Wow – in the category of “things I never expected to see in my lifetime” we hear that Google co-founder Sergey Brin is leaving Google to become a blues guitar god.
Now if it wasn’t April 1’st – this could certainly take on a life of its own…here’s the original article on TC.
$40,000 for 3 lessons from Eric Clapton – that should turn him into a guitar God right?
What’s next, will we see Sergey giving away his Billions to the devil at the Crossroads so he can trade his business savvy for a premiere position in the blues guitar world?
Well, Mick Jagger was asked to lead a “While House All-Stars Blues Band” in front of President Obama last month in celebration of Black History Month, so I suppose anything is possible!
Anyway…Happy April Fool’s to everyone. Keep an eye out at your local blues club, just MAYBE you will see Sergey sitting in with the local band on open jam night. I won’t hold out hope for pictures though…
Filed under blues guitar by on Apr 1st, 2012. Comment. 
At first I have to admit to thinking Carlos Santana, guitar God of the psychadelic 70’s, sold out accepting a 2-year Gig at (of all places) Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
After all, isn’t this where old stars go to live out the twilight years of their career – Celine Dion, Bobby Vinton, Tim Allen (Oh ya, he wasn’t a musician, just a handyman guy or something)
But then I thought, House of Blues with 1500 intimate seats with a mix of rock and blues guitar legends joining him on stage like Buddy Guy, Derek Trucks, Ben Harper or pretty much anyone you can think of and pretty soon you could erase all of the tackiness going on outside.
If I happen to end up down in Vegas during one of his 80 shows I do know I’ll be looking him up – usually I escape to the sanity of BB Kings blues club when I am stranded on the Strip, now I can take in a little Carlos Santana – come to think of it…pretty cool!
Here’s the release – he talks about “experimentation” – doesn’t that just summarize the career of the wonderful Carlos Santana
Filed under blues guitar, Blues Legends by on Feb 25th, 2012. Comment.
Even after all these years I find myself going back to watch clips of the Arc Angels – perhaps one of the best blues power groups ever assembled and yet they only stayed together for such a short time.
I suppose it’s no surprise that the mega rhythm sections of all time (SRV’s Double Trouble) combined with solid Charlie Sexton and the infinitely creative Doyle Bramhall II grew beyond the Arc Angels – each having such independent personalities, each a star in his own right.
But man…the songs they gave us were sweet.
When it comes to taking blues guitar to the next level, we can only hope that the Arc Angels collaborate once again, it would be a blast to see what comes out.
Until then, here is an early Double Trouble, Charlie Sexton and Doyle Bramhall II gig and “Say One Thing”
Filed under blues guitar, texas blues by on Feb 7th, 2012. Comment.
The fabulous Ottawa blues trio MonkeyJunk capped off an incredible run through 2011 into 2012 with 3 big Maple Blues Awards in this year’s ceremony held in Toronto at the Koerner Hall.
With Steve Marriner as lead signer and more than capable musician, Tony Diteodoro (Tony D) on blues guitar and Matt Sobb on drums it’s no wonder this trio has made a huge splash since forming back in 2008, each musician has paid their dues playing years (in some cases decades) of blues clubs on their way to this current collection.
For sure, right out of the gates MonkeyJunk caught the attention of loyal blues fans and the industry at large being recognized by the Maple Blues Awards nominated for best new blues act back in 2008 before they even had finished their first CD
They won this year for Recording of the Year for their latest work “To Behold” as well as scooping Best Blues Act and Best Drummer awards, the latter for Matt Sobb.
MonkeyJunk works because each of the artists bring something different to the table and push each other just enough into different directions that they create this wonderful gumbo of Southern, R&B, straight ahead blues and rock music that just makes you want to listen more and wonder what they will come out with next.
As someone who has followed Tony D’s wonderful, inspired blues guitar playing for years, get to see another side to him playing in MonkeyJunk both restrains him AND drives him to advance his playing at the same time.
Steve Marriner brings just the right combination of soul and blues to his vocals adding a professional yet powerful front end to the band. And yes the back-end is in good hands to with the supremely dedicated. talented back-beat of Matt Sobb.
All-in-all well deserved, and yes, I can’t wait to see what they come out with next. See you at 2012 Bluesfest in Ottawa guys and congratulations for once again raising the bar for Canadian Blues.
Filed under blues guitar by on Jan 22nd, 2012. Comment.
Looking for a holiday gift Christmas idea for someone you know loves blues music or blues guitar?
I know in my case, I would be happy getting nothing else but a blues CD or DVD for Christmas – and for those around you, it’s so easy and quick to order them online and have them delivered directly to you (or your neighbor’s) door.
