Marcia Ball, Beachland Ballroom 6/5/09

It was a cool June evening in Cleveland on Friday night, unless you were at the Beachland Ballroom, then it was a hot Louisiana night. Marcia Ball was in town and she had the Ballroom smoking hot with her Cajun flavored blues and rock. This tall drink of water from Austin Texas is the hottest piano player, playing that New Orleans sound piano, made famous by Professor Longhair. Boy, can she cook on the piano. Her hands look like two spiders crawling around on the keyboard and yes, from the sound you would swear that she has 16 fingers.

Marcia played some of her old classics such as "La Ti Da", "Red Beans and Rice", "Play With Your Poodle", and a show topper Professor Longhairs "Mardis Gras". Hooowe can that girl play piano! And of course since Katrina leveled New Orleans Marcia always does the haunting song "Louisiana".

Much of the night was spent on new material, off of her new CD entitled Peace, Love and BBQ, that was quite good. Off of the new CD she played "Peace, Love and BBQ" a good party song. A song that was darker than most of Marcia's good time music called, "Down in the Neighborhood", about a cheating man, was different for her, I loved it. on the CD "Down in the Neighborhood" doesn't sound as dark as when she played it in concert. Another kind of slow dark song was "Miracle in Knoxville", that poor devil can't ever win. "Married Life" had me dancing, this song is a cooker. Marcia Ball cooks on piano. The bluesy "Falling Back in Love With You" will be a favorite for years to come and showed off some of guitar player Andrew Nafzigel fancy guitar work. "Ride It Out" is a tear jerker song with a funny twist at the end. I will let you hear for yourself what the twist is, it will make you chuckle.

This next paragraph is not good journalism. I tried to find out who the rest of the band were but I can only guess that the band is the same as on the CD without the guest appearances. If anyone wants to correct me I would appreciate the input. Thad Scott on sax was phenomenal, after every one of his solos he drew rousing applause. I did feel bad for the guitar player Andrew Nafzigel , who was also phenomenal, but for some reason did not get the audience recognition that saxophone player Thad Scott received. A fickle crowd I guess. I ran into Uncle Ronny, the drummer from Lude McDude, at the show, he did not care for Marcia Balls drummer Corey Keller. Uncle Ronny felt that he did not add enough highlights to the music. I thought he was OK. Long time bass player Don Bennett was there to hold everyone together and did a superb job. Marcia Ball was excellent on piano, she cooks.

My friend Nee and her friend Laura were in attendance. They were Marcia Ball virgins that seemed to really love the show. They were dancing as much as I was. Mike Sokolowski needs to change the name of his University Inn to Rock Star Foods, he got a plug as to how good his food is from Marcia Ball. Paul Thorn, Marcia Ball, who's next? Rock Music Critic, Greg Cielec, felt that the Beachland should not have put chairs out in a concert seating arrangement. "People should be dancing" Greg thought. I pointed out to Greg that we were probably two of the younger guys at the concert. Chairs were a plus for the older crowd. Marcia definitely drew an older crowd. There was enough room around the sides and the back for dancers like me. My Honey Bunny really enjoyed the show and when she is happy, I am happy. This was a definite Five twirl show. Marcia Ball sure knows how to cook a crowd. Did I mention how good she is on piano.