University of Virginia Library

Muddy Waters:
Out Of Control

Muddy Waters, a blues musician, now
playing at the "Cellar Door," 36th and M
Streets, Georgetown until May 4. For
reservations call 337-3389. First show
begins at 8:30.

By Puck Thomas

Blues, as Don Smith said yesterday, are
"where its at" in the progressive-rock world.
Johnny Winter may soon carry them into
dorms and apartments around the country,
but Muddy Waters has been living and
making the blues for a lifetime.

I found this out Monday night in
Georgetown at the Cellar Door when the
25-30 moderate-to-heavy blues fans that
came to see Muddy and his group were
completely torn up by Jamming, grinning,
out-of-control blues.

The cigar-smoking, Forty-year-old insurance
types next to me forgot their deals,
accounts and crew-cuts and got down with
the rest of us, and we lost ourselves in
rocking harmonica solos and Muddy's
guitar. This live session I can only
approximate as both wild and stinging.

His own stuff, "Mojo," "Hootchie-Cootchie
Man" and "Nineteen" were put across
as if for the first time, with laughing solos
on the three guitars, driving bass-organ-harmonica
combinations and a drummer (who,
by the way, is a dead ringer for Robert
Henry at the White Spot) playing through,
above and around the rest, bringing it all
back down again.

To say any more, (and I'd love to,)
would only waste your driving time to D.C.
So, call for reservations for the 8:30 show,
(stay through the second,) hop in the
nearest car and find out where music is
going . . . finally.