So, how about some ideas…here is my choice for the Top 10 Blues Concert DVD Holiday Gift Ideas:
1. Eric Clapton: Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010 (Two-Disc DVD) – If you don’t have this DVD set already, you MUST have it. Names like ZZTop, John Mayer, Derek Trucks, BBKing, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmie Vaughan, Johnny Lang, Buddy Guy and a suprise visit by Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones fame) make this festival DVD a must have. Look for new comer Gary Clark Jr., Doyle Bramhall II and a Buddy Guy, Johnny Lang, Ron Wood set to blow your mind the most. Jeff Beck shows his amazing technical virtuosity on the guitar once again and we get to watch the definite chemistry between good friends Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton (who by the way gets better each year) . Oh and for you country lovers, there is a dazzling set with Vince Gill, Earl Klugh and Albert Lee…sweeet!
2. Albert King – Stevie Ray Vaughan: In Session (Nov 2010) – It was great to finally see this masterpiece, it had been previously released on CD, but this is one session where seeing is 90% of the value. Watching the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan with his mentor Albert King is touching and powerful all warpped into one. Seeing Stevie, at times lose his confidence in front of King and at times recover to blow him away (think Pride and Joy), there is so much mutual admiration when this session closes you can’t help being touched. Nearing the end of Albert’s career, you can tell he was inspired by Stevie’s pure love of the music and from there on the music these two men make together is legendary. You will not be disappointed – another must have Christmas gift if you don’t already have it.
3. Junior Wells Blues Legends: Live At Nightstage: Master of the electric delta blues and long time Buddy Guy partner, this previously unreleased material is masterfully captured – it really is like seeing him live in front of you. With songs like “Look Over Yonders Wall”, I Just Want to Make Love To You” and “Got My Mojo Working” as well as a special guest appearance by Buddy Guy make this concert DVD especially memorable. Not only is the music great – taken from two different concerts, but there is a fascinating backstage interview with Junior and Buddy Guy that make this DVD a must-have.
4. Born In The Honey – The PineTop Perkins Story – I found this DVD fascinating even though I can’t say I was a huge Pinetop Perkins follower. No denying that he had chops and touring with Muddy Waters puts him right up there near the BIG MAN himself. This package comes with 2 DVD’s, one with great music and the other with some very good interviews with Pinetop himself as well as with those who knew him. What a great man and what a game changer when it came to mixing blues and boogie woogie piano. It is the combination of music and documentary that will make this a great gift idea this Holiday season.
5. Songs From The Road – Luther Allison (Bonus DVD) – As we continue to lose so many of the original blues greats, it was almost as if Luther Allison came and went way too quickly, yet he combined so much passion (think Albert Collins meets Freddie King with a splash of Buddy Guy). Luckily some of his best work was captured on this CD and DVD combination. There are roughly 7 songs contained on the concert DVD including “Cancel My Check Solberg” and “Living in the House of Blues”. An incredible talent that so many people are only today realizing existed before he passed on in 1997. A great treasure with this Holiday gift concert DVD
6. BONUS LISTING – Joe Bonamassa Live From The Royal Albert Hall – DVD – I just had to fit this one in although most of you probably already have this in your collection. Joe Bonamassa is one of the most exciting, blues-rooted, rock guitar players to come along. His beginnings as a child prodigy are legendary and yet he has matured into a very powerful blues guitar player – all of that is captured in this high quality, up-tempo live music DVD from Royal Albert Hall. This concert DVD is exactly the way I like it…95% live music, 5% interesting stories and introductions from Joe (I loved the story about how he dreamed of playing Royal Albert Hall when he was a kid). We also get a blistering appearance with Eric Clapton where the two go toe-to-toe on an up-tempo blues number. A fabulous DVD, get it if it is not part of your collection.
There you have it – my selections for the best Holiday blues concert DVD’s. If you have any other suggestions, leave a comment – some of us may already have ALL of these suggestions already…
Filed under blues guitar, holiday music ideas by on Dec 15th, 2011. Comment.
So tell me, what does Texas put in their water that creates so many great blues guitar players?
Actually it isn’t hard to understand when you visit Austin a see the incredible mix of bars, clubs and street musicians – the question becomes, how can you NOT become a musician.
But then, out of this blues mecca comes what everyone is buzzing about…the next great blues guitar legend? His name is Gary Clark Jr. and yes, he’s the real deal.
He caught the attention of one Eric Clapton ending up as one of the only new guitar players on Crossroad Blue Festival 2010’s line-up – a show certainly to remember up there with Doyle Bramhall II – they tore it up!
Here’s Gary Clark showing his retro shuffle chops with a sweet mix of Chuck Berry, Texas shuffle (a la Vaughan Brothers) and traditional Lightning Hopkins, Freddie King on this version of Shotgun Blues written by Donnie and Hock Walsh of the Downchild Blues Band.
And now for the real test – a slow blues…sounds of BB King mixed with Buddy Guy?
Apparently he is working on a CD that will come out next year – but already generating significant buzz…or as we like to say “paying his dues”
Nice to see that blues is alive and well.
Filed under blues guitar by on Dec 14th, 2011. Comment.
