IM a blues man myself. I'll listen to it all- CHicago BLues(THe Masters: Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Sonny Boy Williamson, John Lee Hooker, BB King and so on....). but I am also into 70's blues, mostly the British Invasion: Led Zeppelin, Cream, Rolling Stones, The Kinks,Beatles , even the likes of Lou Reed, David Bowie, and Frank Zappa dabbled in the genre for a while. And then then theres the new generation. I guess Stevie Ray Vaughn had a huge influence on Blues' rebirth in the 80's. Clapton has always kept it alive, but I like the sound of the Jonny Langs and the Kenny Wayne Shepherds. I play the blues harmonica, its an instrument that was calling me, and I answered by playing that sweet blues sound. oh yeah I forgot BOb DYlan, one of the inspirations for me picking up the harmonica. He is THE GOD of twentieth century music. well thats all I can spout off for now, but I know alot of you guys are guitarists and musicians, and Austin has a great blues scene , at least it did when I was there( ANTONE was getting busted for supplying the entire city of Austin with their weed- summer 0f 98) later guys, keep playin the blues ------------------ right on
Hopefully this thread will bring back Rocketman Tex! RMT! Come back to us!!!! ------------------ Everything you do, effects everything that is.
OK then........random thoughts on the blues: Thought #1: Been listening to Slim Harpo, Big Bill Broonzy, Lil' Son Jackson, Frankie Lee Sims, and the Jimi Hendrix "Blues" CD lately. Thought #2: Many people think of Stevie Ray Vaughan when they think of Texas blues music. That is not a bad thing at all, but it is a shame that many of those people think that Texas blues music begins and ends with Stevie Ray. They do not take the time to research the music behind the man, and discover the artists that inspired him. They ought to. Thought #3: Although Austin has a great music scene, blues is just a part of it. Austin's scene is very diversified compared to Houston. Houston's music scene, on the other hand, is much more deeply rooted in the blues than Austin. People tend to forget that Lightnin' Hopkins, Albert Collins, Johnny "Clyde" Copeland and a host of other classic blues musicians made Houston their home base from the 1940s through the 1990s. BB King was headlining the Eldorado Ballroom in the Third Ward very early on in his career (late 1940s). Don Robey and Huey Meaux recorded some classic blues records in Houston during the 40s and 50s, and those records went on to become national hits on the R&B and "race record" charts at the time. And today, the blues scene in Houston is vibrant and very much alive, with performers/bands such as Carolyn Wonderland, Harlem Slim, Texas Johnny Brown, Joe "Guitar" Hughes, IJ Gosey, Dropkick Chihuahuas, Alison Fisher, Snit's Dog & Pony Show, Luther & the Healers, Big Al Bettis, and a host of other great blues & roots rock acts performing regularly here. The jams here are nothing short of amazing, and the venues, such as the Big Easy, Danelectro's, Silky's & the Red Rooster regularly showcase the serious blues talent that is located here in Houston. In short, Austin may be the live music capital of the world, but Houston is definitely the blues capital of Texas. ------------------ "Blues is a Healer" --John Lee Hooker
Blues is all I listen to (and play). Everything from Robert Johnson to Kenny Wayne Shepard. Currently listening to- Micheal Bloomfield, Peter Green, Luther Allison, Buddy Guy. ------------------ "Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."- (Aldous Huxley)
Blues comes after jazz for me, but not too far. I am always listening to Elmore James. A little Howlin' Wolf...Robert Johnson....Ledbelly... No white people...they have no business singin the blues. They are the ones that are giving the blues! ------------------ Whitey will pay.
The Blue are more much more fun to play than to listen to. What do you play, Bob? ------------------ Hey now, Hey now, don't Dream it's over...
