AMP Blues Legend Review: The Show Where the Audience was the Story

Blues Harmonica Legend Charlie Musswhile blessed ABQ with a visit last week, and I was lucky to win tickets here on the Fix. As good as his show was though, the audience was the big deal of the night. AMP concerts often holds shows at the Cooperage, a really good restaurant with a long history of hosting good concerts. I recall just melting when I heard the astonishing local jazz great Linda Cotton there around 1983. Lately though, big crowds at the Cooperage are hard to come by. The AMP show there prior to Musselwhite was internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Wendy Rule. Wendy's show garnered 35 paid tickets, and the service at the Cooperage that night sucked---the restaurant deemed one waitress as enough for that many patrons.

Then WOW!! What a difference the BLUES makes!!! Charlie Musselwhite sold out the venue and then some (200+ tickets). My partner and I meandered in around 7:30 fully expecting to sit close and get some great photos. We knew something was up when we had to park 200 yards from the restaurant. Once inside, it was wall to wall, and the only reason we got to sit was gracious AMP members welcoming us to their table. Technically, we weren't even in the same room as the show, yet could see due to the windows between rooms which were opened for the occasion. Also the sound was rich and full that evening, and was heard well throughout the restaurant. Another huge treat was the excellent service. The Cooperage had been given a head's up on the ticket sales and had graciously staffed the Monday evening show as if it were the weekend. I suspect (hope) some of the servers had their best ever Monday night income. AMP hasn't historically done many blues shows, however you can now bet there's a lot more to come.

Hat's off to Neal and the other music gurus at AMP for making this their most successful Cooperage show. Thanks also to Charlie Musselwhite and legend in the making Ryan McGarvey for luring in a great crowd on a Monday night. Finally, kudos to the Cooperage whose gracious hosting and excellent food and service makes them relevant---even vibrant---in a sometimes fickle market.