Blues For Life Your place for blues reviews and news.

Well here we go time to talk about some blues women that I have actually seen and that means I'm talking about the fabulous female trio Saffire the Uppity Blues Women. I had the pleasure of seeing them with my family at the always standard Birchmere. If you don't know anything about these women hit their link and read the article below. Then look up the song "Silver Beaver" and play it around a teenager because it is funny to watch the squirm in discomfort.

Uppity gals don't get the blues - Traverse City Record Eagle

Uppity gals don't get the blues Traverse City Record Eagle, MI "Twenty-five years is a long time," said Saffire pianist and guitarist Ann Rabson, an eight-time Blues Music Award nominee for Traditional Blues Female ...

Lately a site I frequent was talking about telecasters and tele player was brought up named Wilko Johnson and me not knowing much about British rockers or their invasion I look up him and subsequently the band he was in Dr. Feelgood. Man I got to say they were a pretty kickin blues-rock band. Now I'm obsessed with redoing my Squier Tele, just after I finished my Strat!

I've talked about Taj Mahal a couple of times, specifically about how he was one of the first bluesman I ever heard and the gives him special place in my collection. So here is a article for the Seattle Times about him, for you to read in your spare time.

You know I do love the blues women and I don't think they get even remotely the exposure they deserve and here is one example; her name is Carolyn Wonderland and she is fantastic. I might have heard her on the Roadhouse Podcast a couple of times but I cant remember. One thing is for sure, I want to hear and see more of her. She is both a fantastic singer and a fantastic guitar player. She is a true talent and I can't get enough of her, too bad I don't get to Austin at all.

Here is Carolyn Wonderland, enjoy.

Well the New York Times has been in a blues mood as of late, and the continue with this review of David Honeyboy Edward's doing a shows at BB's club in New York City. Edwards lately seems to be the talk of the blues internets, but New York Times exposure is another thing entirely. Not bad for a 93 year old.

Some Well-Aged Blues From the Mississippi Delta - New York Times

New York Times

Some Well-Aged Blues From the Mississippi Delta New York Times, United States - Blues music is known for its mesmeric 12-bar patterns, but early Mississippi blues, which was frequently performed solo, can be metrically unpredictable ...

Happy 77th birthday Hubert Sumlin.

Getting political on this site has never been my intention but I will indulge this one time as it allows me to indulge in one of my other favorite things, talking about Buddy Guy.

Lets remember that with his recent album Skin Deep Buddy got pretty political with the song for which the album was name for. With the chorus of "Skin Deep, Underneath we're all the same, We're all of the same" he's got a message that has really be echoed as of late. And here is what he had to say on Nov 4th he had this to say, "It was a special day, Tears came out of my eyes when I saw what happened because a lot of people didn't think something like that could ever happen -- including me."

A lot of stuff has happened recently and I'm sure that people will be debating it's sugnificane for years to come. But I think Skin Deep sums it up pretty perfectly.

Buddy Guy ain't singin' the blues over Obama - Calgary Herald

Buddy Guy ain't singin' the blues over Obama Calgary Herald, Canada - 5 hours ago ... now 72, says he never felt bitter when the likes of Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Jimi Hendrix found enormous success as rock stars while ...

Hey here is a quick article on a up and coming young blues-rock group form UK called Back Door Slam opening for Government Mule.

Well here it is the trailer for Cadillac Records. I had previously mentioned the movie so now lets watch the trailer.



The film looks entirely too Hollywoodish. I know there is not a lot you can from the trailer but even it is a joke. I thought after the trailer for There Will Be Blood people would lean how to make trailers but I guess not. I also don't like the style for it as well but again there is not a lot someone can get from a crappy trailer. But a crappy trailer is usually signs of other trouble and from what I can see, there appears to be too much going on for one movie. They could have made the movie about one of the people they showed (Leonard Chess, Etta James, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry,.....) but they don't seem to be doing that and instead they are trying to cover everybody. It almost looks like something they made after because Beyonce Knowles was jealous of Jennifer Hudson.

A man who has played with so many great people, (Jimi, and Stevie come to mind) has passed away today. Mitchell, 61, was found dead in the Benson Hotel in Portland, Oregon, in the early hours of Wednesday. He was the last of the Experience as Noel Redding died in 2003.

Hendrix's drummer Mitchell dies

via BBC News | News Front Page | World Edition on 11/12/08

Mitch Mitchell, the British drummer in the Jimi Hendrix Experience, is found dead in his US hotel room, authorities say.

All right I have seem both BB King and Buddy Guy a couple of times but have I ever seen them together? Well I did see them both is one month but that doesn't count. Here is yours and my chance to see them both together at a few select tour dates coming up.

Here is what to want.
B.B. King/Buddy Guy Tour Dates:
February 5, 2009 - Clearwater FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
February 6 - Orlando FL @ UCF Arena
February 7 - West Palm Beach, FL @ Kravis Center
February 10 - Hilton Head Island SC @ Shoreline Ballroom
February 12 - Nashville TN @ Ryman Auditorium
February 15 - Louisville KY @ Louisville Palace Theatre
February 16 - Detroit MI @ Fox Theatre
February 18 - Providence RI @ Providence Performing Arts Center
February 21 - New York NY @ Beacon Theatre
February 22 - Boston MA @ House of Blues
February 24 - Red Bank NJ @ Count Basie Theatre
April 15 - Peekskill NY @ Paramount Center for the Arts

B.B. King + Buddy Guy = Awesome Blues Music!

via About.com Blues on 11/11/08

Blues legend B.B. King seems to be having so much fun with the current tour in support of his critically-acclaimed, best-selling One Kind Favor album that he has extended his...

