By Michael Swanger michael@dmcityview.com

Bugs Henderson plays Blues on Grand on Friday, Jan. 23 at 9:30 p.m. Admission is $10.

Henderson’s ‘Blue Music’ is a six-string shot of reality

I last saw Bugs Henderson about 15 years ago at the Zoo Bar in Lincoln, Neb., long before Des Moines’ only full-time blues club Blues On Grand opened, and even longer before it booked his Des Moines debut there on Friday.

Seeing Henderson was necessary then (as it is now) for any serious fan of Texas blues music who wanted to converse with like-minded devotees about the Lone Star State’s list of legendary guitar players — beyond the Vaughan Brothers or even Albert Collins. Henderson, as recommended by friends, didn’t disappoint that night. The Zoo was packed, hot and noisy as fans (including several guitar players) watched Henderson tear through three distinct sets of American music that spanned blues, surf and rock.

A few weeks ago, after interviewing Henderson, I found that the more things change the more Henderson stays the same. And that’s a good thing if you champion guitar players who pour their hearts out on stage night after night with a guitar, an amp and no gimmicks. But I also discovered that Henderson — who has performed alongside Eric Clapton and B.B. King — has honed a more direct style of songwriting that matches his sharp-witted guitar playing, the likes of which I did not recall from my first encounter with him years ago.

That much is clear on his new CD, “Blue Music,” in which Henderson speaks his mind on songs like “You Ain’t Nothin’ to Texas,” “Straight to Hell,” “No Mercy,” “Town Pump” and “The Man Who Killed My Daddy.” In short, Henderson said [he even includes extensive audio liner notes on his albums] the record “is about a lot of serious things,” including family, death, drugs, sex and music.

“It’s the only way I know how to write songs,” said Henderson, 65. “It’s a dark album. I knew it when I was writing it.”

John Lee Hooker once said, “Blues is the truth.” But by comparison to most blues albums being recorded today, Henderson’s “Blue Music” is a six-string shot of reality.

“I can’t sit down and write a song and just worry about what the hook’s gonna be,” Henderson said. “I might make more money if I did [laughs]. I have to believe in what I’m singing.”

Though the album is loaded with unambiguous honesty — serious and funny — nowhere is that more evident than on “I Want the Motherfucker” — a warning to drug pushers.

“When we do it each night I explain to the audience that if you’re offended by strong language, you should go outside for a few minutes,” Henderson said. “It’s a true song, and I speak the way I think anyone would about it.”

Response to “I Want the Motherfucker,” as well as the rest of Henderson’s catalog, is different in Europe where he routinely sells out shows. While touring France last year to promote “Blue Music,” its most bombastic song became an anthem among fans at his concerts.

“We did a radio interview with a DJ outside of Paris, and he asked what songs to play from the record. I told him anything but track number four. He said he could play anything, so he played it and the switchboard lit up. What’s funny is when we would hit the stage over there, everybody would start yelling ‘motherfucker’ at us. It was pretty weird to hear that,” Henderson said.

Henderson, who started in his teens playing in bands like Mouse and the Traps, would later became the house guitarist at Robin Hood Studios (Ike and Tina Turner) and a frequent performer at the legendary Dallas nightclub, The Cellar. His friend, Freddie King, whom Henderson recalls as “larger than life,” encouraged him during the early 1970s to embark on a solo career.

“Freddie pulled me aside one day and told me I should get my own band, which scared the hell out of me,” Henderson said. “But I took his advice… I learned a lot from Freddie. We probably played more poker than we did music together, but we did a hell of a lot of both.”

Henderson, who was a pallbearer at King’s funeral [King died Dec. 28, 1976], would go on to form his own band, including his current trio, Bugs Henderson and the Shuffle Kings. The rest, you could say, is a piece of Texas music history that goes largely unnoticed by the mainstream music press, but not by those who appreciate the heritage and skill he brings to the stage every night as he squeezes notes from his red Paul Reed Smith guitar.

Ever the consummate performer, Henderson warns: “I’m not looking for people to leave the gig and say, ‘God, those guys were great.’ I’m looking for people to go, ‘What the fuck was that? I’ve never seen anything like that.’”

Scene notes
Feb. 3 marks the 50th anniversary of the death of rock ’n roll pioneers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson following their Winter Dance Party concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. The three musicians and pilot Roger Peterson died when their plane crashed shortly after takeoff into a snowy field. The Surf is once again hosting a series of tribute concerts, Jan. 28 through Feb. 2. They include performances by Graham Nash, the Crickets, Los Lobos, Tommy Allsup and Los Lonely Boys. Visit www.surfballroom.com. Additionally, fans should see “The 50th Anniversary of the Last Tour” coordinated by Dennis Farland of Newton. It includes performances by Allsup, Holly impersonator Johnny Rogers, The Shackshakers and Richie Lee. The tour runs Jan. 22 - 30 and includes concerts at the Capitol Theatre in Davenport (Jan. 24) and Electric Park Ballroom in Waterloo (Jan. 30). Tickets are $19.50 and $26.50. Proceeds benefit The Winter Dance Party Musical Scholarships and Awards, which donates scholarships to music students. Visit www.thelasttour.net. … Local jazzers Susie Miget and Stu Calhoun (who was recently hospitalized) are joined by former Des Moines drummer Pete Simonson to record their performances Friday and Saturday at Sam and Gabe’s. Call 271-9200. … The Civic Music Association hosts jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Drake University’s Sheslow Auditorium. Pizzarelli hosts a pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m. and a post-concert reception, “Pizza and Pizzarelli.” Tickets are $7 - $39. … Jazz quartet Equilateral will perform with the Des Moines Big Band on Monday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at Adventureland Inn Restaurant. Admission is $6. CV

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