I don't listen to the range of some of you guys, but Peter Green and Michael Bloomfield are two of the very best. Also Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown. I have 3 Johnny Lang CD's. What a talent. If you guys haven't heard the latest from R.L. Burnside, you are really missing something. It's been out over a year now. One track was used on "Sopranos". R.L. is 72 years old & his grandson is on drums. Old style blues with heavy percussion & programmer/synthesizer. I haven't heard another sound like it. Also, recently, someone lent me "Mighty Mo Rodgers". It's very good. The only thing that's weird is his lyrics. They are about current events. "I know what's on the missing 18 minutes of the Nixon tapes". "Blues is my wailing wall". Different. P.S. Life gives you the blues. ------------------
I'm liking Susan Tedeschi quite a bit right now, but Stevie will always be my Elvis. I've never heard anyone speak through an instrument like he did. Rimbaud--even with smiley face, I think your comments are racist. Wait a second....that's not what I mean. What I really meant to say was that I deplore the fact that it's socially acceptable for you to make those comments about white people, but if I directed those same comments towards African Americans--even with the smiley face--I'd be pegged as racist. Lord knows what would happen if I had a signature that said, "Blackey must pay." I don't know.....my dad quit school in fourth grade to pick cotton because his parents were share croppers, and although my Mom's family did a little better, they sure as hell never had any slaves. I don't feel that I've ever been given any special privileges because of my color, but I’ve been told that other people were chosen before me for something I wanted…both in school and in the workplace…not because I wasn’t qualified, but because I wasn’t a “minority.” Does racism exist? Hell yes! But it’s a two way street, and you’re guilty of perpetuating it. But then again, maybe I am too for calling you out on this. I guess we’re just destined to go round and round until we breed out the colors and we’re all brown. ------------------ stop posting my damn signature
Hey Pole, Lighten up, man! The difference with you calling an african-american something (such as "blackey will pay"), is that you would be directing your comments towards a different race. In this instance, I, being white, am having fun at my own race's expense. If that makes me racist in some eyes, then those eyes need to lighten up. Sorry to have set you off...I guess you thought I was black? Anyway...blues is good music. ------------------ Whitey will pay. [This message has been edited by rimbaud (edited April 24, 2001).]
You guys are awesome. I love this forum. I'm trying to get more into the jazz/blues genre and outside of the usual "big names", I had no clue as to who was considered "good". At least now I have a starting point for the blues. ------------------ Yugo grills, Yugo mills, Check out the oil my Yugo spills...
All right! But enough about your random thoughts. What do you really think? What’s that saying? "You can't sing the blues unles you live em'. Lets not forget the jazz singers that could wail a blues tune. Billy Holiday Ella Fitzgerald CHET BAKER Cleo Lane Ah! Blues and jazz are forever entwined! ------------------ Everything you do, effects everything that is.
Moe, Peter Green Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac/Live At The Marquee 1992 Reciever Records Peter Green with Nigel Watson/The Robert Johnson Songbook 1998 Snapper Music Micheal Bloomfield Don't Say I Ain't Your Man 1964-1969 Columbia The Best Of Micheal Bloomfield 1997 Fantasy Label ------------------ "Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."- (Aldous Huxley)
Thanks, Bob. I'll have to check those out. I saw Fleetwood Mac in Houston in about '68 or '69. Great concert. Must have been about when that "Live at the Marquee" was recorded. On that "Best of Michael Bloomfield" is there a track called "Fine Jung Thing"? It's an instrumental from the soundtrack from the movie "The Trip". ------------------
"Live At the Marquee" was their second concert ever!!! It's from 1967. "Fine Jung Thing" is not on the one I have. I have seen other Best Of Bloomfield CD's that have it. Here is a good Biography of Peter Green with a good link at the bottom (second one listed) http://www.fmlegacy.com/biopeter.html ------------------ "Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."- (Aldous Huxley)
Wow, Bob, thanks for the links. How does the Nigel Watson, Robert Johnson Songbook compare to the old Fleetwood Mac stuff. I didn't care as much for "End of the Game" and "Whatcha Gonna Do". Would have loved to have heard that jam with Carlos Santana on "Black Magic Woman". ------------------
12 yrs, time to open it up again... Jimi going off!!! <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/95DYh0OXXjw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
not really into modern/electrified blues, but i love the acoustic/delta stuff. some artists that have not been mentioned yet...you honkeys cant handle this stuff! mississippi fred mcdowell <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9TyzAAwJnIw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> mississippi john hurt <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tr_VUEITbjY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> when i was in guatemala a couple years ago we went to this bar/restaurant/cafe in the jungles of lake atitlan called the blind lemon. it was owned by this american ex-pat hippie who at one time was a cult leader in north carolina. when he found out we were from texas he got very interested in us, since his hero, blind lemon jefferson was also from texas. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/i3GEDqkJeVs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> and lastly, the king of african guitar and one of my favorite players - ali farka toure... <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LSWuzp_0hn4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Aren't there any new peeps out there making OLD music? That's what SHE said to the old man. AND HE WAS HAPPY! :grin: