Blues For Life Your place for blues reviews and news.

So here is some information on the upcoming Experience Hendrix tour, and it's a whose who of people who either are or have been associated with greats, and Johnny Lang.

There is Buddy Guy. Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Johnson, Hubert Sumlin, Billy Cox, Mitch Mitchell (both played with Jimi), Chris Layton of Double Trouble and more.

There is also Johnny Lang......really because when I think Jimi Hendrix, I think Jonny Lang. I'm not saying I'm upset that he is one of the first names mentioned in a blues conversation, but I am annoyed.

Experience Hendrix Tour w/Buddy Guy & Jonny Lang

via About.com Blues

Blues artists Buddy Guy and Jonny Lang will be headlining the upcoming Experience Hendrix Tour along with guitarists Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Eric Johnson. Blues great Hubert Sumlin, longtime guitarist...

I once say this Bernard live and he does put on a great show. I'm a huge huge fan of his father (Luther) but I really like the different direction Bernard goes too. I'd say he's 60% Blues 40% funk and all good.

Ok well there is a chance that some of you may be getting ready for the "Legendary Blues Cruise", and first of all I would like to say, I hate you. You're the same people who bring wine cases and roman sandals to outdoor concerts. You are so un-cool it's not wonder the blues has trouble reaching out to a broader audience, they see you for one second and go off laughing.

Now I'm not say that the cruise isn't going to be fun or nice. Seriously there is Tommy Castro (who I've met), Magic Dick (who I've met and funny story, the man is a real dick.), Koko Taylor and Dr. John (who I really want to meet but plan of catching him in December).

Ok so I also love boats and stuff so I'm sure I would enjoy the cruise but I plan on never going on it because it would betray my own ideals.

Anyways have fun.

John Hammond (the player not the record producer) has always been this person I've heard in passing. I wasn't entirely sure of his contributions and I already had disagreements of the 60's scene, but I found an article that is really a good introduction to the man. So then I read his Wikipedia page, then I watched his youtube videos and I now can say that I'm certainly a fan of him. So check out the link already.

Long Life - Blues Life - Winston-Salem Journal

Long Life - Blues Life Winston-Salem Journal, NC "Then again, blues music and musicians have never really been top of the pops." Hammond said that he feels he was born with an affinity for blues. He was 7 ...

In a rare acoustic post here is Mississippi Fred McDowell.

Well we all do like showing our love for the blues. I myself am tying to cover the back of my car with blues bumper stickers, but if you live in Mississippi you have the opportunity now to get a Mississippi Blues Society license plate, that is if they get 200 commitments by Oct. 15. So all you Mississippi readers read the link and get on that list!

Blues Trail tag push under way in Miss. - Laurel Leader Call

Blues Trail tag push under way in Miss. Laurel Leader Call, MS The new tag would be available in January should the foundation get the 200 commitments by Oct. 15. Its press releases have shown up in weekly and daily ...

Seems like everyone is dieing. Rest in peace Napoleon "Nappy" Brown.

One of the best drummer it ever grace rock & roll has passed away. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. I'm no drummer and I've only called listens to Palmer through his work for other artists, but damn was he a great drummer. With that New Orleans sound and always playing exactly what was needed and never anything more he really was the foundation for everyone that played with him.

Oh he did the drumming for the score for M.A.S.H.

Now my list of places to go always seems to be increasing but I've never had a place shoot straight to the top of the list, it's called The Double Door Inn and he is just a little list of the people who have played there: Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Keb' Mo.' Pinetop Perkins, Eric Johnson, Derek Trucks, and Koko Taylor. Pretty nice list huh? Well they've been adding some jazz as of late (not that it bothers me) but it still seems like a pretty good dive to swing by.

Growing the Blues - Creative Loafing

Growing the Blues Creative Loafing, NC Opened in 1973, The Double Door Inn is the second oldest blues club that's owned by a sole proprietor. Owner Nick Karres originally opened the ...

I'm going to be kicking myself all day for not being able to drive 20 minutes away to see her show which is basically right down the road.

