Still Got The Blues…anyone?

**SteveSly** · 12-22-2013

Originally Posted by klothos

...and they played what they felt. They often never played the same song the same way twice ( I remember a blues jam I was hosting about ten years ago and a person I was talking to - a Blues Nazi - had said that he was watching an SRV video and that Stevie played his solo wrong...I just blinked at the guy in disbelief). They locked into what they played as to how they felt it for that moment - an audio representation of their soul at that moment in time. It wasn't about playing songs note-for-note and making sure every "i" was dotted and "t" crossed in the performance of the song.

Its hard for me to find new releases by new artists that "get it"

I think your point is interesting as we have a “blues association” here in Kalamazoo that I have heard accused of the exact thing you mention. I don’t know any current member personally, so can’t really comment, but I do know some former members who reflect a similar point of view to yours. On the other hand, I have to give the KBA some props as they have created a very strong blues scene here (especially for the size town this is) and have brought a lot of live blues to the area, so I guess it is a double edged sword.

Steve Sly

**Banquo** · 12-22-2013

Check him out at 2:15...

**No Pride** · 12-22-2013

Originally Posted by SteveSly

Isn't everyone an imitator at this point? I mean, what is there in blues that has not already been done 50 years ago. To me blues is more about legacy than originality at this point. There are a ton of great blues players out there today, but I would not say that any of them are really breaking new ground.

Precisely why I don't listen to blues much anymore, although there was a time when I did. I like players who pay homage to the blues on occasion, but have other things going on in their arsenal. Robben Ford is a good example, as is Scott Henderson and Oz Noy; these guys are basically jazz players who can play the shit out of the blues when they feel like it. The blues vocabulary is too limited for me, much as I can appreciate the emotion that goes into it. In fact I'd encourage players who are starting out to learn to play blues first; it's not extremely difficult to figure out and most importantly, you're learning to play from the heart. But then move on to other musical ground.

**SteveSly** · 12-22-2013

Originally Posted by No Pride

Precisely why I don't listen to blues much anymore, although there was a time when I did.

For me, I really just discovered blues in the past 15 years or so, so I never got burned out on it. I went to the occasional blues show when I was young (BB King, Mighty Joe Young), but really not get into it until I kind of accidentally saw Luther Allison in a club in Chicago back in the 90’s. I was so blown away that I started exploring blues at that point and have grown to love it, although I lean more towards the rock end of the blues spectrum. Having a fairly strong blues scene here in my home town has also helped as I have had the chance to see a lot of great blues artists that have come through town in the last decade or so.

Steve Sly

**klothos** · 12-22-2013

Originally Posted by No Pride

In fact I'd encourage players who are starting out to learn to play blues first; it's not extremely difficult to figure out and most importantly, you're learning to play from the heart. But then move on to other musical ground.

That was the magic of some of the popular punk-styles and 80s Metal back in the day: it really didnt take much to be a novice and be in the ballpark of what was needed. A 3 -piece gtr/bs/drms band of novices can actually cover a lot of sonic territory, even if they needed years of practice/refinement to make it sound good....by its nature, Blues is arguably more forgiving in that sense.

**Supersonic Scientist** · 12-22-2013

Unless I missed him being mentioned earlier in the thread...Roy Buchannan.

**hippypants** · 12-22-2013

Yeah, I tend to listen more of blues rock, I guess.

I'd second the votes for at least Johnny Winter's first two albums.
I like a lot of SRV too.
I like a lot of the early Fleetwood Mac stuff--Blues in Chicago, etc.
T-Bone Walker
Charlie Christian
Canned Heat's first two albums are pretty good.
Groundhog's Split album.
Etc.

**ronmac** · 12-22-2013

Originally Posted by Banquo

Excellent point. I suppose that makes SRV just as much an innovator as Johnny Winter.

Now THAT is funny!

Originally Posted by No Pride

In fact I'd encourage players who are starting out to learn to play blues first; it's not extremely difficult to figure out and most importantly, you're learning to play from the heart.

I had a co-worker years ago who's kid insisted on learning how to play on an electric. I suggested an acoustic would be a better way to begin for obvious reasons. Anyhoo, this kid, apparently, liked Eric Clapton, which is fine with me. I further suggested that, if he really wanted to play like Eric, he shouldn't watch his hands, he watch his face and see where it all comes from.

**Banquo** · 12-22-2013

Originally Posted by ronmac

Now THAT is funny!

Glad you got a kick out of it.

**Vic2012** · 12-23-2013

ZZ Top

**JKL2000** · 12-23-2013

Although this is a blues, I don't know if it counts as a "blues" arrangement or whatever - more New Orleans Jazz I guess? Still, it's great - I know a lot of people know it already.

**No Pride** · 12-23-2013

Originally Posted by JKL2000

Although this is a blues, I don't know if it counts as a "blues" arrangement or whatever - more New Orleans Jazz I guess?

A rose by any other name... But among other things, it shows you how different blues sounded before there were any electric guitars.

**ronmac** · 12-23-2013

Originally Posted by JKL2000

Although this is a blues, I don't know if it counts as a "blues" arrangement or whatever - more New Orleans Jazz I guess? Still, it's great - I know a lot of people know it already.

Really great.

**headcrash** · 12-23-2013

**Shadow** · 12-23-2013

Maybe not blues, but a great song

**Shadow** · 12-23-2013

This sounded much better seeing it live.

**GuitarGeek** · 12-23-2013

Originally Posted by klothos

What the Blues Nazis do not get is the music itself. A lot of these societies are trying to "Preserve the Blues" and will often support bands and artists that are trying to mimic the electric blues greats of the 50s+ or SRV (as overplayed as SRV is, Stevie did indeed get it ). Even being admant about the gear (point to point wired tube heads, vintage gear, or guitars without pointy headstocks, or no amp simulators). The point that they miss is that BB King, Albert King, John Lee Hooker, etc werent interested in sounding like anything but themselves. They chose what they played and how they played because they liked it and for no other reason. They weren't trying to sound "vintage" (as a matter of fact, a '56 Deluxe in 1956 was NEW technology). Albert played a Flying V ( a guitar doesnt get any more pointier than that) and, in the late 60s/early 70s, played through solid-state Ampeg amps.

I think it was an Acoustic amp that Albert King used, but the point remains the same. It still wasn't what the "purists" say is an "approved" form of amplification.

You know who owns all three of Albert's Flying V guitars? Steven Segal! Yeah, the Chuck Norris wannabe fancies himself a "blues man" now, and he apparently has the money to buy not just vintage gear, but celebrity vintage gear! Oy!

Oh, and there are "pointier" guitars out there than the Flying V. Maybe not back in 1967, but Ibanez, BC Rich, Jackson, Dean, Westone, Hondo, Carvin and even Guild made guitars that seemed to be trying to out do the Flying V and Explorer in the "pointy" department.

I always thought it'd be cool to play in a country band or something like that, and show up with a BC Rich Bich or Mockingbird or a Flying V, just to see what kind of reaction you get from people.

I remember when Gary Moore started playing blues in the early 90's, he stopped playing his Fender style guitars and pulled out his old Les Paul (yes, the Peter Green one), because he felt there were "too many guys already playing blues on Strats" and he felt the Les Paul tied him to the British blues heritage of Greeny, Clapton, etc.

**klothos** · 12-23-2013