Have you guys had the chance to take a look at Gary Clark Jr. new material?
Real mix of styles ranging from “Ramones” influenced rock to some very authentic soul and of course – BLUES!
In that mix is the first released single and video – This Land…a very hard-core protest song and video where Gary uses his platform to share statements on black America at this point in time where progress has been made, but has seemingly stalled of late regarding racial equality.
I’m not usually a big fan of music serving messages, but where sufficient attention has been paid to the MUSIC and there is a strong message as part of that music then I’m all for it…and in this case I think Gary has achieved this completely.
Leave me your thoughts…
Filed under blues guitar, Gary Clark Jr, New Blues by on Jan 30th, 2019. Comment. 
Took in the Paul Deslauriers Band from Montreal, Quebec last evening at the Calabogie blues festival.
This blues-influenced power trio was loud and rockin…from his Gibson Les Paul to the wonderfully sounding double-neck SG with the top being a 12-string model that I swear sounds just like Richie Sambora (guitarist with Bon Jovi).
Paul Deslauriers walked away with best guitarist at the Maple Blues Awards (Canada’s Blues Awards) this year and his rhythm section is ROCK solid – the drummer was incredible.
With a little refinement (tightening up a couple of their numbers and perhaps leaving the bottom 25% of their weakest stuff out of their show, they are teetering on something VERY special).
Definitely worth checking these guys out – have the feeling they will become much more visible through 2015.
Here’s a sampling of their show…
Here’s another sample of that double-necked SG – doesn’t the 12-string neck sound fine?
Filed under blues guitar, New Blues by on Aug 17th, 2014. Comment.
Remarkable video that demonstrates we can do anything if we really put our mind to it…blind from birth, Felix delivers an incredible version of “Everyday I Have The Blues” – the BB King standard.
Watch how he learned to play the guitar on his lap from sound only…don’t ever complain about having to practice again!
Filed under New Blues by on Aug 15th, 2014. Comment.
New video of “Different Shades of Blue” from blues guitar great Joe Bonamassa – what do you guys think?
Nice to see him play a Fender Strat, usually he’s a Gibson, Marshall guy. The cutting, clean edge of the strat brings out a new urgency and bite to his soloing doesn’t it?
I personally find this more melodic (dare I say mainstream) than much of Joe’s stuff….nice change, still has the same killer guitar solo. I wouldn’t want to hear too much from Joe in this vein, but totally see it fitting in with his various other influences and genres.
What do you think?
Filed under Joe Bonamassa, New Blues by on Jul 15th, 2014. Comment.
Gary Clark Jr. posted this to his Instagram account – pretty sweet setup, have you guys ever tried a Fender Vibro King?
Filed under New Blues, texas blues by on Jun 17th, 2014. Comment.
Jack White is perhaps the most unique and vibrantly creative artist active today…it just so happens his roots are in the Blues no matter how far his creative puruits take him.
That’s the way it should be, start with internalizing the foundation of music (the Blues) and build out from there.
Same formula as Jimi Hendrix, Gary Clarke Jr., Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, The Black Keys…should I go on?
What do they get from the Blues?
- Learn to dig deep and find the emotional ’10’ that sits behind music that connects
- Simple before complex…instead of striking out to be complex, you start with the simple lessons of the Blues (less is more, space means as much as notes, rhythm, etc…) and then build out from there
- Music first…before anything else, staying true to the music is the first priority
- Always learn and improve
- Pay your respects to those who came before…keeps your ego in check
All of that said, when you come at Jack White, his versatility is incredible – you could just as easily hear him playing Bluegrass as something approaching maniacal punk rock. So, if you haven’t followed him and don’t have some background in Blues music you may be forgiven for passing right over – but guaranteed you will be pulled in again.
I’ve picked up a copy of his latest critically acclaimed (and yes – very highly recommended) Lazaretto – a rich, sometimes eclectic, but always rooted piece of creative mastery.
If you fancy yourself a music fan, then you MUST have Lazaretto in your portfolio as it will go down as one of the more important creative endeavors this decade – of that I am sure.
What’s your take?
Here’s one of the lead tunes – just to give you a sample – but go and get the full CD, you won’t be disappointed:
Filed under New Blues, rock and roll by on Jun 11th, 2014. Comment.
One of the things I truly love about blues music is how each generation shows such respect and passes down stories, techniques and songs from the generation before.
These are real stories, real emotions and incredible passion and love for the music and for the legacy of those who started and brought the blues to new audiences over the years.
With few of the 2cnd generation of blues legends left (Buddy Guy and BB King would fall into that camp), it’s more important than ever that their professionalism, passion, techniques and respect for blues guitar is passed on to the next generation.
So when I see a video like this of Buddy “hands-on” mentoring a talent like 12-year old Hayden Fogle, I have faith that the blues will endure.
