Watermelon Slim to perform at Stillwater Blues Fest - Muskogee Daily Phoenix

Posted by Dan | | Posted On Dec 30, 2008 at 10:51 PM

This seems to happen every once in awhile but my home state Oklahoma somehow has shows that I almost wish I hadn't moved from, this time it is the Stillwater Blues Fest. For this year’s fest the headliner is going to be the ever popular Watermelon Slim. He is even hitting my home town Norman in January. Why does it seem like he never swings my way on his massive tours?

But if you happen to be a fellow Oklahoman than heads up, you’ve got him at Stillwater on the 9th, Oklahoma City on the 10th, and Norman on the 11th. More info is available here.

Watermelon Slim to perform at Stillwater Blues Fest
Muskogee Daily Phoenix, OK
Watermelon Slim and his band, The Workers, won two 2008 Blues Music Award Awards (Best Blues Album of the Year and Best Blues Band of the Year) for the CD ..

Four Tops to get lifetime Grammy

Posted by Dan | | Posted On Dec 29, 2008 at 2:51 PM

Not blues but I don't care, I love the Four Tops. So what if there is only one original member left, they're getting a lifetime achievement Grammy and damn do they deserve it. In R&B it was the Four Tops that led Motown into my heart, where previously I only allowed Soul (....the Temptations locked it in place.)

I think a lot of people feel the same way about them; for instance when Al Green sang the first four words of "I Can't Help Myself" this summer I immediately started singing the rest of the song, and so did the entire audience. This was amazing as I have never seen so many people burst into song and everybody knew the words.

Congratulations to the Four Tops.

The Four Tops will receive a lifetime achievement Grammy award, organizers say.

Blind Pig's Vinyl Masters Series [Why!?!]

Posted by Dan | | Posted On Dec 22, 2008 at 10:35 PM

Alright does anyone get this Vinyl revival going on? I don't. Sure perhaps there is a big nostalgia thing for people who remember them but is that really a legitimate market? How many people are saying"Hey remember vinyl; I bought some new ones at Best Buy!" Yes I do own some LPs, a first pressing Led Zeppelin 1, "George Harrison's Greatest Hits", and the stereo version of Otis Redding's posthumously released "Love Man".

Needless to say this post is about vinyl reissues, specifically Blind Pig's new release of LPs (that sounds retarded) of two Albums one by the incomparable Otis Rush and the powerful Big Walter Horton. Yes these sound cool and if given them I would be grateful but honestly LPs are a waste of money.

Blind Pig's Vinyl Masters Series Revisits Big Walter & Otis Rush

Blind Pig Records will be revisiting its Vinyl Master Series in January with a pair of the label's best early releases from Chicago blues guitarist Otis Rush and the vastly...

Celebration

Posted by Dan | | Posted On Dec 21, 2008 at 12:00 AM

A quick celebration because thanks to a little help by a good man named Lawny, Bluesforlife.com is no full compatible with Internet Explorer!


Charlie Musselwhite [Blowing Hard]

Posted by Dan | | Posted On Dec 19, 2008 at 11:20 PM

I may be working on becoming a good blues guitarist but I've had harmonicas since I was 13. All senior year of high school I spent a great deal of time and some money on harp gear and harps. But like Muddy Waters I moved on for the harmonica once I got some money I began to focus on guitar. The point of all this though is that I still have a lot of harp players who have influenced me and one of the main ones was Charlie Musselwhite. He is like Paul Butterfield; their both white guys out of Chicago and the both were part of some great early bands but struggled through the 80s. Probably the largest thing setting them apart was that Charlie didn't kill himself with drugs; he managed to kick his alcohol addiction.

Why I like him better though is due to his melodic way wo playing, it is kind of unique and is a refreshing step away for the "fallowing Little Walter" group. There is a lot of Junior Wells in his playing and that is what I really like.


Times Online
Charlie Musselwhite: The blues brother
Times Online, UK
I lived in the South Side and got to know all the blues clubs. People called me Memphis Charlie, and nobody ever gave me a bad time about my skin colour.


