Michael Hepworth
By Brain Goldstock
Doheny Beach(Perfect Music Today)6/8/16/–Saturday May 21st, 2016 was overall an outstanding day for a guy who loves his Blues music. I attended my first Blues Festival at the gorgeous Doheny State Beach at Dana Point, CA. Doheny Beach is family owned and run, and is usually associated with Dana Point Harbor with its shopping, restaurants, and Pacific Ocean coastline and some of the most picturesque walkways in southern California. I grew up spending every summer day at one of the local beaches including Doheny State Beach, Crystal Cove State Beach, The Wedge/ Newport Beach, Huntington Beach or Seal Beach (‘Tin Can Beach’ for local old timers). Unfortunately, my time and days have been preoccupied with recovering from a lower right leg amputation and life changing events. It is a daily struggle for anyone with a disability of any kind. Ever since surviving a near fatal head-on car crash on September 01, 2005, I have been attempting to reclaim a life that disappeared. It isn’t easy overcoming all the ensuing health issues that come after a catastrophic event. The last 10+ years has been difficult and hard work, but, I have discovered with faith in yourself and God, there has been nothing impossible for me to overcome.
For myself, staying alive means maintaining a very strict healthy lifestyle that includes many genres of ‘music’. It is a part of my daily personal therapy to stay sane in an insane world. I have a ‘Bucket Live Music List’; and includes any band I grew up listening too. That means seeing a group or a performer playing any song that was on a vinyl record or on the radio from Elvis Presley in the 1950’s through my birth on June 28th, 1964 and through the present. I definitely have not done the impossible or imaginable without assistance from dozens of professionals around the county and two states. I have found that 99% of doctors today don’t understand an A-typical medical patient. In essence, there’s really nothing that can stop me from doing anything including going to a good concert. I was determined to attend the 19th Annual Doheny Blues Festival this year of 2016.
I must say though, for the most part everything I encountered in my wheelchair at the 19th Annual Doheny Blues Festival wasn’t what I expected or what I was told by Doheny Beach representatives. Purchasing tickets was pretty easy when they went right on sale, but tickets sell out quickly. Festival representatives promised that I would have a good experience without wheelchair access problems/issues to the Festival facilities, and that the restrooms as well as the event vendors had very accessible booths for any wheelchair bound ADA patient throughout the venue.
Honestly, had I not had my two friends Tom Wright and Norm Lockhart with me, I would have had a miserable time trying to navigate the security, massive police presence to control a subdued crowd. It looked from doing a quick observation and count as if we were out-numbered 3:1, security/armed police/K9 units verses the paying customers. Getting anything to eat or drink from the raised platform for the disabled area was hard to do with the crowd pilling up along all the walkways. I was very disappointed, frustrated, and truly unsettled were my viewing area was placed. There was no professional assistance for us really. Security asked me a couple of times why I didn’t have a different colored wristband showing me I was a paid ‘disabled’ patron. It was obvious to them that I was disabled with my wheelchair, and that my missing leg wasn’t fake or my prosthetic leg sitting by my side wasn’t just a prop. But, they acted as if something else was supposed to be going on with identifying people on the ADA platform. They inquired about the color of the wristband I was given? It was odd, and it didn’t set right with me the whole night. I’m not sure why, but I wonder if more was going on that met the eye?
In fact, the company running the bus transportation service being provided for people (with or without disabilities) to shuttle us from the Dana Point High School parking lot to the festival entrance was troubling to go through. No one told us until it was too late there would be no ADA Services provided by the shuttle buses. Not an Orange County Sheriff officer or Event Staffers directing the heavy traffic knew where to safely drop of a wheelchair bound disabled paid person. There were some event traffic signs placed on the streets, but all just caused more complete confusion then safely directing us to the event entrance. It was a battle to just find out where to go and park.
