What you remember about a Roy Book Binder performance is his mastery of delta blues guitar, his knowledge of the genre and its now-legendary performers, and, his dry wit.
I first heard Roy in the early 1980s playing at a new-age, vegetarian restaurant north of USF called the Sprout House. The building’s beams formed a pyramid-shape, which made the whole place a new-age power spot. Roy is not a new-age, Sprout House kind of guy, but on this night the place was packed. Everybody was listening and laughing, except one baby boy, who kept crying and fussing, as his mother tried to soothe him.
Roy continued to play until he could take the crying no longer. He stopped mid-song and probably stroked his trademark moustache.
“You know,” he said, “If this wasn’t a vegetarian joint, I say we boil that baby. ”
The Mom leapt up and whisked the baby outside and Roy went back to the doing the music the way he learned it from his mentor, the Rev. Gary Davis.
I doubt any babies will be crying on Friday when the Travelin’ Man stops by the Side Door Cabaret for the first time. Roy lives here, but seldom plays in the area. Last year he played two sold out shows at the Craftsman House Gallery on Central Ave. This year his only bay area appearance is at the Side Door. This show will likely also be a full house.
My advice: get your tickets early and leave the baby at home.
Roy Book Binder appears Friday, March 5, at 8 p.m. in the Side Door Cabaret. Tickets are $20 in advance and $22 the day of the show. For tickets and info visit www.mypalladium.org or call the box office at 727 822-3590.
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