Margarita & Salsa Festival: Part 3
Category: Local... Music...
Posted Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 07:58 AM [GMT-6]

If you're just tuning in, we're continuing our report from last Saturday's Margarita & Salsa Festival in downtown Midland, where Leon Russell, Jonny Lang, and Delbert McClinton provided several hours of live music for an appreciative crowd. Part 1, covering Russell's act, is here, and Part 2, featuring Jonny Lang, is here.

Delbert McClinton's the real reason I was willing to pony up $30 bucks per ticket to attend the Margarita & Salsa Festival last Saturday evening. As I mentioned previously, I'm not a huge fan of Leon Russell, and Jonny Lang's music was relatively unfamiliar to me, but my musical proclivities go way back with Delbert.

He wasn't my first introduction to blues – that would be Paul Butterfield and the Butterfield Blues Band – but I wore out the cassette tape of his 1979 album, The Jealous Kind. But in all those intervening years, I never took the opportunity to see him in concert.

I'd like to say that it was worth the wait, but, frankly, by the time he and his band got on stage, my wife and I were worn out. To make matters worse, the sound crew inexplicably cranked up the volume (and apparently shoved the treble slider up past ten, to boot), creating a sound that could cut steel. Even though we were 75 yards from the stage and speakers, we felt pummeled; we made it through 45 minutes of the set and then headed home.

Another disappointment: Delbert's music is tailored for a more intimate setting, perhaps in a bar with a couple hundred appreciative fans in attendance. His songs tell stories, and fascinating ones at that. I can't blame any musician for seeking out larger venues (and the irony of downtown Midland being considered a "larger venue" is not lost on me), but in McClinton's case, the lyrics get lost in an open-air setting among office buildings.

That's not to say that his music isn't enjoyable apart from the lyrics. As one would expect, he's surrounded himself with excellent musical talent, and his music spans a wide variety of styles. I simply wish I could experience it in a better setting.

Like, say, the Sandy Beaches Cruise that Delbert sponsors each year. It's a cruise ship filled with big time blues musicians and their fans; the 14th edition sails next January out of San Diego and down the western coast of Mexico, and will feature artists like Marcia Ball (did you catch that, Gwynne?), Jimmy Hall, and Stephen Bruton.

It sounds like fun, but the prices are pretty steep. I'll have to be content with ordering the new DVD, Rocking the Boat, which was filmed mostly on last year's cruise. The movie debuted at the 2006 Austin Film Festival. Here's the set list for the DVD.

Despite being a little disappointed with Delbert's appearance (but also pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the previous two acts mentioned above), I do have a little pixelage for your viewing and listening pleasure. The first video focuses on Delbert; the second one features some of his band members.

That wraps up the Gazette's coverage of the inaugural (and oddly-named) Margarita & Salsa Festival. It was a great beginning and I hope the organizers are energized enough to make it an annual tradition in Midland.