Oh Hi I'm sorry I was thinking about Ana Popovic, the new love of my life.


Yes technically I've heard her stuff but I really didn't know anything about her until a local paper had this write up. Here's what I know and why she is amazing...

1. First and most importantly she is a female blues player, which is automatically cool
2. She is from Serbia and as we all know European women have sexy accents.
3. She plays Fender Stratocasters. While the strat is a given in blues women don't often play and when they do it is not usually a Strat. Most women guitar players seem to stick with acoustics (think Sheryl Crow). Ana on the other hand Ana not only plays electric but she also kicks ass at it, just watch.
   
4. She is gorgeous.
   

Basically now though I am pissed off because I found out tonight she is playing right down the road and I have neither the time nor the money to go see her. Well I guess these things happen, and if you look at her tour schedule it's insanely active (150+ shows a year) so there is a good chance that I will get to see her at some point. Tell then I'm just going to have the lovesick blues.

Yesterday was his 83rd birthday but BB King certainly isn't slowing down, specifically he has a new museum opening this Saturday.

It really is remarkable what he has done but what always gets me (even with my previous opinions on him) is how absolutely humble he is about it saying "When you're running track, they pass you – I don't know what you call it – the baton. I just picked up the baton and kept running with it. But guys like Robert Johnson, Jimmy Rogers, Memphis Slim, Roosevelt Sykes – and I could name you many, many more – they are the ones that were the base," and "They could have picked any one of them to name the museum after."

Well there already is a delta bluesman museum, but this one is your's BB and you've earned it; so congratulations.

(I have a feeling that I'm going to have to write some more though on this term "keeping the blues alive", stay tuned."

Well he you go seeing as I have not reviewed much in a while (school starting and what not) here is one from someone else. Now I'm not into posting other people's reviews so much (this is my site my opinions). But this guy he gets it right; hitting all the right points and really showing some great insight into the album.

But don't take my word for it.

Music Review: Taj Mahal - Maestro - Blogcritics.org

Music Review: Taj Mahal - Maestro Blogcritics.org, OH He always seems to pop up or be involved in music related things which I'm interested in; from his appearance in the movie Songcatcher as a banjo playing ...

I know I like to talk about Peter Green a lot but there are just a lot of people who know nothing about him. Well here is at least a small way to learn about him, by watching him pre-retirement.

Now here is an interesting article. It s about a recent concert featuring John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. To some up the article the guy basically says "Oh hey they're not as good as they once were but are still pretty good." Basically the guy's expectations were let down, and lets face it that is something we all have to face when going to concerts featuring senior members of the blues comunity. I know when I saw Bobby Bland recently I was kind of shaken up; to the point where I have yet to put my thoughts about it into writing.

Some people just fade away while others die playing I guess.

Arguably one of the greatest songs of all time but did you know that when Bill Withers wrote it he was still holding down a factory job in Detroit making toilet seats for 747s? The song was also produced by none other than Booker T. Jones, yes of Booker T. and the MGs.

Cool article about the Beale Street. I must make my way to Tennessee some time.

We're going international right now with a trip to the delta, the Mekong delta that is. I had already know that in south Asia the blues was pretty popular such as Thailand, but what I hadn't know is that they had their own version that was not introduced by American servicemen. Take for instance Kong Nay, he is a 63 year old blind musician form the Mekong delta in Cambodia; substitute the Mekong for the Mississippi and you're there. Now it's not exactly the blues but there are some parallels in tone, rhythm, and certainly subject. This all leads to the idea that just maybe there are some tones that triggers a mental connection on the instinctive level. Just maybe the tonality of the blues is the base expression of sorrow for humans.

But this is all speculation and I'm no anthropologist so just watch the video, click the link, and decide for yourself.

Mekong twist to Delta Blues - Northern Territory

Northern Territory

Mekong twist to Delta Blues Northern Territory, Australia DARWIN music fans will get a taste of the Mekong Delta Blues tonight, as a blind Cambodian chapei singer swoops on the Star Shell.