Back on twitter

Posted by Dan "The Man" | | Posted On Jun 30, 2009 at 9:50 PM

Well I have never been able to get this social networking thing, especially twitter. However I have reactivated my twitter account because the need arised to be more available for contacting. So now should you feel the need I can be contacted at http://twitter.com/bluesforlife. If you feel inclined you can also follow me, and get up to date information on me and Blues For life.com.

Now I got to figure out how to edit my videos and get them up on Youtube. One set at a time I guess.
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Beyond the Blues: Blues Harmonica in Jazz

Posted by Dan "The Man" | | Posted On Jun 29, 2009 at 6:55 PM

Hey have you got about 7 minutes to listen to some cool Harmonica Jazz? Of course you do. Hit the link below for a look at blues harp used in some interesting ways. It's from KPLU and NPR station in Seattle Washington. Listen for the clip from my hero Charlie Musselwhite.

Beyond the Blues: Blues Harmonica in Jazz
KPLU, WA
SEATTLE, WA (KPLU) - When you hear the word "harmonica," you may think of blues music. And rightly so. The instrument is most often heard in the context of blues. But some of the best blues harmonica players in the business have also performed jazz ...
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Vermont Blues Festival [How hot does it get in Vermont?]

Posted by Dan "The Man" | Labels: | Posted On Jun 28, 2009 at 10:46 PM

At first I thought "Blues fest in August? That doesn't sound good." But then I found out it was being held in Vermont. You see I've been cooked alive in Virginia this week and right now I dread nothing more than the August heat. Once I found out it was in Vermont it seemed like a better idea; I mean come on they have ice cream.

Founder and producer of the Pocono Blues Festival, Michael Cloeren announces the Vermont Blues Festival will be held the weekend of August 21, 22, and 23, 2009 at Mount Snow Ski Area, West Dover, Vermont featuring 13 national recording artists including Mavis Staples, Elvin Bishop, Magic Slim & the Teardrops, Shemekia Copeland, Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials, Rosie Ledet and the Zydeco Playboys, Guy Davis, Johnny Rawls, Lil' Dave Thompson, Wallace Coleman, Mississippi Heat, Studebaker John, and...
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Happy Birthday Jeff Beck

Posted by Dan "The Man" | | Posted On Jun 24, 2009 at 9:36 PM

Oh hey, it's Jeff Beck's birthday. Here is him from 1966 with the Yardbirds..... holy crap he is old.

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Buddy Guy [1970]

Posted by Dan "The Man" | Labels: , | Posted On Jun 22, 2009 at 10:21 PM

Well here is some archival footage of Buddy for the 1970s. Turn out though I just saw him last night at an awesome concert with Susan Tedeschi. I've got some photos and for the first time some clandestine camera footage, just let me edit it and I'll get it up as soon as I can.

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Zac Harmon

Posted by Dan "The Man" | | Posted On Jun 17, 2009 at 10:32 PM

Here is Zac Harmon who I had the privilege to see at the Chesapeake Bay Blues Fest. I really like him, his great show, and great B.B. style licks. Though he did this boogie that killed but I can't seem to find any videos of it.

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Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'In Session' To Be Reissued

Posted by Dan "The Man" | | Posted On Jun 16, 2009 at 11:20 PM

Mark you calenders for June 30th folks because one of the greatest pair ups in the history of the blues gets a new CD. Stax Records will be re releasing a remastered version of Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan's "In Session" live recording. Well of course I already have the previous version but even if I have all the songs already the better versions are well better. I mean it is two of my all time three favorite blues players together (if only Buddy was there......)

If you haven't got this CD, do yourself a favor and get it but, then punch yourself for not having it in the first place.

Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughan's In SessionBy December 1983, guitarist Albert King was already a bona fide blues music legend with better than three decades of experience under his belt. Fellow Texas blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan had just released Texas Flood, his acclaimed debut album. When the two came together in the studios of an independent Canadian television station that month, the result was musical magic.

On June 30, 2009 Stax Records – the label for which King recorded some of his most popular work during the 1960s and '70s – will reissue In Session, a live document of this musical collaboration between the veteran bluesman and the young guitarslinger. Digitally remastered and with new liner notes from Stax Records' Bill Belmont, and music journalists Lee Hildebrand and Dan Forte......

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Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood at Verizon Center review; 6/13/09 - Examiner.com

Posted by Dan "The Man" | | Posted On Jun 15, 2009 at 10:35 PM

More Washington DC coverage, this time it's for Eric Clapton. Last Saturday was the DC stop for Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood's fourteen stop American tour. I did not go myself as tickets were insane even for the nosebleed section. I do know some people who went though. They were the parents of a young budding guitarist at my work. You see the kid wanted to go the see Eric with his dad but his mom had other ideas. I solved the problem by suggesting they take the kid to Buddy Guy this Sunday (which I will be at of course.) Knowing the kid's interest in classic rock, I bet some blues will do him some good.


Examiner.com
Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood at Verizon Center review; 6/13/09
Examiner.com
EC and Winwood provided the rock ambience, blues riffs and classic guitar work signature of the music that's led them both to the echelons of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal talk about tour

Posted by Dan "The Man" | | Posted On Jun 10, 2009 at 10:23 PM

Taj Mahal (Glastonbury 2005) What a smoking pi...Image via Wikipedia

I guess I'm continuing my trend of keeping up on the DC area with this great article about the Bonnie Raitt/Taj Mahal tour. Now what does this have to do with DC you ask? Well mark you calenders for August 16th because that's when the tour hits Wolftrap. $48 in-house, $30 lawn which is kind of strange pricing wise but you might as well spend the extra eighteen to get the in house tickets seeing how there usual $25 lawn price is gone.