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Oh Yeah, this guy just had a birthday

Posted by Dan | | Posted On at 12:16 AM

Keith Richards, Rolling Stones Voodoo Loungue ...Image via WikipediaHappy late birthday Keith Richards! You're only 65 but you don't look a day under 100. I think it was Anthony Bordain that said "If I ever worry about my lifestyle choices I just check to see if Keith Richards is alive every morning and if he is I'm doing fine" or something like that
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Tea Spoon Slide

Posted by Dan | | Posted On at 12:07 AM

Photograph of South African guitarist Hannes C...Image via WikipediaSeriously if slide guitar wasn't mesmerizing enough for me here is tea spoon slide guitar. Some good old country blues. Its done by a cat called Hannes Coetzee form South Africa.
When I get in guitar discussion with none blues fans with people talking about how many notes a person can get in some diminished melodic double flat scale and I always talk about the complexity of slide playing, but Hannes ought to make them re think what is a "Guitar Hero"

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'Cadillac Records' has box-office blues

Posted by Dan | | Posted On Dec 16, 2008 at 12:39 AM

Hum I'm not to say I told you so but I did think that this would happen. Sure there are a lot of other movies out there but Cadillac Records wasn't going to go anywhere anyways. I'm sure at some point when it was being conceptualized it had nothing but the best intentions but present the truth or at least a good story.... Unfortunately Hollywood is more interested on making money and rather than keep it independent like the blues itself it was morphed in a Beyonce Knoles vehicle with Adrian Brody continuing shake my faith in him. Man I hate Hollywood.

'Cadillac Records' has box-office blues
Press-Enterprise, CA
By VANESSA FRANKO The film, which is based on true events about the Chess Records label that helped launch rock 'n' roll and blues into mainstream American ...

Dr. John [When you need some curing]

Posted by Dan | Labels: | Posted On Dec 15, 2008 at 11:33 PM

First I'm going to propose a question; have you ever been to a place the just might be the coolest place you will ever be? Perhaps this Saturday I found such a place, it's a small little jazz club in Washington DC called Blues Alley. A small step leads you into a small brick room filled with a small stage, with small chairs and tables packed on one side with and a small bar packed on the opposite wall. It is so dark finding you're miniscule chair actually could be a problem for some people. Finally on the small stage there is a rather large beat up grand piano, and it is waiting for a doctor.

This for me was another attempt at a family music outing. For years my parents have taken me and my sister to symphonies and shows which I do appreciate but I must say my tastes reside else ware. Over the past few years it has been my turn to take my family to shows that I like, starting with an outrageously loud Buddy Guy show that left a few complaining of throbbing ears. After a few more shows I still hadn't hit upon finding something everyone liked. Some of the outings everyone liked but finding some music that everyone liked was as if we were trying every remedy in the book but someone always seemed to get sick. We needed a doctor. Luckily for us a 1800s carriage house in a small back alley in George Town in Washington DC had been turned into just the place to find a doctor. So there we went bundled against the cold in possible search of someone who might be able to cure us.

With two hours until we could see the doctor, our tiny table served as a dining room table for the night. A look at the cute menu really told me I was in the right place; it had dishes called Maynard Ferguson's Shrimp Pasta and what I ordered, Dizzy Gillespie's Creole Shrimp (which is fighting for #1 on my list of the best dishes I've had in DC). There were names that only about one out of thirty people my age would know. Then some of the doctor's associates began to mic check and tune up their various instruments. It was time to call the doctor. To give you an idea of how packed a small Blues Alley is Dr. John had to come in through the side door out in the street. His suit was a red with black stripes number that I instantly wanted one of my own, his socks had sharks and cards on them and who cares that is was night his sunglasses were awesome. Doctors do the best treating when they have all their tools and as Dr. John sat at his I felt magically transported to New Orleans. I haven't been to New Orleans since I was 8 or 9 but I swear I was from that city when he played "Iko Iko". There was a whole lot off foot tapping for the next hour to the stupendously performed music by our eccentric entertainer.

When things finally wound down and the show was over at nine we were rushed out because they had to turn the place around for Dr, John's second gig at ten. My dad was able to shake the Doctor's hand and I told the bass player how much I enjoyed his work. My sister had told my mom that she liked the show during the middle of it so I knew that at least she was pleased and since my mom likes everything it became clear everyone really enjoyed our selves. We had been cured. The doctor had done wonders and we left with my sister asking if you can borrow my Dr. John CD; there is hope for her yet.

