It was a rare treat to see James Kinds and the Chicago Mellow Fellows perform Saturday night [July 24, 2010) before a gorgeous sunset on the Scales Point lakefront at Bobber’s in North Liberty. Although Kinds’ performance was delayed for nearly two hours due to his band making a wrong turn along the way, it was worth waiting for and the crowd loved him. Their music included blues, soul, rock and gospel.This was not James Kinds’ first performance in North Liberty. He performed on May 15, 2010, for the grand opening of ‘Taste of N’Awlins’. Kinds and Kevin Williams (Chef Kev) both reside in Dubuque and Kev was able to bring this blues legend to our area.
Kinds plays guitar to the slow heart of blues with a magnificent, haunting voice, that matches his slow, easy-going manner. He sang several songs from over 200 that he has written, including ‘Crack Headed Woman’ and one of my favorites, a gospel song called ‘I’ve Been to the Water.’ As Tammy Scheib stated, “He is pure, heart wrenching soul.” I couldn’t have said it better.
Born in 1943, Kinds is originally from Mississippi, where he sang southern Gospel at St. John Baptist Church choir in Drew. He moved to Chicago at the age of 17 where he performed on a regular basis, and has lived in Dubuque since 1993. Kinds performed at the Berlin Jazz Festival in West Berlin in 1977, the Chicago Blues Festival in 2007, and was inducted into the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame in September 2008. He performs in Dubuque and has recorded with his band, The All Night Riders.
James Kind and the Chicago Mellow Fellows are currently recording a CD, due to be released in October 2010.
Also performing from 2-6 pm at the Blues Fest were Kevin B.F. Burt and the Instigators. They are another talented blues group from the Waterloo/Cedar Rapids area. Kevin has a brilliant voice, and it was intriguing to watch him play guitar and harmonica simultaneously.
Taste of N’Awlins provided Cajun cooking at the Blues Fest, serving items such as jambalaya, shrimp boil, and ribs.
Bobbers Restaurant and Bar is located at Scales Point at 1850 Scales Bend Rd NE in North Liberty, 52317. Find them on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/27ue7nv .
Taste of N’Awlins is located at 2345 Mehaffey Bridge Rd NE, North Liberty 52317. Their Facebook location is http://tinyurl.com/2ferfoh.
Author Resource and Photo Credits: Diana Shores, MA, EdS., Author, Ghostwriter, Book/Concert Reviewer
Kevin Williams, “Chef Kev”, celebrated the grand opening of his Taste of N’awlins Restaurant on May 15, in North Liberty, Iowa, with authentic Cajun food, including turtle, alligator, crayfish, shrimp, barbecued beef and pork ribs, pulled pork, smoked turkey, po’boys, and jambalaya, with selection of sides. Dining was outside with the aroma of barbecue and smoked ribs and turkey permeating the air. Raised in southern Louisiana in New Orleans and surrounding bayous, Chef Kev joined the U.S. Coast Guard where he was stationed in Dubuque, Iowa. That began his life in Iowa.
James Kinds was inducted into the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame in September 2008. He also plays/sings gospel and jazz music. Raised in Mississippi until the age of 17, he moved to Chicago where he lived until moving to Dubuque in 1993. He wrote and recorded “I’ve Been to the Water”, and also recorded “He Walks With Me” and “Time is Winding Up”, all in the area of gospel music. Over the years, Kinds recorded blues albums and has a new album coming out this summer on Delmark records. His CD release party will be held on July 24 at Bobbers Grill, 1850 Scales Bend Rd NE, North Liberty. Ph. 319-665-3474.
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