For non DC people read the article and find out when the tour is going through your neck of the woods.


The Associated Press
Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal talk about tour
The Associated Press
Visitors to the tour site at http://www.bontaj.com can vote to support safe energy, environmental protection, social justice or blues and music education. Both Raitt and Mahal have been involved in various causes over the years and they wanted to ..
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Free live music alert for DC: Deanna Bogart

Posted by Dan "The Man" | | Posted On Jun 9, 2009 at 9:11 PM

Deanna BogartDeanna Bogart via last.fm

Okay this is mainly for all my Washington DC area readers but our very own Deanna Bogart will be part of a free show on Friday, 5 p.m. at 7 St. and Constitution Ave. NW. She will be part of the National Gallery of Arts "Jazz in the Garden" summer concert series. Now those who have not seen Deanna, like those who have not seen the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Revue, which was from the Blues Cruise you may want to stop on by if you can. If you're not in the area, sorry you're missing some fine piano playing.


Examiner.com
Free live music alert, summer edition: The Revivalists, Deanna Bogart
Examiner.com
While blues music can convey a sense of longing, the musings and sounds of Bogart's latest album evoke an unconventional wisdom.
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Musicians reflect on Bo Diddley's influence

Posted by Dan "The Man" | | Posted On Jun 4, 2009 at 10:05 PM

Bo DiddleyBo Diddley via last.fm

Lets look back at another influential musician that passed away this time just last year, Bo Diddley. The man as much a direct link between Blues and Rock & Roll as there can be. Below is a great article form Reuters with lots of great opinions by many famous musicians such as Billy Gibbons, Bonnie Raitt, and Ted Nugent.

Ted still has some of the best comments regardless if you agree with some of his politics or not. He says "We often hear the term 'primal' associated with good rock 'n' roll music, but clearly Bo handed off the purity of primal direct from our aboriginal campfires straight to the masses via his electric guitar grind. It is pure." He really loves his primal stuff (watch him on Anthony Bordain's No Resorvations) but we both really love Bo Diddley.


Reuters
Musicians reflect on Bo Diddley's influence
Reuters
Ted Nugent: "Bo Diddley's incredible impact on music and America is immeasurable. As my American blues brother Billy Gibbons exclaimed, accurately, a newborn infant exposed to the Bo Diddley rhythm would begin to gyrate accordingly
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Rest in Peace Koko Taylor

Posted by Dan "The Man" | | Posted On Jun 3, 2009 at 6:55 PM

Cover of "Queen of the Blues"Cover of Queen of the Blues

A somber note for today; female blues legend Koko Taylor has passed away. She recently had surgery however she passed away today at the age of 80.

The blues has lost a real treasure. I'm now going to listen to he last album "Old School" for the rest of the night.

Blues icon Koko Taylor dies. Koko Taylor, the Grammy Award-winning "Queen of the Blues," died Wednesday afternoon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital of complications from surgery, according to Marc Lipkin of Alligator Records. She was 80. Taylor, born Coral Walton on a sharecropper's farm outside Memphis, came to Chicago in 1952 and worked as a house cleaner. She began to sit in with blues bands and in the early 1960s signed a contract with Chess Records after being approached by Willie Dixon....
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Buckwheat Zydeco [Hey Joe]

Posted by Dan "The Man" | | Posted On Jun 2, 2009 at 10:08 PM

So the blues blog circuit has been posting this awesome video of Buckwheat Zydeco covering Hey Joe. I can't describe it, just watch it. But why is my post better then everyone elses'? Because I'm going to see him July 4 at the Floyd Fandango Beer & Wine Fest! Beer and Zydeco, that'll be one hell of a time.

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Twelve-year-old guitar prodigy eyes a bigger stage [and some big shoes to fill]

Posted by Dan "The Man" | | Posted On at 6:32 PM

Well here you go, proof the there are even more young old guitar wizards out there who love to play the blues (besides Quinn Sullivan) Hit the link below to read about a young player named Michael Carter. Mike says his favorite players are Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ted Nugent and Eric Clapton. While I am perfectly happy with that list this brings up the question, why is that kid playing a damn Les Paul? Michael Carter Senior, get a strat into your son's hands like a decent and good father would!

Twelve-year-old guitar prodigy eyes a bigger stage
Gaston Gazette, NC
He lives and breathes blues music, and lists his favorite guitar players as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ted Nugent and Eric Clapton.
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Next generation of blues fans tune up [in Hagerstown]

Posted by Dan "The Man" | | Posted On Jun 1, 2009 at 12:19 PM

City of HagerstownHagerstown, Image via Wikipedia

After a long and disastrous period of finals, papers, sickness, moving, and an Internet fiasco I am now back online. So lets kick things of with a post on one of my favorite cites Hagerstown, Maryland who had their annual Western Maryland blues fest this weekend. Unfortunately I was not able to attend this year due to being busy. I was at a get together of economics majors at a professor's house but it turned out that is was blues related after all. You see my professor just happened to be going to the University of Chicago in the early sixties, which as you know was an amazing time for the blues. Lets just say he has some amazing stories which I hope to get up soon.

Back to Hagerstown. Here is a great article to give you hope for the future of blues. It'll hold you over until I get my writeup on the Chesapeake Bay Blues Fest up.

Next generation of blues fans tune up
The Herald-Mail, MD
... jazz music presents. "It's just fun to play and energetic," Kinzer said of the band, whose roots span back decades when Harry Kight led Williamsport High School's band program.
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