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Mayall disbands Bluesbreakers

Posted by Dan | Labels: | Posted On Dec 12, 2008 at 5:35 PM

john mayall & the bluesbreakersImage by eryoni via FlickrIf the previous article I posted on John Mayall's Bluesbreakers didn't instill doubts that the group may be coming to an end than boy are you in for a surprise. Mayall is disbanding the Bluesbreakers so he can form a smaller and learner group that isn't as tied down by history or genres.

Here is his official statement on his website...
As reports about the disbanding of the Bluesbreakers have been circulating since the end of the last European tour, I have to apologize for not announcing and confirming it sooner. Physically and emotionally it has been a tough decision to make. The main reason is that at age seventy five I want to cut back on my usual heavy workload and also give myself freedom to work with other musicians if and when I feel like it. Needless to say this doesn’t mean I’ll be abandoning the blues but rather hoping to expand on it through guest appearances and in the company with other musicians. Meanwhile I can’t thank Joe, Hank and Buddy enough for all the great contributions they’ve made to my musical journey thus far. It has been a great ride indeed.

My new band members for 2009 will be announced in due course after I’ve taken some time off to re-evaluate. This has been a difficult announcement to make, but I hope you will all understand and look forward to what new music I will have to offer in the new year.

-- John Mayall

I for one have never cared about John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, but Peter Green did go through it so hey that is pretty awesome.

And here is Peter Green and John Mayall for their peak.



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Guess who I am seeing this Saturday

Posted by Dan | | Posted On Dec 11, 2008 at 8:39 PM


Dr. John

`Cadillac Records' plays song you've heard before [AP]

Posted by Dan | | Posted On Dec 8, 2008 at 10:05 PM

Well the results are in and apparently "Cadillac Records" and it's more like "Oldsmobile records" (not as good as a Cadillac and has poor gasket seals.) I didn't see it though because I've been under the weather these weekend, but I really had not planed on seeing it in theaters what his the insanity of ticket prices these days. Unfortunately this doesn't appear to be the start of a new wave of popularity, but I'd rather it not happen if that means sacrificing the truth.



`Cadillac Records' plays song you've heard before
The Associated Press
She also shows us the racism of the time - which Chess earnestly, persistently tries to break through by bringing blues and R&B to a mass audience - with ...

200 Posts

Posted by Dan | | Posted On Dec 4, 2008 at 11:09 PM

Well it's been 200 posts and have ever many months, I can't count right now because its the home stretch of the first semester. Essays are all do tomorrow, then finals are week. Sounds like some time for some good blues music.


Jeffrey Wright [as Muddy Waters]

Posted by Dan | | Posted On Dec 3, 2008 at 10:46 PM

All the buzz this week is about Cadillac Records and while I got in on the show last march seeing the trailers have left me a bit concerned. However in all the massive blurring of the truth and Hollywood-izing of well everything the only thing that still has me interested in the movie is Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters. Wright actually cares about who he is playing and that's refreshing in a movie. I mean Beyonce just wants to remind people that she was in Dreamgirls too. Mos Def is in a ton of movies he should not be in but is role as Chuck Berry is limited. Adrian Brody is addmitedlly a good actor but for some INSANE reason in 2003 he beat Daniel Day Lewis for Best Actor. (I'm not saying Gangs of New York was better than the Pianist but no one beats Bill the Butcher)

But as is was saying, for a movie that I have many doubts about I am excited about Jeffrey Wright.

Jeffrey Wright in a Muddy Waters groove - Los Angeles Times


Los Angeles Times
Jeffrey Wright in a Muddy Waters groove
Los Angeles Times, CA -
"They created this music; they dug it out of the dirt. Literally. It came out of songs of the field -- field hollering and things like that.


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Lets look at the Mainstream

Posted by Dan | | Posted On Dec 2, 2008 at 6:33 PM

There are plenty of talented guitarists in the world and in any discussion of them Jack White always comes up. Jack White is incredibly eclectic in what he plays but he grew up listening to a lot of classic rock and blues. He is a self professed fan of Son House. I'm no saying I like the white stripes though. I think jack could go a lot further with his music if he would dump his drummer Me White. Here is Jack doing a pretty rockin "Death Letter Blues".

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