Countdown in Photos #20: Charles Bradley

Over the month of December I am planning to delight you with tales of my adventures as a concert photographer in 2011. They may be the best shots I took, or the best moments I experienced. Either way, it would be a shame for those to fall by the wayside and be left sitting dormant in my feeble mind. Keep coming back, there'll be a new one each day.

Check out yesterday's post with Sting.

Charles Bradley at Bumbershoot Music Festival

As a kid, I considered myself a fan of all music types despite my secluded locale (I grew up in rural Kentucky). My exposure was mostly due to a mother in love with James Taylor and a dad into all kinds of soul and blues like one of my favorites, Muddy Waters.

The obsession just got worse as I got older and moved to more diverse places, then climaxed here in the emerald city. However, those bluesy roots never left me especially my love of the greats like James Brown. I figured I'd never really get to experience shows like what my parents saw in the 60's and 70's with the grandiose outfits and incredible dancing. "Too hot in the hottub!" as it were.

Enter Charles Bradley. It's like he threw us back in time with the passion, sweat, love and intensity that I had always hoped to see live and in person were right there in front of me. I'm not sure I was more surprised or more excited about any performance this last year than in the small KEXP session at Bumbershoot with Mr. Bradley.