Man, did that ever feel good. I finally got a chance to get my guitar out and play after a very long month off. If you were there you know I'm talking about an hour-long set at the Blue Lamp on Saturday the 14th. Thanks to all of you that came out and voiced such strong opinions in favor of that raw delta blues.
So, after gig #1, one thing that really struck me was how knowledgable the audience was about all things blues-related. Much more so than the States. I suppose that doesn't come as a suprise, as modern blues artists seem to spend more time here than state-side making a living. Must be that thing about not appreciating something that comes from your own back yard. No bother, it's great to have a room full of people to talk blues with. Great to see all of you there, and dthanks to those that spent some cash on my cd!
OK, some other local gigs will be going on the web calendar today. Also, I'm working on booking some solo shows in Argentina, and some return gigs in Alaska. So please check into my website to keep up to date on the latest show.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Sunday, May 08, 2005
How do you recognize a real blues band anyway?
Seems like I get this question all the time. Here's a few thoughts to help you recognize a real blues band:
I think there's a difference between a good blues SONG and a good blues BAND. The best blues bands I can think of have a few characteristics in common:
1. The gig is an on-going conversation where the audience is a key participant. There's no rock-n-roll 'we're too cool to acknowlege the little people trip'
2. Song selection is geared for dancing, dominated by medium-tempo grooves that allow people to dance by shuffling feet and moving pelvises. Slow songs, funky songs too. Anything resembling 'Freebird', 'Enter Sandman' or 'Takin care of business' is a give-away that you're not listening to a blues band.
3. Likewise, songs that are not about collective concerns of a room full of people that work for a living generally aren't blues songs.
4. If someone in the band shot a man in menphis just to watch him die, that's a country band. Learn to line dance when listening to this band.
5. But, a band singing "i'm going to murder my baby" probably is a blues band, but only if the tempo of the song is one you could also use to walk to the dentist.
6. A band full of people dressed in shades, fedora's and cheap black suits is not a blues band, it's a movie tribute band. Run, don't walk, in the opposite direction.
7. Some indicators that you've found a real blues band- they can handle a Magic Sam request, have day jobs working in a steel mill, are not playing shiny guitars. If something about the singing or the guitar playing sends a shiver down your spine, makes you want to shuffle your feet and every once in a while turn to your date and smile because you've heard something universal about the human condition (excluding BMW cars, hired help, tax shelters and a CEO sucession plan) then you're listening to a blues band. If you are listening to songs about BMW cars, hired help, tax shelters and a CEO sucession plan sung by men in suits, fedoras and sunglasses, refer to #6 above. Should you by chance encounter a real working blues band, throw a fiver in the tip jar, buy a CD or two and tell them to keep up the good work. There's too many #6 bands around.
Are we clear now?
I think there's a difference between a good blues SONG and a good blues BAND. The best blues bands I can think of have a few characteristics in common:
1. The gig is an on-going conversation where the audience is a key participant. There's no rock-n-roll 'we're too cool to acknowlege the little people trip'
2. Song selection is geared for dancing, dominated by medium-tempo grooves that allow people to dance by shuffling feet and moving pelvises. Slow songs, funky songs too. Anything resembling 'Freebird', 'Enter Sandman' or 'Takin care of business' is a give-away that you're not listening to a blues band.
3. Likewise, songs that are not about collective concerns of a room full of people that work for a living generally aren't blues songs.
4. If someone in the band shot a man in menphis just to watch him die, that's a country band. Learn to line dance when listening to this band.
5. But, a band singing "i'm going to murder my baby" probably is a blues band, but only if the tempo of the song is one you could also use to walk to the dentist.
6. A band full of people dressed in shades, fedora's and cheap black suits is not a blues band, it's a movie tribute band. Run, don't walk, in the opposite direction.
7. Some indicators that you've found a real blues band- they can handle a Magic Sam request, have day jobs working in a steel mill, are not playing shiny guitars. If something about the singing or the guitar playing sends a shiver down your spine, makes you want to shuffle your feet and every once in a while turn to your date and smile because you've heard something universal about the human condition (excluding BMW cars, hired help, tax shelters and a CEO sucession plan) then you're listening to a blues band. If you are listening to songs about BMW cars, hired help, tax shelters and a CEO sucession plan sung by men in suits, fedoras and sunglasses, refer to #6 above. Should you by chance encounter a real working blues band, throw a fiver in the tip jar, buy a CD or two and tell them to keep up the good work. There's too many #6 bands around.
Are we clear now?
Monday, May 02, 2005
I've been waiting for weeks for my amp to get here. It took much longer than anyone expected. Then I needed a transformer to bring the 240 volt electricity down to something the amp can deal with. Fine. This afternoon I decided to wring out my amp before all the neighbors got home from work.
What a really, really bad idea....
Well, just let it be said that I did meet my next door neighbor. I've been here 3 weeks and seen no sign of life next door (we share a thick granite wall with them, the house is like a Texas duplex). To be fair, it was extremely loud. I think she was a little suprised to see gray-haired me answer the door, I'm sure she was expecting to see my teenage son. "Gosh, I sure am sorry" I said, "it was a little loud, I'll turn it off right now". At least she left happy. And she seemed nice, once she got over the shock.
So, from this we've learned a few things:
1. We really do have a next-door neighbor.
2. Granite walls make really bad sound barriers.
3. We need to work on the volume
4. I'm still kinda loud for an old fart.
And to think that my mother said that my guitar playing would only get me in trouble, what- 30 years ago? I should have listened!
What a really, really bad idea....
Well, just let it be said that I did meet my next door neighbor. I've been here 3 weeks and seen no sign of life next door (we share a thick granite wall with them, the house is like a Texas duplex). To be fair, it was extremely loud. I think she was a little suprised to see gray-haired me answer the door, I'm sure she was expecting to see my teenage son. "Gosh, I sure am sorry" I said, "it was a little loud, I'll turn it off right now". At least she left happy. And she seemed nice, once she got over the shock.
So, from this we've learned a few things:
1. We really do have a next-door neighbor.
2. Granite walls make really bad sound barriers.
3. We need to work on the volume
4. I'm still kinda loud for an old fart.
And to think that my mother said that my guitar playing would only get me in trouble, what- 30 years ago? I should have listened!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)