I can’t believe it was nearly 29-years ago that marks the untimely death of master blues guitarist (and great human being) Stevie Ray Vaughan’s death.
A few weeks ahead of that unsettling anniversary comes the official release of the long anticipated “Inside Story” – “Texas Flood: The Inside Story of Stevie Ray Vaughan” which is now shipping and in the hands of a few of us who were quick on the trigger.
I have nearly everything published (and some unpublished) music, video and written word from Stevie and Jimmie Vaughan…so not a lot of this book was new for me, but there were some great nuggets. The sheer volume of people and sources interviewed (over 100) is astounding making it a MUST HAVE for any rock, blues or music junkie…and for a Stevie Ray, Jimmie Vaughan or Texas Blues fan…well I needn’t say anymore.
Get your copy hereGet your copy hereGet your copy here and enjoy the book.
Filed under stevie ray vaughan, texas blues by on Aug 17th, 2019. Comment. 
To me, this picture says it all about the value of integrity, hard-work and passion for music, self-confidence (that comes from staying true to yourself and your talent) and style…and answers the question why so many people LOVE the Vaughan Brothers – Jimmie and Stevie Ray…
Between them, I’ve seen Jimmie and Stevie Ray more than a dozen times – I’ll always remember the first time I saw each of them.
Sure, part of that is the incredible talent and tone, part of it is the fact that I was SO into the blues at that time it was like my neurons were going to shoot right through my frontal cortex hearing the first note as the crunching of the Texas Shuffle or Chicago Blues tune chugged along.
But there was something else…
It was the deadly combination of self-assurance and talent from decades of playing and competing in music-rich Dallas and Austin Texas, the integrity and honesty of having stuck to their guns even though the music industry tried multiple times to throw them off course and that style…
Tell me if you don’t see all of that wrapped up in these pictures.
Now, close your eyes and imagine what a dramatic entrance with 100 Watts or more of power surging out of perfectly setup Fender amps fed by the raw power and smooth tone of the single coils fueling the Fender Stratocasters piloted by the Vaughan Brothers…you are (or would be if you have never caught either of them in concert…sadly it is too late for Stevie Ray though you can still get a sense through the multitude of videos available online…but luckily you can see the very busy and relevant Jimmie who is hotter than Texas Ashphalt in July these days)
I can still see the day nearly 35-years ago when Stevie Ray brought his Double Trouble Couldn’t Stand the Weather Tour to Ottawa’s National Arts Center to lay a beating on it like it had never seen before…Aug 16th, 1984 – what a night…my sense of life and music were changed forever moments after he entered a black stage playing the first few bars of “Scuttle Buttin…” and THEN…
The house lights came up and from the 3rd row this giant of a figure wearing a poncho with his trademark black zorro hat with Texas emblem loud and proud – my mind was blown. The rest of the evening was an orgy of power, finesse, tone, honesty and GREAT music from the entire band.
Never again would I be THAT blown away and still search out that perfect combination of talent, confidence, integrity/honesty and style – it comes along once in a lifetime (something like the impact of seeing Hendrix live I would imagine…a chance I never had unfortunately) – and now Jimmie carries the torch in his own HONEST and integral way…I still get the feeling when I see him as I did in San Francisco last year.
It’s a rare thing…if you can remember a similar experience when you saw your favorite artist live, share it here and maybe we can all catch the wave one more time.
Filed under blues guitar, stevie ray vaughan, texas blues by on Jul 23rd, 2019. Comment.
Just back from a trip to Texas, can’t be in that state without thinking of ZZTop – been to many of their concerts and have even dabbled a time or two with some of their songs and guitar licks…great music.
Take a look at this early picture they posted on their Instagram account…he Billy, where’s the BIG beard dude?
Filed under blues guitar, texas blues by on May 13th, 2016. Comment.
One of my favorite clips ever, take a look at the concentration and respect shown on Albert Collins and Jimmie Vaughan’s face as they watch one of the early Texas Blues masters Lightning Hopkins.