FYI, there should be more signs for Disabled Passenger Load/Unloading Zone for the festival next year. Also, effective sign placements on the road requires there to be many more signs to give drivers proper direction and enough time to be in the correct lanes of traffic. The event sign placement wasn’t giving enough time for drivers to be safe. My driver was given misdirection’s and misinformation 3 times by traffic workers having no clue or understanding as to where to direct anyone with a Disabled passenger. No visible ADA Parking signs anywhere, but none along the PCH route which was very strange. The festival signs were too small in most places to see, and either were non-directional festival signs without arrows or too close prior to the actual turning points. Security should have had set up a safe area with more clearly designated spots for the loading and unloading of ADA passengers. Only 1 out of 15 people directing traffic we spoke too knew where the high school was and how to get there. Another issue I had was the inability to support the general ADA crowd. I wish the event had more staffers trained specifically for the disabled crowd, there were plenty just standing still the whole concert.
I brought the items I required to stay the day, but many listened to the specific instructions for the general crowd. I was sitting next to people that needed special equipment, but brought low-back chairs as I was instructed to bring but didn’t. I require my wheelchair to get around most of the time. What I was going through and watching others struggle to be comfortable was not acceptable. The Doheny Event Coordinators on the phone, the internet website instructions, and staff talking in their booths all giving conflicting information to many different disabled paying patrons about what they were allowed to bring and where they were allowed to sit with their equipment. Many told me that they wouldn’t return, because it was such a struggle to understand anyone working the event. So many staffers not knowing any relevant information was very frustrating despite the continuous smiles and just standing around doing nothing but watching people walk by.
Why was a bus service being provided that were the full size buses obviously were equipped with wheelchair side door entrances and ramp for ADA patients and their wheelchairs, but none (nobody) offered to assist me on the bus properly or safely. They outright refused to help me put my wheelchair under the bus or to get on the bus. Ordering me to just put my own wheelchair under the luggage area before climbing in extreme pain onto the bus.
Why was my driver nor I not told by event traffic coordinators to get out at the festival entrance? Why was the bus service at the high school NOT providing any assistance for disabled passengers? I had to put my own manual wheelchair under the bus like a luggage handler in Las Vegas, and why $5 per person with a disability to do that crap. Why not free or $2 round trip for a short 2 mile ride roundtrip? I thought I was take advantage of and treated like a circus animal. My friends didn’t understand the behaviors or the unprofessional attitudes by these youngsters who’s only concerns were collecting a $5 bill from each person riding.
Those guys working the shuttle bus were money hungry, and it was obvious none of them really knew what they were doing. Almost unconscious when it came to running a transport system. But, I let it slide for the time being. I wanted to get into the venue. The short 5-minute ride dropped us off at a general spot nowhere near an ADA marked entrance. We were trying unsuccessfully to find the proper entrance for a wheelchair. None were visible anywhere. Just tiny signs posted at various spots. Nothing clearly marked, and no one escorting us even when we were going in the wrong way. Frustrating to say the least.
After winding our way with my CPA pushing me around to every conceivable unmarked path, we got to the right gated entrance for the disabled. I was allowed into the event. I have worked in 4 major industries. Now, I’m a professional reporter, writer and artist. I go to many venues. At this venue, in the end, it was very difficult to get into, navigate around, and the most uncomfortable live event I’ve been too yet.
FYI, for next year to the Doheny Family, if you want better attendance in the future you should really get some better training for all event staffers in all areas of the event platforms; or hire a different company to contract with who can handle the event properly. Telling any ADA patient that you are only allowed to bring in a 16oz sealed bottle of water, a low-back sand chair or a blanket. NOT ALLOWED TO BRING any of your required equipment and needed medication, low sodium foods, healthy sugar free drinks (none being provided by any vendor at the festival) is pretty bad professionally and I think somewhat illegal. Permanently disabled patrons cannot just buy and consume anything. Many near death event survivors know very well that any prepared foods at a venue are high in fat, high in sodium, and high in sugars. So, when there’s no mention of any available healthy alternatives, ADA people should be able to bring in their own meals, tea drinks, medications, and required equipment in with them and their companions.
