Southside Shuffle 2013- Featured Artist Mississippi Allstars and Terry "Harmonica" Bean

I attended this year's South Side Shuffle www.southsideshuffle.com in Port Credit on the Saturday night. The temperature was warm after a day of rain. The street was alive with music eminating from all the bars in Port Credit. We decided to check out the fair grounds where the main events were being held for a five dollar admission fee.

As we wandered about looking at the different stages, we found the event well organized with the smaller more intimate bandstands, and the larger main stage. I had heard about Steve Strongman, and decided to catch the end of his set. I found him to be a stellar acoustic blues man and learned that he is from Hamilton and a four time Maple Blues Award winner. It was a real treat to listen to him.

We wandered to the main stage and hear Mitch Ryder, which I found to be too hard rock. However on the way between Steve and the main event, we heard a real blues sound coming from the Mississippi Allstars at one of the smaller bandstands. A few tunes were played by the band, and then a change occurred. They allowed a new harp player and vocalist to take the lead mic. That was Terry "Harmonic" Bean. When I heard his harp, and the tone of his voice, I realized I had found the real deal. He held the harp in one hand and cupped the mic with the same hand. A style I had never seen before. I walked up to him after the performance and had a conversation with him. He explained that the blues precedes all forms of American music. It precedes jazz, gospel and rock. Blues was the music sung by the share cropper workers so they could communicate with each other. Their white masters would not let them speak to one another, so they would communicate in blues song. The music was self taught, and from their suffering and they took it from the fields, into the church where it became gospel, and the use of piano was introduced. I asked why so many great bluesmen died young such as Little Walter. He explained that they came from very humble beginnings and could not take the fame. They got corrupted with alcohol, drugs  and other vices and that destroyed them. In his music he explains that he never drinks.

He asked me to buy one of his albums which I did and I am truly impressed. He explained that he learned from his grandfather and father. Musicians like Albert King, would come by their house, and that his grandfather was friends with Robert Johnson. His grandfather never became famous like Little Walter, and that may have saved his life. He explained that the instruments of the blues are guitar, piano and harp. Sax is for Jazz. Blues, like all true passions comes from the heart and then is shared with the audience. Terry is from the Mississippi, and is proud of his roots. His sound says it all.

Stay Humble,

Luv the Blues,

The Adventure Guy