There are obviously many varieties of the blues, as you hear Jimmie talk about near the end of the clip – Texas definitely has its own interpretation marked by horns, big sound and honesty.
Filed under texas blues by on Mar 6th, 2015. Comment.
Cool “raw” interview with Jimmie Vaughan, you get to see a “behind the scenes” of filming an interview.
Some great highlights from the interview:
- How The Fabulous T-Birds got their start as the Antone’s house band where they backed the who’s who of blues singers
- Why they moved down from Dallas to Austin (hippie scene, cops are nicer)
- Some of the many Texas musical influences from Bob Wills to Buddy Holly
- History of how Stevie Ray improved while Jimmie was out on the road
Love these types of in-depth interviews – always learn something new
Filed under Blues Legends, texas blues by on Dec 30th, 2014. Comment.
I’m not sure there has been a musician before or since where you see such evidence of music “channeling” pure, heavenly energy.
As a guitar player (any musician or artist can probably relate), when you are in the “zone” you end up in this meditative state where suddenly it’s as if it is not really you playing anymore, but some divine spirit has taken over.
Years later, I learned to meditate – very similar mind state for sure.
Here is a version of Earl King’s “Come On” from a New Jersey concert in 1985 where Stevie was definitely in the ZONE – –
Just for good measure, because it in itself is such a cool version – a tribute to the original writer of Come On – New Orleans jazz artist Earl King.
Filed under stevie ray vaughan, texas blues by on Oct 10th, 2014. Comment.
Saw Jimmie and his band on a plane from Toronto heading to London last Sunday – couldn’t believed when I was boarding the plane, looked up and there was Jimmy Vaughan and his terrific band.
Unfortunately, I had to return to Canada prior to this gig in London at “Under The Bridge”. You can still catch him in Europe at the Blues Express in Differdange, Luxembourg and BOSPOP Festival in Weert, Netherlands (Who are no doubt lamenting their World Cup Semi-Final Loss) or shows in Germany and France as well – you can keep up to date with his rigorous schedule on his Facebook page here. Leave a comment if you have been to a Jimmie Vaughan show lately. I’ll get another chance to see him when he plays back up in the Ottawa area in August.
Here is a quick video of one song from his recent European Tour – Jimmy Vaughan and the Tilt-A-Whirl-Band — Oh, and just for good measure, this is followed by a video of a younger Jimmie with Kim Wilson in the Fabulous ThunderBird days – on non other than Johnny Carson!
And on the Johnny Carson Show…
Filed under jimmie vaughan, texas blues by on Jul 11th, 2014. Comment.
As we approach 24-years since the great blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan left this earth (have to think he’s up there jammin with Hendrix, Albert King, Hubert Sumlin, and Albert Collins), I still enjoy seeing material released today, especially material post-rehab where we see the true spirit, mind and soul of SRV unhindered by drugs and alcohol.
Came across this cool tour bus spot I hadn’t seen before – love the line “I was sleeping on pool tables, but probably this was the happiest time of my life because I was doing what I wanted to do, playing what I wanted to play”
How many of us could apply this simple principle to our lives? SRV had the guts to go after what he wanted, let’s all try to apply that to our lives moving forward.
Filed under stevie ray vaughan, texas blues by on Jun 23rd, 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.
It’s only fitting that the inagural year of creating the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame would see Stevie Ray Vaughan and his band Double Trouble join Texas giant Willie Nelson as the first inductees on April 26th
Great to see that Tommy Shannon made it out with the boys for performances with (of course) Buddy Guy, Kenny Wayne Shephard, Doyle Bramhall II (who’s father SRV had an amazing writing relationship with), Robert Randolph, and others to accept and celebrate this great honor.
Hopefully this builds the case for SRV and DT to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside greats like BB King and Jimi Hendrix…
Here’s the story as it appears over at SRV’s official website
Filed under stevie ray vaughan, texas blues by on Apr 29th, 2014. Comment.
