The Buckingham Blues Bar Is The Go-To Place For Quality Music On A Sunday Afternoon

My third visit to the world famous Buckingham Blues Bar took place on Sunday July 21st. The snowbirds have scattered, although some may have stayed behind just to hear some real music. Yes, real music has retreated to the bars and taverns of America. You won't hear real music on rock stations or the top 40. The music I heard was a celebration of almost every organic style, or some would now call it Americana.

Tommy Lee Cooke, who is the resident storyteller, philosopher, bandleader and proprietor, really knows how to throw an impromptu party. The stage at the triple B wasn't quite big enough to fit all of the musicians who were volunteering their talents on this no-cover free for all. And the locals are on to it. There were few places to sit and only a little extra room to stand. And most of the patrons had a little more than a touch of grey but were rocking along with the band and breaking out into appreciative applause after almost every song. All of these gentleman were quality players. There were too many lead guitarists to count. There was a top shelf sax player and a killer guy on harmonica. One drummer was in the pocket, and he was replaced by a guy who was formerly playing another instrument. And this band covered a lot of ground. From rocking blues, to swing blues and even some funky blues.

One of the highlights of the show was a very fun and satisfying cover of Ray Wylie Hubbard's "Snake Farm". If anything it certainly got the crowd thinking about lyrics. The band could easily pivot off of one genre and find the pocket in another. The three hour Sunday jam session is free of charge which means the bar is subject to the revenue generated from the sale of beer and wine. And people were certainly indulging in large quantities of adult beverages. The Buckingham Blues Bar is a rare outpost, still relying on the sensibilities of people who grew up listening to organic musicians who truly know how to play their respective instruments.

I was digesting each note as if it were a gourmet meal. Honestly I could have listened to this band play for hours. I guess it's one of those inbred things with us purists. We actually love the music. We could care less about image or technology. This place is for old timers who have pretty much gone underground to get their fix. Real music still exists at the Buckingham Blues Bar.