Chris Duarte, July 11, 2008, Warsaw, Indiana
Just like Roy said, Chris was ready to take the stage at his announced 9pm starting time. I don't know a single song by him, but due to the flattering write ups and especially Jim (SRV's) "rocks in yer head" comment, I knew I had to see him. He opened strong, he introduced his band...drummer Chris, and bass player, Joelle? (or Joe L.?), he swung that ponytail outta its scrunchie a dozen times throughout the night. He joked about the humidity and how at his last show in a "dry heat," his hair was well-behaved and "flowing!" Clearly the Midwest summer night was wreaking frizz- havoc on those locks, but that didn't stop Chris and his band from delivering the goods to a small, but appreciative crowd who whooped and hollered after every bluesy rock, Texas shuffle, or blistering fretwork solo. He played for less than 2 hrs, including his 1-song encore, but that may have had something to do with an 11 pm city curfew or something like that.
Of course Chris stuck around to sign autographs, while his bandmates cleared the stage. We stopped first, to talk to the drummer, the other Chris, about his wooden-rimmed snare. My brother is a drummer too, and wanted to ask him about this piece of equipment. Chris said the rim was worn and he'd be getting rid of it shortly. We told him to sell it on ebay! My bro said he'd bid. My rock-goddess sis-in-law kept talking, pretty much non-stop, and said something to the drummer about me knowing so much about the band....??? whatever! (can you say, too many spiked red bulls?), and so when I got a chance to ask drummer Chris how long he'd been with the Duarte group, he said, "Well, tonight was my first gig with Chris!" It was hilarious, because as a trio they were pretty, darn tight. And he looked comfy up there, and the 3 of them looked and sounded like they knew each other's styles and played together well. Then when talking to Joelle, the bass player, I mentioned that he'd only been with the band for about a month, right? He looked surprised that I knew and I just pointed to my Bonamassa Blues Rock Est.1977 shirt and said, "I've got my sources, buddy!"
During the entire show, someone was filming w/ a video camera, from onstage, just offstage, in front of the stage...pretty much EVERYWHERE I WANTED TO BE! So I asked the event coordinator how I could get up close for a few shots.... The stage had been chained off and there were plenty of empty folding chairs in what I referred to as Gold Circle Seating. Turns out those were the reserved seats for the sponsors of this "free to the public" show. While chatting up the gal in charge, I found out my brother delivered her baby, so she not only let me have access for photos, but she said our small group of 3 could enter the Gold Circle.....THANKS, Janelle! Everyone who was still there for Chris' encore pretty much went right up to the stage anyway. I thought that was a nice finish for him.
Meeting Chris was great fun, too. Again...sis-in-law...blab, blab, blab 
...I bought a CD, Chris was ripping into it to sign it for me, I handed my camera to that guy who'd been filming, who it turns out travels with the band. When I asked him, Arthur was his name, when the footage would be on youTube, he said a year! I guess he's got a lot to upload! Anyway, Arthur was nice enough to snap a pic of the rock-goddess, Chris and I, after Chris hopped up on the table he had been signing at, turned around and leaned back to get between us. I told Chris I heard about him on the Joe Bonamassa board...again, pointing to my t-shirt, and he smiled and said, "Oh yeah!" And of course, he remembered you, SRV! Said you'd been in Pittsburgh too. How does he DO that??
Great fun. Great music. Great guy
Great musicians have a language & vocabulary that transcends the usual barriers & touches us on a more primitive , basic & yet complex level....
...I'll always have London in my heart, and in my soul...