There are dozens of “little” lessons in being a blues musician and performer wrapped into this short clip:
1. To start low and slow and build, then reset taking your audience on an emotional journey of peaks and valleys
2. To give others the spotlight and then to volley back and forth to give the audience an ever-changing show
3. To be a band leader (watch as Hayden, gives glances to the drummer to change the tempo or accent a beat) and not just a passenger up there
4. To be in the spotlight and learn to play to your audience
5. To put on a show as well as play music
6. To not focus too much on playing a perfect note, but to go outside the box and do some bizarre Buddy bends making it a fascinating, unpredictable show for the audience (Buddy is especially good at this which is at least in part, why he has stayed relevant all these years)
7. By example, teaching young Hayden to be as generous with his talent, time and audience to show and share with other musicians in the age-old blues tradition
Anything else you picked up that I didn’t?
Jeff
Filed under Blues Legends, New Blues by on Aug 14th, 2013. Comment.
Gibson recently published a listing of their top 10 list for current/new blues guitar greats…obviously this is subjective, and I wanted to give my opinion…
First, let’s look at their list:
1. Joe Bonamassa
2. John Mayer
3. Jack White
4. Eric Gales
5. Don Auerbach (The Black Keys)
6. Davy Knowles
7. Kenny Wayne Shepherd
8. Derek Trucks
9. Johnny Lang
10. Ben Harper
I agree with about half of this list, but here’s who I would swap/add
1. Joe Bonamassa – no argument here, this guy is rooted in the blues and can take it in so many directions with his talent
2. Derek Trucks – have to have him second, pure genius and with Susan Tedeschi he’s moving beyond his roots
3. Kenny Wayne Shepherd – yup, SRV is alive in well in the spirit and guts of Kenny Wayne
4. Gary Clark Jr – how can this guy be missing…so dynamic, skilled, pure foundation in the blues holding a ton of potential
5. Davy Knowles – definitely
6. Walter Trout – Blew me away in his latest concerts, the guy has found something special of late
7. Jimmie Vaughan – only because I think he is still re-inventing blues by keeping true to the roots, think he still has at least one more innovative CD in him, perhaps in a collaboration with someone else on this list
8. Doyle Bramhall II – hugely creative, great pedigree, played with Clapton for years, watch for him in the next few years
9. Buddy Guy – Yes, still MODERN after all these years!
10. ?????
Who would you pick as #10?
I’m on the fence with guys like Jack White, Johnny Lang, Colin James, and from my area there are guys coming up like Tony D (MonkeyJunk), David Gogo, and JW Jones…these are names you will hear more from in the coming years.
What would your list be? Leave us a comment.
Filed under New Blues by on Aug 12th, 2012. 2 Comments.
Ottawa blues trio MonkeyJunk took away the top Canadian Blues Award at this weekend’s Juno Awards…nice icing on what has been a very busy and positive year.
From day 1 – when Matt Sobb, Tony D and Steve Marriner came together for an open blues jam at Irene’s Pub – the chemistry has been strong.
Tony D’s amazing raw blues guitar talent combined with Matt’s steady back beat and the immensely talented Steve Marriner has just worked…can’t wait to see what comes next.
Their 2011 CD “To Behold” is the basis for their success in 2011 and the Juno Award, definitely worth a listen for those of you who have not had the chance to listen to this exciting, fun band.
They have just finished work on their latest CD collection where they will once again refine their sound into a mix of R&B, blues, soul and rock& roll…seems like the Sky’s the limit, we’ll all be looking upward. Here’s more in the Sun Ottawa newspaper.
Filed under New Blues by on Apr 3rd, 2012. Comment.
Being from Canada and a big blues guitar fan Colin James is one Canadian artist I have followed consistently over the last 22-years, since his first self-titled debut “Colin James” was released. Though now with him living out in Western Canada, we don’t get to see him as much as I would like.
Colin was rooted in the blues at an extremely early age, was touched by the magic of fellow blues guitar slinger Stevie Ray Vaughan as a teen and has since gone on to be one of the most diverse, entertaining and creative artists in Canadian music history.
While Colin always stays rooted in the blues, he hasn’t been afraid to mix it with equal parts jazz, jump jazz, country and pop – we never know what we are getting from Colin next, but rest assured it will be worth listening to.
Here is a cool clip from a recent Canadian tour where Colin does some mean acoustic blues guitar with a rhythm that just won’t quit. Sounds like his is mixing parts from a few blues classics in here – definitely Rock Me Baby is mixed in, but it is the acoustic guitar work that really makes this clip interesting – take a watch.
How’s that for some nifty finger-picking and with the old I-IV-V chord progression?
Filed under blues guitar, Blues Legends, New Blues by on Jan 30th, 2010. Comment.
