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 Mac
Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues
The Handlebar
Greenville, S.C.
May 6, 2006
It was a celebration, a homecoming and an
incrediblel blues show. Greenville, South Carolina packed out
The Handlebar for a concert by Mac Arnold and Plate Full O’
Blues, and a taping for ETV.
The camera crew was all over the club,
taping the show, interviewing people and assembling a documentary
on the life of local hero Mac Arnold, former bass player for the
legendary Muddy Waters, a 63 -year old who is on his way to a
whole new career as a national blues treasure.
Backed by Plate Full O’Blues, Max
Hightower (harmonica, guitar, piano. organ) Austin Brashier (guitar,
whom we have been entertained by for years here in Greenville
with his own Austin Brashier Band), Mark McMakin (bass) and Mike
Whitt (drums), Mac performed songs rom his hot new CD Nothing’
to Prove. The band played a couple of songs before introducing
Mac, who made his way through the crowd to the stage while singing
“Blues For You.” Pretty awesome.
Mac is a fantastic singer, reminiscent
of Albert King, and his personality shines through from behind
a huge smile. At one point, Mac brought out his famous gasoline
can guitar, first made in the 1940’s by his brother Leroy.
Mac plays some pretty tasty slide on this home-made axe.
During the show, Mac was awarded the Jean
Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award, and friends and family paid
tribute to him. The concert rocked from beginning to end, with
Mac singing some of the best R&B I have had the good fortune
to hear in quite awhile. The set included great original songs
like “Nothin’ to Prove,” “Call Mac Arnold,”
“Ghetto Blue,” “Get On Back To The Country,”
“The Truth,” and “She Means So Much To Me,”
among others.
Max Hightower moved between organ, piano,
harp, and guitar, and even took lead vocal as on one tune, to
great effect. Austin Brashier plays one mean stratocaster, and
the rhythm section of Mark McMakin on bass and Mike Whitt on drums
are as solid as a rock.
The show was powerful, high-energy rhythm
and blues and a great time for everyone. After seeing his show,
I am convinced that Mac Arnold’s previous career with Muddy
Waters and other blues greats was just a beginning. His true career
is just beginning. I expect to see a whole more of Mac.
-Michael Buffalo Smith with Photos
by Jill Smith
http://www.macarnold.com/
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