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The KELLY BELL BAND from Baltimore entertained a sold-out blues crowd at the Eastern Illinois University Doudna Fine Arts Center. The entire evening was energetic, entertaining and filled with enthusiasm both on stage and off.

The crowd was lighting up their phones, swaying to the music, and singing along with the band. Some of the local kids went on stage and danced. Bell's comedian style of entertaining with music, stories and laughter fed off his local audience.

At one point, when Kelly engaged Charleston's Tim Mason, Mason stood up and was trying to say something when Bell yelled, "Speak up! I can't hear you over your Hawaiian shirt."

The energy from the KELLY BELL BAND wafted its way into every member of the audience.

Bell is an energetic, beautiful man who loves his music. He had a beautiful necklace around his neck that looked like a silver cameo of himself with dreadlocks. (Yes, I was that close.) The band wore blue jeans and T-shirts. The stage had mist and colorful lights and at one point on the side walls had what looked like two circular stone floors going round and round.

FREDDIE LOUDEN played bass guitar and had an unusual 11- string guitar. I could have listened to him all night! SPENCER BROWN is the drummer and kept great rhythm even while blowing huge bubble gum bubbles. KIRK MYERS was on keyboard, and I thought that keyboard was going to dance right off the stage. Kirk was jumping up and down more than he was sitting.

IRA MAYFIELD Jr., on guitar, was the quieter one of the bunch, but oh could he play and sing! He joined us at our table at the cookout prior to the show. What a treat!

There were tributes to all the greats: Bo Diddley's "Can't Judge a Book"; Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean"; and "SpongeBob Square Pants" (really, not kidding). I thought my grandkids were not getting enough culture while watching SpongeBob, but yes, the background music is phats blues.

"No Different" was awesome; "Can't Take That Back," "Ain't Like it Used to Be" and "F.B.I." and "Got to Think About Tomorrow" were some of my favorites. "Reincarnated" was so beautiful and humbling.

EIU volunteered three of its own horns to assist the KELLY BELL BAND: Mike Block, a senior, on sax; and faculty members Andrew Cheethamon trumpet; and Jemmie Robertson, on trombone.

Each had a solo and all were an outstanding asset to the band. What a treat! EIU's own.

Since Bell is a special education teacher, the music department decided to have a special concert for Charleston's adult special needs adults from CTF and CCAR. The band was awesome, the audience was appreciative and Bell taught this group a lot about the blues and, specifically, "phat blues." "Phat" means "hodge podge." So any kind of music goes.

Bell sat on a chair stage center and front for the afternoon concert and spoke to the crowd about the history of blues. He told how blues music started during slavery days and that different sounds means different things such as the "swishing" drum sound is like the sound of a train moving down the track.

Some blues tunes carry a message such as singing, "Look back, look forward, keep moving" tells the story of slaves moving down the waterways to stay out of sight of the masters and out of scent of the dogs.

Bell believes that we need history and that "if you don't embrace your history, you are destined to repeat it."

Bell had this audience clapping their hands to the music and singing. One member of the audience was so excited about blues piano player KIRK MYERS that she stood up and yelled that he "was the best piano player she had ever heard."

During this performance, Jay Ballard of Charleston was asked to go on stage and yes, to the delight of the audience (and the help of drummer, SPENCER BROWN), he played drums. My favorite song Kelly sang during the afternoon concert was "Amazing Grace." Awesome!

In the evening concert Bell said that they have been doing 200 shows a year for the past 15 years and this was the first time that anyone had opened their doors for the special needs people to enjoy the music.

After some much deserved time off the KBB was back at it again last week. It was a collegiate kind of week. Thursday was the annual atop at Washington College on the Eastern Shore. Though we look forward to this every year, especially the beautiful weather and an especially enthusiastic crowd made for an even better time than usual. Then an over night drive on Friday night was necessary to make a noon workshop in "The Land of Lincoln" at Eastern Illinois University. Late that night we played a two hour set and had the great fun of having a three piece faculty-student horn section. Can we just say ... "WE LOVE HORNS!" ? Thanks to Andy, Jemmie and Mike for helping us out. It has to be said that everything about these shows was top notch. From the state of the art facilities of the Doudnas Performing Arts Center there, to the helpful and attentive technical staff, to the terrific hospitality arrangements to the warm and appreciative folks of the community who attended the workshop and packed the evening performance ... it was as well as we've been treated anywhere at anytime on the road. Thanks to Dennis, Dwight and Danny for having us. Can't wait to get back to Charleston.

This week we make our yearly noon appearance as part of The First Thursday series at Hopkins Plaza, sponsored by the Downtown Partners. The weekend continues another tradition, that of Labor Day weekend Saturday at The Pit in Nags and then driving all night to hold court at K. Clinger's Chili Cook-Of in Hanover, PA. This is a great show every year and a great charity event which we are very happy to be part of. Wherever you go and whatever you do, make it a safe Holiday. Festival season is winding down but not over yet with Oktoberfests and The MD Seafood Festival left on the calendar among others. So come out and sees us while the weather lasts. Peace!