Your company whether private or public just can’t tell a medical patient they can’t bring in the required things for their own safety, comfort and survival. It is extremely offensive, insensitive, uncompassionate, and uncharacteristically Doheny Family Values. I truly was bewildered by everything I witnessed when it came to our crowd of ADA patients and their PCA (Personal Care Assistants) having such a difficult time getting comfortable period. This was a no frills event for the ADA crowd. As I was enjoying the music, I couldn’t help thinking whether the price of $68 and all the work and discomfort was worth the trip?
I try to see the positive in everything I do, but why again was I not allowed to bring in an umbrella with me into the event to protect my sensitive skin from direct sunlight as directed by the directions on my medicine bottles? These are medications I must take to stay alive. We were above the crowd anyway. The view was the same for all of us on the black raised platform. It seemed quite ridiculous to be elevated in direct hot sunlight while the VIP section 20 feet to my left and elevated to the same height was completely covered. It made no sense to me. The platform was placed behind the VIP and GOLD ticket paying crowd who were sitting on the ground behind a fence line.
Unfortunately, the view of the main stage and the visual projection screen was blocked by a tree 30 feet directly in front of the platform view. Many of the disabled people attending the festival complained about the uncovered hot platform. I personally would have paid an extra $10 just for the shade.
What was up with security? The first 2 hours I was attempting to settle in, I was being asked about a different colored “wristband”. I’m not sure, but it seems as if I was supposed to have been given a ‘Blue’ colored wristband signifying my Disabled status. I was approach the first 2 hours a couple of times by security generating worries for me and my friends. I understand the need for security with large crowds, I worked in the Defense Industry for several years. You could just tell there was quite a bit of confusion within the ranks of security. The Orange County Sheriff’s Officers and K9 units was a nice sight, but why so many? Was a more credible threat possible for this event, and if so what was it? I would like to know as well as my readers.
ADA patients and Military Veterans with Disabilities should have been better directed, treated better as a whole group, and given viable options for their own care. Many concert goers up on the ADA platform were in pain, and having difficulties getting up and down the ramp. Getting to any of the vendors and the bathrooms with a clear path in the event was a problem for me and my manual wheelchair. There was truly no room to navigate through the crowds with my wheelchair. I saw uncomfortable and unhappy “Disabled Persons” which was a sad sight for an event that was supposed to be just a great day of surf, sun and blues music. I watched a guy who was recovering from hip replacement surgery struggling to get up and down in a low-back sand chair. He was going by the general crowd rules, and didn’t know you could bring a high-back chair for the ADA platform. Many were confused by what they were told to not bring.
People who paid good money to be uncomfortable and in pain with their condition. They came for the music. It was sad and makes me very angry that we were truly isolated with no sun shade cover. No services offered either to get food or drinks which would have been a great idea. K9 units, security officers and OC Sheriff’s officers were also totally in the way of the ramp itself watching the concert. Why are disabled folks running into these situations around the country more and more? I see it in my own town, and in areas that I’ve lived almost my entire life in southern California. The people are great, but businesses are slacking off big time when it comes to giving proper access and care to ADA people to “All” facilities at any venue for any event. I felt ADA paying folks were told not to bring their own supplies and equipment for the same reason the general crowd was told. That reason was to give every dollar to their vendors that probably paid a pretty penny for the spots at the event. I have been a job trainer for many years in different careers, but I have to tell you that the event staff was poorly trained, and many had their sites set only on $$$ dollar signs rather than customer care. I work with ADA patients and Veterans as well in south Orange County. More efforts must be made to ensure everyone can enjoy the same events no matter what condition their bodies are in. If I was going to be provided a safe, comfortable, and readily accessible place to watch the bands I came to see, the attempt failed unfortunately. With my friends help, of course, I was able to enjoy a little bit of good food and lemonade.