Isn’t it always the case that you take for granted what has always been around you…that’s certainly the case with blues guitar man David Gogo who has been playing Ottawa and Canadian blues venues as long as I can remember.
I remember seeing him in his 20’s – hard to believe he’s now in his 40’s, but then again I’m having trouble admitting I am now 44-years young!
A big huge shout out goes to guys like David Gogo, Tony D, and of course the Canadian Prime Minister of the Blues Dutch Mason who haven’t compromised their passion for the blues by playing more generic crap that may have a better chance of hitting the airwaves.
At 43 Gogo now finds himself opening for the renewed Johnny Winter Canadian dates across Western Canada – some well deserved attention and no-doubt a blast to be playing with one of the greats who shared the stage with MuddyWaters
Here’s a taste of Gogo’s slide playing –
We recently found out that Gogo is up for some tasty blues awards (Juno’s) and is getting some good press on tour with Johnny – good for him – for a bluesman he’s ahead of the curve at only 43 🙂
Let us know what you think of David’s tasty blues guitar work, leave us a comment.
Filed under blues guitar by on Oct 17th, 2011. Comment.
Great to see this recent write-up about Buddy Guy’s impressive headline show at the Aurora IL blues festival held earlier this year…not only is he making his 74-years look like a 40-year old, one could argue that Buddy’s brand of Chicago blues gets better with age.
3 Things You Are Guaranteed At Any Buddy Guy show:
1. You’ll never hear a song done the same. I remember 2-years ago here at the Ottawa Blues Festival when he launched into a rendition of “Damn Write I Got The Blues” that he kept so low down and dirty and then rocked out in the last few lines…completely different than I had heard him done at other shows and on his same titled CD. That’s what keeps us going to see Guy again and again is that we know when his genius and passion for the guitar meld with his creativity and fearlessness we get to witness greatness…you never know what to expect and that is amazing after 50+ years at it
2. His sense of humor – Guy is serious about his music, serious as a heart-attack about his guitar, but doesn’t take himself too serious. I remember running in to him nearly a dozen years ago at his Legends Club in Chicago, nicest, most down to earth guy you will ever want to meet. That comes through on stage too, he has fun up there – that must account for at least part of his longevity
3. Spirit of the blues…every Buddy Guy I’ve ever seen he pays tribute to his mentors (Muddy Waters, Otis Rush, BB King to name a few) as well as those that have clearly learned a ton from Buddy including Eric Clapton and the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan. It was the special relationship between Stevie and Buddy that provided the link for me to becoming a huge Buddy Guy fan.
Thankful we still have him sharing his roots and continuing to bridge Blues and Rock together at the same time progressing the future of Blues music all the while continuing to provide an essential link for today’s youth back to the greats where it all started.
Have you ever attended a Buddy Guy concert? If so, what did you think?
Filed under blues guitar, Blues Legends by on Jun 20th, 2011. Comment.
There is nothing like live blues, I try and get out each weekend when I’m home to catch a blues act coming through town and of course, watch dozens when the Ottawa Bluefest runs in July. The Fall is looking like a terrific time to catch some of the best blues guitar greats in or around your town. Here is just a sampling:
Jimmie Vaughan – Out with a critically acclaimed new CD Jimmie Vaughan-Plays Blues, Ballads & Favorites
Joe Banomassa is feeling very European – his new album Black Country Communion (CD/DVD)
Guitar Shorty – into his 70’s blues guitar and entertainer Guitar Shorty ages like a fine wine, he knows how to play guitar, his singing is heartfelt and soulful and he is a master entertainer, you always get your money’s worth at a Guitar Shorty show. We’ve had the benefit of seeing him up here in Ottawa at Bluesfest a few times, he always engages the crowd and often wanders through the audience as he plays inspirational guitar. Guitar Shorty tours relentlessly making stops through Texas, Ohio and Florida in October and November…get out to see him if you can, you’ll have a blast. Here is his updated tour schedule.
Robert Cray – Touring in support of the recently released Cookin’ in Mobile [CD/DVD]
Lots more to share in upcoming posts – the blues guitar circuit has never been more vibrant, so get out and support live blues, let’s not take it for granted…there’s nothing like them blues!
Filed under blues guitar, blues tour dates by on Aug 29th, 2010. Comment.
For us blues guitar fans, live blues performances take us through a wild ride of emotions from quiet and introspective to raw and painful through powerful and explosive… no other type of music walks you through a storyline in music as well as lyric each time you listen.
Rarely do you see all of this played out in one blues guitar song…that’s why I thought I would post this performance by Matt Schofield taken from the Thunder Bay Blues Festival from just a few weeks ago. Notice how he begins with melodic soft blues runs and builds to at least two explosive string bending sessions before bridging back into the main melody. A Fender Strat man, Schofield puts on a clinic for any aspiring blues guitar player, either beginner or advanced…watch closely:
Filed under blues guitar by on Aug 1st, 2010. Comment.
