Chicago blues from the west side clubs to Conan O'Brien: Li'l Ed Williams (Episode 91) - a podcast by James VanOsdol

Chicago blues treasure Li'l Ed Williams (Li'l Ed and the Blues Imperials) jumps in my car for a burger, as well as conversation about the blues and his career. Before I started rolling tape, I had to shatter Ed's illusions of what Car Con Carne was about ("I didn't know what to expect. I thought you might pull up in a limo"). It's worth mentioning here that you should see Ed play. He's got some big Chicago gigs coming up: B.L.U.E.S. (1/6 and 1/7) Opening for Buddy Guy at Buddy Guy's Legends (1/20) So anyway, we got our food to go from The Dogout in Bannockburn (2567 Waukegan Rd, Bannockburn, IL 60015). He got a cheeseburger. I got a Polish. We talked about: *Ed and food: He has lots of songs about eating *BBQ. Ed goes big when he does his summertime backyard BBQs. *Concert preparation("I used to try setlists") *38 years and counting with the Blues Imperials ("We are family now") *Lessons learned from blues legends like James Cotton and Muddy Waters ("I have a high respect for those guys... they played from their heart and they played with feeling and happiness.") *Rolling Stones covering the blues ("It brings the blues up a step") *The difference in playing clubs today (drinking's less fun, and you can't smoke) *His relationship with Conan O'Brien, and their first meeting *The new album, "The Big Sound of Li'l Ed and the Blues Imperials" *The (truly) surprising place Ed goes for BBQ *The Li'l Ed and the Blues Imperials difference: They're *fun* *His darker days and falling into drugs ("God gave me a second chance")

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