I personally was going crazy trying to watch the live acts do their thing. Eventually, I was able to enjoy the sounds of some Blues Rock that were tremendous, mind blowing and heart pounding for me. It was an experience I will never forget, and I plan to attend more Blues Festivals in the near future at different venues. I met wonderful people from all over the United States. People that follow the Blues throughout our great country. I wish every American could feel the positive effects of the Blues to unite Us together rather than fight amongst ourselves.
I felt like a million dollars when leaving exhausted for the night. Taking the $5 round trip bus ride per person from the Dana Hills High School parking lot down to the Festival entrance was expensive, and I felt not worth the price in the end. It was supposed to be a parking lot backup support to avoid parking and traffic congestion. It ended up being a two way uncomfortable and painful experience for this ADA patient. The restrooms at the festival itself were busy even with dozens of portable toilets available outside, and kept fairly clean, but not easy to get to for a wheelchair. Though I brought a long sleeve shirt and cover, I should have used a higher level of sun protection. I was told that the platform would be covered. Never the less, I enjoyed Saturday’s experience, but happy I didn’t pay for my return for Sundays lineup.
I settled for Saturday’s lineup of The 60 Grit Blues Band, Aaron Neville, The Edgar Winter Band, and Lynard Skynard. I love the guitar. It is my favorite instrument right at the top with the Double French Horn. Each with their own sounds and characteristics. I remember when each instrument was strictly handmade back in the day, and were unique on to themselves. Each guitarist learns the basic keys, chords and rhythms over time, but each person masters their instrument through dedication to the craft of playing music. When eventually you are able to create your own sounds and songs. Music moves me in every way, and it is my therapy night and day. Many of my guitar heroes I’ve never met. Many already deceased. All of them though have made the type of music that touches my heart, and keeps my ‘Spirit Warrior’ soring in the Heaven’s.
The first listening experience of the day was genuinely a thrill for this local guy. This was a group out of Lake Arrowhead, CA called ‘The 60 Grit Blues Band’. This blues band formed in 2013, and are made up five professionals playing a fresh sound with old school rhythm and blues with genuine soul. David Ferguson is the powerful lead vocalist, and plays the rhythm guitar well. Frank Orecchio plays a great lead guitar with smooth skills, swagger and a developed sense of spirit ready for the big time. Brian Haringa playing a hard rhythm bass guitar was blazing away. Nick Coffey at drums playing stellar rhythm with great management and percussion performances, and finally there’s Jeremiah Kiser with his irreplaceable harmonica. The vocals with “Worthless Soul”, “Don’t Come Cheap”, and “Oh Man” I especially enjoyed. This was a very cool experience to hear and watch. I couldn’t tell if I was having more fun just being there watching them; or, whether The 60 Grit Blues Band was having more fun than I playing to the big crowd? It was hard to tell, and fun to see a local band doing well enough to open for Aaron Neville, The Edgar Winter Group, and Lynard Skynard. I wish them all the breaks in the world, and do good by your music making the world a more positive and better place to live. Their sound was great, and I hope to catch this group again as soon as I can.
The next act was introduced by Los Angeles’ own rock radio personality “Uncle Joe” Benson. He was with others who were also well known southern Californian rock n roll radio station personalities Mark Thompson, Reda Wilde, and Cynthia Fox. All of them currently with 100.3 The Sound FM LA radio station. Mark Thompson, “Uncle Joe” Benson, Reda Wild and Cynthia Fox are all well known for their work on the old KLOS 95.5 FM LA days as well. Uncle Joe Benson who is also a true rock historian, Reda Wilde and Cynthia Fox (both women rock radio pioneers) all were with KMET 97.3 FM LA as well before it tragically folded unexpectedly to us listeners and the radio personnel one day.