Here is my write up of the James Cotton show I saw last Thursday the 6th. I was really excited to see Cotton finally live; I had missed a chance to see him this year. We'll you can bet that I had my tickets months in advance. If you doubt my fanaticism for James Cotton here is a little anecdote: I have a cassette tap of his "Live from Chicago" album, which I like to keep in my car as I don't have a CD player in it (Who uses CDs now days). Well I listened to the tape so many times it's becoming unplayable. (I hope no one is missing cassette tap technology they suck) I mean the first blues instrument I learned to play was the Harp. I've played it at a couple gigs and I've got all the famous microphones yadda yadda, but my Harp idol has always been James Cotton, and I finally got a chance to see him live.

With my credentials out of the way; man what a great show! The last person I saw live was Bobby Bland who tried to make up some postponed gigs after a bought with Bronchitis. His show was fairly depressing and for his sake I hopes he takes it easy this winter. Cotton on the other hand blew his harp so hard that just when I thought his lungs would go out he blew even harder. I swear after him and Buddy Guy we're going to have to redefine what it means to be a senior citizen. Something along the lines of they may be old but their shows will put you in your place.

Cotton was fantastic. His playing is still top notch thought there was one or two licks of his he didn't do but lets just say he forgot them being caught up in the moment. Hands down, he can still play.

He has also got a fantasic backing band with Slam Allen, guitar, vocals; Tom Holland, guitar, vocals; Noel Neal, bass; and Kenny Neal, Jr., drums. They certainly challenge Buddy Guy's Damn Right Blues Band for the position of my favorite backing band...... which the won with a lot of the credit do to Slam Allan. He is just fantastic and since Cotton can't sing anymore they got the next best thing. Slam's going B.B. down but with a kind of energy that only comes with youth.

Basically it was an awesome concert and if Cotton and his band are coming through your neck of the woods you owe it to yourself to check him out.

Someday I have to get a digital camera for some photos, but hey I still got them memories.

I swear I'll get the James Cotton review up soon, till then....

While I'm doing a write up of the James Cotton show I saw yesterday, here is a New York Times book review of the book "Delta Blues" by By Ted Gioia. It's actually a pretty insightful review that talks about many of the problems of writing about the blues, problems I have encountered in my own writing and books I have read.

The reviewer Ben Ratliff, has a particular passage I like about writing about blues music and will try to fallow it as a rule for this site.

Here are some: One, no overwriting and no clichés. Two, a thorough awareness of the notion that blues fetishism, by collectors, producers and writers, has been equally damaging and helpful. Three, the newest discographical and biographical information, as much as possible. (In some cases, it’s all we have to rely on — a man or a woman was in such a room at such a time.) Four, no pious implications that the blues always represents righteousness, truth and tradition. These were performers; grant them their artifice. (Also, as little positive use of the word “simple” as possible. Same for negative use. Neutral use is O.K.) Five, a sure fix on the best musicians as both extraordinary artists and ordinary subjects of history.

Overall the book "Delta Blues" sounds pretty good too.

Hearts Full of Sorrow - New York Times

Hearts Full of Sorrow New York Times, United States "My attraction to traditional blues," he writes, "was no doubt fueled by my growing dissatisfaction with the overpowering commercialization and ...

You know what I don't think I've talked about Bonnie Raitt that much? Oh time to change that, here is a nice simple video of her to start out with. You can really get a sense of just how awesome her slide playing is.

Image by
Bengt Nyman
via FlickrThis Thursday I'm going to finally get to see James "Mr. Superharp" Cotton at the barns at Wolftrap. I first got into the blues due to my love of the harp. I must have listened to "Boogie Thang" so many times. I play harp myself but not on even a remote level compared to James Cotton. There is stuff in his playing that I have no idea how he even did it. He is a chance for you to get a preview of the show I'm going to see.

Well sometimes it sucks to not be where the shows are. Okay so that's not fair there are lots of shows in the D.C. area and I'm very grateful for having the opportunity to see so many great people. But sometimes there are shows where you feel like kicking yourself for missing them. Well unless you're in Dallas on the 7th then you should be kicking yourself because you will be missing the two oldest bluesmen left sharing the same bill for charity. Yes Pinetop Perkins and Honeyboy Edwards (93 and 95 respectively) will be playing at the Meyerson Sympyhony Center on Friday. Seriously Honeyboy was born when Woodrow Wilson was president, and he is just four years younger than Robert Johnson would be, but he is still touring! Pinetop Perkins is of course one of the definitive blues piano players, having back everyone who was anyone.

Any readers in Dallas or even three hundered miles from Dallas have a responsibility to be at that show.

Grammy Winners Pinetop, Honeyboy, America's Last Original Delta ...

Grammy Winners Pinetop, Honeyboy, America's Last Original Delta ... PR Web (press release), WA The Blue Shoe Project is a Texas-based 501 ( c )(3) donor support charitable non-profit organization founded with the mission of educating the coming ...

Well we love Henry Butler here and any chance to get the word out about such a fantastic piano player we just have to jump on. So to all the Memphis readers out there you've got a great opportunity to see him live November 28, at The Warehouse. The show is $25 in advance $30 at the door which is pennies compared to how great the show is going to be. Go and enjoy some authentic New Orleans key tickling and have yourselves a great time.

I know some of you who have been fallowing the site for the past month or so will probably have noticed that it has gone through no less than three different templates in the past month. Well you know how it is when you decide to change something and then in the process you learn that you can do so much more that you immediately start thinking about what to do next, and it turns into a torrent of changing everything and not being happy with the latest design.

Not anymore. I am happy with the new design. It is more flexible and allows for a great deal more interactivity.

But maybe all of this web design was just an excuse to sit in front of my computer listening to Lightnin' Hopkins?

If you've got any opinions on the the new design feel free to post a comment, I always welcome other peoples ideas.