anyone seen Chuck Berry live in the last few years?

runmikeyrun · #1 01-08-2012, 02:09 AM

I want to plan my yearly road trip on my 250 enduro (hey it's all I got!) and was thinking of St. Louis as a destination... so I can see Chuck play live! Anyone seen him? I love his tunes and would kick myself if he passed and I didn't drive 600 miles to see him play.

I checked his website, no shows for 2012 announced yet. Tickets are reasonable, $35 for past shows. Probably sell out fast too.

I just wanted to know what caliber of performer he still is... I mean he's in his 80s and i'd totally understand if he's off his game. But if he still rocks hard.... I'm totally in for this one.

P. Aaron · #2 01-08-2012, 08:01 AM

I saw him back in the 80's. I think he is in poor health. Wiki-pedia may be able to give you an update. Saw Bo Diddley around the same time.

We ain't gettin' any younger.

KJung · #3 01-08-2012, 09:33 AM

I believe he's still doing one Wednesday a month in the 'Duck Room' (named after his 'Duck Walk') at Blueberry Hill. Great bar, with a cool concert venue in the basement (about a 150-200 seater 'club within a club'). Blueberry Hill is in the area of St. Louis called the 'U.City Loop', and is anchored by Washington University. Great hang, funky restaurants, Cicero's for great 'alt' local music, etc.

Chuck, well, it is pretty rough. He never bothers much with tuning, rehearsing the thrown together band, etc. However, worth seeing if you haven't.

There is a great little boutique hotel (Moonrise) right down the street next to the primary concert venue in the loop (a 1,500 or so seater called the Pageant). You should check that venue out also. They book interesting 'up and coming' national acts, and also 'big names on the way down'.

Great area for a weekend hang, and close to the amazing Forest Park (St. Louis's 'Central Park') containing the zoo, the art museum, ice skating rink, etc.

Again, it has been a while, so not sure if Chuck is still doing those once a month concerts, but a simple check of the Blueberry Hill website will tell you.

california1967 · #4 01-08-2012, 09:43 AM

Yeah, he is still doing the one Wednesday a month at Blueberry Hill. The next time he plays is January 18th. They do sell out pretty fast, because it is Chuck Berry and the venue is insanely small...its a basement of a restaurant. But you can easily get them if you order the day they become available.

I went to see Mr. Berry in April of 2008 and he was a blast. They had a great blues band open (probably local) and it was a lot of fun. Then Mr. Berry came on and yeah he is super old but he was super energetic. His playing was great for an 82 year old man. The set was about an hour long but it was still super fun. I mean for only 35 bucks, it was worth it. The man is a legend, do it and enjoy yourself. Again its super small so if you do go to see him, get their early so you can get super close!

Here's the link for the venue: Blueberry Hill Events

Count_Blah · #5 01-08-2012, 10:34 AM

I saw him last year up in Oklahoma at one of the Indian casinos. Glad that I saw him, don't know if I'd go back and see him again, though to tell the truth.

It almost seemed like he was just rehearsing/jamming and there just happened to be a few hundred people looking on. WAY out of tune most of the night, and nobody would tell him (if you can tell Chuck anything). He played Johnny B. Goode at least 3 times during the night.

It was kinda sad in some respects, but, as a friend of mine told me "If there's a Rock n' Roll Heaven, you ain't getting in without a Chuck Berry ticket stub."

bluewine · #6 01-08-2012, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by runmikeyrun

I want to plan my yearly road trip on my 250 enduro (hey it's all I got!) and was thinking of St. Louis as a destination... so I can see Chuck play live! Anyone seen him? I love his tunes and would kick myself if he passed and I didn't drive 600 miles to see him play.

I checked his website, no shows for 2012 announced yet. Tickets are reasonable, $35 for past shows. Probably sell out fast too.

I just wanted to know what caliber of performer he still is... I mean he's in his 80s and i'd totally understand if he's off his game. But if he still rocks hard.... I'm totally in for this one.

Define,"still rocks "

bluewine · #7 01-08-2012, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Count_Blah

I saw him last year up in Oklahoma at one of the Indian casinos. Glad that I saw him, don't know if I'd go back and see him again, though to tell the truth.

It almost seemed like he was just rehearsing/jamming and there just happened to be a few hundred people looking on. WAY out of tune most of the night,

Chuck has been playing out of tune for decades.

Floyd Eye · #8 01-08-2012, 12:21 PM

He plays in U city ( St. Louis) every month. I've seen him many times. Some shows are great, some shows are not. He is getting up there ya know.

Marty Forrer · #9 01-08-2012, 12:24 PM

My brothers band was a pickup band for a tour of New Zealand back in 70s. No rehearsals, screamed at them if they made a mistake, permanently drunk...... a weird character. My brother said never again.

runmikeyrun · #10 01-08-2012, 07:18 PM

interesting... now i'm about 50/50 if i should make this my destination, especially because I will be riding through Western Ohio and all of Indiana, very similar to the trip I took to Iowa last year. Memphis would give me some variation. It IS Chuck Berry though. Hmm.

Flabass · #11 01-08-2012, 07:25 PM

Yes it is Chuck Berry! Seen him only once. Backup band sucked. But he is a legend. I was in NYC and was going to see Les Paul but decided not to at the last minute. Now he is gone and I regret not seeing him.

Saw the great Hubert Sumlin about 1 1/2 years ago and he was great. Now he is gone.

See them while you still can.

Youngspanion · #12 01-08-2012, 07:59 PM

I saw him in Manhattan back in 2010 with my son. It was one of the best things I did and I'm glad I did it. Seeing Johnny Cash was another smart thing I did. That was in '92

nickn · #13 01-08-2012, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by runmikeyrun

interesting... now i'm about 50/50 if i should make this my destination, especially because I will be riding through Western Ohio and all of Indiana, very similar to the trip I took to Iowa last year. Memphis would give me some variation. It IS Chuck Berry though. Hmm.

You have the opportunity to see CHUCK BERRY perform live and you're questioning it?

Seriously man, do it!

ggunn · #14 01-09-2012, 06:52 AM

Some years ago Chuck was playing here in Austin at the now defunct Austin Aquafest. He drove up to the backstage entrance alone in his big old Caddy and Security (a young white guy) wouldn't let him in. It got straightened out, but Mr. Berry was not a happy man.

warnergt · #15 01-09-2012, 11:41 AM

I haven't seen him but he was at the B.B. King Blues Club in
NYC on New Year's Eve (12/31/2011).

Richland123 · #16 01-09-2012, 12:08 PM

Chuck Berry @ BB King's. 12/31/10 early show. Johnny B Goode

Chuck Berry @ BB King's. 12/31/10 early show. Johnny B Goode - YouTube

Youngspanion · #17 01-09-2012, 12:15 PM

June in 2010

Youngspanion · #18 01-09-2012, 12:16 PM

Here is a picture I took of the Marquee with my son in the foreground.

Youngspanion · #19 01-09-2012, 12:18 PM

and inside.

bassbrad · #20 01-09-2012, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Count_Blah

a friend of mine told me
"If there's a Rock n' Roll Heaven,
you ain't getting in without a Chuck Berry ticket stub."

Great quote, should be a line in a song! ...or is it already?

It might be worth the road trip. Over the years I backed him up 3 times always with different pick up bands, I had a blast but i knew the songs can't say that for all the other players.