Back at the festival, Uncle Joe came on stage, and he was describing what the most versatile and honed instrument in the world was and being the ‘human voice’. One of the most internationally recognized voices on the planet was “Aaron Neville”. As my anticipation grew out of control, Aaron Neville and his incredible band took the main stage. I was mesmerized after that point. In fact, time seems to have stopped for just a brief enough stretch of time, that I became in tuned with Mother Nature and forgot about all my worries. That is what a great performance from a Hall of Fame R & B singer-song writer does to the human spirit. Music heals the spirit and the soul. Special sounds that lift you in ways that drugs, alcohol, nor straight adrenaline can’t copy or produce. A natural high that is God given, and if you are like me, just enjoy and relish in the moments.
Aaron Neville was born in New Orleans, Louisiana USA on January 24, 1941. At age 75, his performance was electrifying and outright amazing. His voice was so clear and with such range that it literally sounded like he was recording in the studio. There have been only a handful of performances by vocalists that stand out in my life that I’ve heard live. For myself, Aaron Neville’s performance was right next to Michael Crawford’s second to last night of singing and performing his role of “Phantom of the Opera” in LA. Aaron Neville’s band consists of Greg Leisg playing lead guitar (played with Jeff Beck, Sheryl Crow), Benmont Tench on Organ (one of the founding members of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), George G. Receli on Drums (played for Bob Dylan), and Tony Scherr on Bass guitar (played with Bill Frisell, Norah Jones).
Aaron Neville grew up listening to the music during the 1950s “Doo-Wop” era. He is currently one of the finest vocalists in the world, and it was truly an honor and privilege to hear him sing and perform. He sung hits including, “Tears on My Pillow” by Little Anthony and the Imperials; “Work With Me, Annie” by Hank Ballad and the Midnighters; “Money Honey”, “Under The Boardwalk”, “This Magic Moment” by The Drifters; and a new Aaron Neville song “Be Your Man”. He has 4 Platinum-certified albums and 4 Top 10 hits in the United States including 3 that went number #1 on the Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. His debut single from 1966 was the #1 on the US Soul chart for five straight weeks titled, “Tell It Like It Is”. In 1977, Aaron joined up with his siblings Art Neville, Charles Neville, Cyrill Neville and Ivan Neville to form the Neville Brothers group. Other hits performed by the group include “Hercules”, “Please Come Home For Christmas”, “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow”, “Everybody Plays The Fool”, “White Christmas”, “Ain’t No Sunshine”, “Ave Maria”, “Louisiana 1927”, and “Don’t Take Away My Heaven”. Watching Aaron Neville’s performance along with his band is an event I will never forget.
Next on the main stage at the Doheny Blues Festival was The Edgar Winter Group. Another band I have always wanted to see play live. Edgar Holland Winter was born December 28, 1946 in Beaumont, TX. He is an American Rock and Blues multi-instrumentalist musician. Through the years, Edgar Winter has mastered the piano, keyboard, multiple guitars, saxophone, percussion/drums, and is a singer-song writer. He has also been a member of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Edgar Winter’s White Trash, and of course, Johnny & Edgar Winter. Johnny Winter unfortunately died July 16th, 2014. John Dawson Winter III was born in Beaumont, TX on February 23, 1944. He was another multi-instrumentalist, singer-song writer, and has been a 3-time Grammy Award winner for albums made with Blues singer and guitarist Muddy Waters.
Edgar and his group sounded sharp, full of energy and positively incendiary. Ronnie Montrose the lead guitarist was amazing to watch. Montrose has played with Van Morrison, Boz Skaggs, bassist Bill Church, Drummer Deny Carmassi, and vocalist Sammy Hagar. Chuck Ruff on drums was truly a joy to listen to and watch, and I believe he announced Dan Hartman on piano and keyboards, but there’s not much background information on these other musicians playing currently with Edgar Winter. The group performed hits including “Autumn”, “Dying to Live”, “Undercover Man”, “Queen of My Dreams”, “Easy Street”, “Rock and Roll Woman”, “They Only Come Out at Night”, “Free Ride”, and closed the set with their classic,” Frankenstein”. Their performance was a highly motivating, high energy, multi-instrumental bonanza that again I won’t forget. The band was sharp, entertaining to watch, listen and marvel at in the highest order and better than I had ever expected.
