15th July - Chicago - The Blues

Day spent site seeing - Seers Tower - Largest in US, Millennium Park new hugh park downtown by the water front with lots of mad sculptures and an auditoruim. Had lunch by a massive Waterfall in the park and spent a while just chilling.

We went for dinner in a lovely wee italian - the first thing they told us was the portions are hugh - have a half portion or a starter - then another waiter told us the same then a third. Pauline and Mairi plumped for this option but the thing I wanted to eat didn't have either, so full main course for the fatty. No way could anybody eat this, I acutally felt sick just looking at it. In most places in Glasgow it would have been 4 portions - Suggestion - make your portions smaller.

Night time we went to one of Chicagos many blues venues. The band Miss Shirley Blues Band were four guys - 2 guitar, 1 bass and 1 drums. They started their set with a few well known Blues songs and a good rendition of Muddy Waters Mannish Boy. The lead singer/guitarist was a laugh playing up to the mainly tourist crowd. Coming off stage strumming up close and personal with the audience. Head shaking, eyes rolling struting his stuff.
My favoutite was Pete on Bass he must have been about 260 still getting down to the blues - eyes closed, mouth opened, tounge hanging out. Hero was the second guitarist and probaly better than the lead but you wouldn't have told him that (big guy). They finished their first set and we waited for the second.

The second set they were joined by Miss Shirley (of the name) a big formidable black woman - you wouldn't mess with her. Her first few songs proved she could sing the blues then she did a couple which I have to tell you about.

Pointing at Mairi, she told the audience that her man was cheeting on her with that women. She then decided to get her own back and pointing to another woman sang:
'Woman your husband is cheeting on US'
classic - every time she sang it she pointed at Mairi who was now appologising to the screeming crowd.
Our favourite song of the evening, however, must have been -
'Ditch that Zero get yourself a Hero'
and each time she sang the line she flexed her arm muscle. We were left wondering if Hero the guitartist is who she was talking of.

Entertainment at it's best.