His real name might as well be “Slick”
It’s Harvest Jazz and Blues time again. I’m not catching nearly as many shows as I have other years, but I’m still managing to get to one or two things.
Today I heard a guitar workshop by “Slick” Ballinger, who is a young, fresh-faced southerner from North Carolina who said “y’all” a lot and made sure to “Thank Jesus for any talents I have, so as not to wake up one day and discover that I can’t play no more”. I was instantly mesmerized. There really is something to that notion of “southern charm”.
Oh, did I mention he can sing? Good grief. He said he learned to “sing in church”, and he sounds like one of those revival-leadin’ singing preachers should. It was incredible. He was heading to Sackville after his workshop to play at the Tantramarsh Blues Society tonight. Look out bagtown, you’re in for a good show.
Later on Shengrong and I caught a three act acoustic concert. The highlight was definitely hearing Matt Anderson, an up-and-coming local boy, conclude his set with “Wagon Wheel”, with Susie Vinnick and the audience providing backing vocals.