In fact, I didn’t know how Lynard Skynard’s performance would compare, but they hit it out of the park. They went “Yard”! There was no doubt Lynard Skynard was “…in the house”. In fact, they did everything possible to wake up again a subdued crowd. It took at least 10 minutes before the crowd realized who Lynard Skynard truly was. I mean you don’t get to hear any live Rock n Roll Hall of Fame groups very often. As far as I was concerned, the performance was historic in the end.
For much younger Blues fans, this was and is the second generation Lynard Skynard band. The current lineup of musicians includes some of the oldest members of the original band lineup. Gary Rossington was astonishing to listen too, and watch play his Rhythm and acoustic guitars; Rickey Medlocke also was on fire as the lead guitar front man; Johnny Van Zant with his lead vocals and guitar skills were amazing and hypnotic at times; Michael Cartellone was so hot on his drum set, I thought his drums were the special effects spewing out smoke on the stage; Mark Matejka was also playing an incendiary lead guitar with incredible skills and finger work; Peter Keys was one of the best keyboardists I’ve seen in a long time. His style and sound was perfect for Lynard Skynard to continue on in grand fashion. Then there’s Johnny Colt playing his immaculate bass guitar with absolute conviction. Together, it was an historic performance for me seeing the legendary band play for the very first time. These guys brought down the house by playing a greatest hits set which included, “Simple Man”, “Gimme Three Steps”, “Tuesday’s Gone”, “Sweet Home Alabama”, “That Smell”, “Saturday Night Special”, “You Got That Right”, “Don’t Ask Me No Questions”, “The Ballad of Curtis Loew”, “What’s Your Name”, “The Needle and the Spoon”, “I Ain’t the One”, and closed the set with a full moon shining down on a colorfully lighted stage, dry-ice smoke pouring out onto the stage from the drum set, and then over the side and onto the crowd below who were all giving a standing ovation screaming for Lynard Skynard to play their most iconic song “Free Bird”.
“Free Bird” was written and is always performed in honor of 3 original members who all tragically died in another Rock n Roll historical tragic event when the light Cessna airplane crashed on October 20th, 1977. The deaths of Ronnie Van Zant (lead vocalst), Johnny’s brother, along with Cassi Gaines and her brother Steve Gaines (three core members) was such a devastating event, many didn’t think Lynard Skynard could ever survive to attempt a comeback. It took a long time for the band to heal. It took 10 years before Johnny took on the challenge in the late ‘80s to reform the band, and took over the lead vocals position that his brother was so talented at. They were and have always been one of the biggest selling groups of the Southern Rock sound to ever be formed. That’s why they were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH in 2006. Many of their songs are still radio standards that you hear daily on any blues, rock blues or classic rock radio station. They are one of the best shows to watch and marvel at as far as this reviewer is concerned. Historic and memorable in the best ways possible. I came away with a good experience after all was said and done.
I only hope changes can be made so people with disabilities have a clearer understanding of what the general rules dictate for entrance to the Festival, but also instill some general compassion which was truly missing everywhere by the company providing services. Security and OC Sheriff’s Officers were good to see, but so many it felt like a prison concert sometimes. I’m sure the Doheny Family was happy to have them around as was I. Please, next year hire people at this events who have truly worked with and understands what the real needs are for any disabled person. I believe a much better training of staff communications is necessary. Train to physically guide disable folks to direct ADA MARKED access points, safe ADA drop-off points for wheelchairs; and hire some people to work for you that go out of their way to make sure ADA people are taken care of properly. Had I been by myself, which is the usual, this venue would have been a huge problem for me personally. I would be more than happy to speak with management about the suggested changes that should be made next festival in general to both keep ADA patients and Disabled Military Veterans properly taken care of, but boost you overall attendance and increase potential profits.
Michael Hepworth
287 S.Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
http://twitter.com/MrSpiritsman
http://alquimie.com.au/publicatio
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