruce Hampton and the Quark Alliance for making this possible. I am still walking around on cloud 9 and probably won't be coming down any time soon. I can't wait until April when we will be seeing all these wonderful musicians again along with the Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeshi and many others at the Wanee Festival in Live Oak Florida. If you don't have your tickets I suggest you hurry up and get them. In my opinion it will be the festival to see in 2010!