The current state of Blues and soul.

Tonight at work, while listening to Pandora, I decided to give myself a change of pace, and change my station.

The legendary Sam and Dave.

It plays a lot of greats, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, and on occasion, The Blue Brothers. One particular song was a live cut, I can't remember the song exactly, but it had an intro from Elwood Blues, talking about "Fast forward to the year 2006, when Blues music will only be available in the classical section of your local music store."

Then it got me to thinking... is Blues as a music dying? You really only hear the greats in movies, on their CDs, or internet radio like Pandora. Are there any really new artists that carry on the legacies of past artists? Amy Winehouse comes to mind. Young artist, big booming voice. Really had that old MoTown sound. One song, and she was done, and now she's no longer with us.

I know certain music goes with certain eras. No one really longs for any new Disco artists, but Blues just feels so damn good. When they're in the groove, and that guitar just cries, man it's hard to describe.

The only real modern artist who I can think of that does anything bluesy is John Mayer, and even then his mainstream stuff is questionable.

I know it's kind of a rant, but isn't that what Off-topic is for?

Clapton has roots that go deep into the blues. SRV and Jeff Healey were both very accomplished blues guitarists--sadly both are no longer with us. Kenny Wayne Sheppard plays a mean blues guitar, as does John Mayer as mentioned. There are others--just gotta look around a bit...

I like these guys--though they are not together anymore: Storyville http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQL3jut9jR0

The blues audience is changing, but Blues as a genre should weather the storm. Disco and Techno rode waves of teenage hormones, but blues is pretty universal.

I think the more pertinent thing is to identify the artists' inputs to the effort. As blues audiences have changed, the traditional, classic blues talents and sounds have slipped away a bit. Let's face it, if BB King were doing a concert tonight, we'd all go - but not because his music specifically speaks to us, rather because he is a legend.

You also kinda have to look at blues as a style as opposed to a genre. Terms like Blues, Funk, Soul, and Rock are more like styles of playing. Disco, Pop, Rap, Ska, and Country are more genres. Make sense?

For instance: I can't quit you baby by Led Zeppelin. Its a Rock song with huge influences of Blues and Soul. Its not a blues tune with rock style.

Some great examples where these get mishmashed up are with some of the less common R&B female artists. Leela James, Erykah Badu, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings... Obviously huge Blues and Funk styles influencing their R&B style music.

I don't think you'll get much good Blues in the mainstream media radio station. I found a lot of the new-to-me artists via podcasts and would recommend to listen to The Roadhouse and Dave Raven. There are a ton of others out there too but I simply don't have the time even for the above two.

Judging by the podcasts the Blues is alive and well, it's just removed itself from the view a little.

BoostedBrandon wrote: Tonight at work, while listening to Pandora, I decided to give myself a change of pace, and change my station.

Here is a tip, when looking for something different, on occasion head over to www.wwoz.com for New Orleans Public Radio and one of the most unique stations in the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWOZ
Listen on the computer or download the app but either way it can be great. Different times of the day/week for entirely different types of music.
If you watch(ed) the HBO show Treme, this is the station they have one of the characters work at.

Blues is alive and well. It is just not mainstream. Locally we have acts like Sarasota Slim and Damon Fowler. For blues on the radio, we have WMNF. (Caution: Many GRMers may not like the station's politics; they broadcast some content from Pacifica Radio, which has scientifically proven to cause Fox viewers to break out in hives.)

I like real blues, but don't care for R&B

Blues hasn't been all that viable since the late 60's. That doesn't mean there aren't a TON of blues artists out there still making great music. I just got an e-mail from Guitar Center about their latest "King of the Blues" who won a big cash prize and other stuff. He plays like a much older player:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcPsr6wdzIQ&feature=youtu.be

As for soul, you need to look more into the Neo-soul movement that's been fairly hot for the past 10 years or so. Adele (who is HUGE now) came out as more of a soul singer.

See also: Duffy (first album), Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, early Joss Stone (first two albums) and Cee-Lo Green (as overplayed as the "berkeley You" song is, it's classic soul).

You should also be listening to the Black Keys, because that's some serious skinny white boy bluesey/soulful rock.

It's out there, you just need to look for it.

Speaking of Neo-soul, here's a band that Gamby cottoned me onto - The Mynabirds. This album in particular: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14179-what-we-lose-in-the-fire-we-gain-in-the-flood/

The Black Keys and Adele I consider blues / soul crossing into rock / pop in a huge way and apparently selling like hot cakes which makes me think that the love of blues is far from dead. Which makes me He's not exactly young and new but Seasick Steve anyone? http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=AGvejTmWNac

Elwood Blues hosts a radio show every week called The House of Blues radio hour. Here is a list to find out when it is on near you: http://www.thebluesmobile.com/page.php?page_id=76

I've been listening to a lot of G. Love lately. Depending on the song, he is somewhere in the middle of blues, R&B, country, and hip-hop.

Fixin' To Die--G. Love

Milk and Sugar--G. Love

Luke wrote: Speaking of Neo-soul, here's a band that Gamby cottoned me onto - The Mynabirds. This album in particular: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14179-what-we-lose-in-the-fire-we-gain-in-the-flood/

"What We Gained In The Fire" is SUCH a phenomenal song. I can't believe a band that good didn't get bigger.

Glad you dug them so much, Luke.

Ahh yes the Black Keys, I discovered them on Conan, doing Howlin' For You. I like it much better on Conan than their studio album. Actually, I prefer most stuff live. You can really tell who is a very good band by how they sound live.

Adele I don't mind, but that song, whatever it's called, is WAY overplayed on the local pop radio.

On Johnathan Long... THATS what I'm talking about! Look at that face, he's really feeling what he's playing, that guitar is an extension of his soul. Damn.

I knew you guys would come through and show me some new stuff.

RXBeetle wrote: The Black Keys and Adele I consider blues / soul crossing into rock / pop in a huge way and apparently selling like hot cakes which makes me think that the love of blues is far from dead. Which makes me He's not exactly young and new but Seasick Steve anyone? http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=AGvejTmWNac

Don't forget the White Stripes. Jack White clearly loves him some blues. He's probably more on the rock side of things at this point, but doesn't take much listening to realize what he grew up enamored with: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03YUgHAshSo

Apparently, this is his favorite song of all time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTlSka5iqPY&feature=related

Thing is, so many greats have already had their hand at and really established blues. You can't really pioneer with strait blues anymore, and it's hard to be better than the greats. It would take the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan to really do that at this point.

BTW--

GREAT Gnarls Barkley track (Cee-Lo doing his thing so well) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc9nB3Odcq0&ob=av2n

Some mid-90's steez from Satchel (Sean Smith is a woefully unknown soul singer). This song is gorgeous and crippingly depressing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqDc83CBQUQ&ob=av2e

Same singer, different band, another beautiful song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g3raY1tYm4 (guitar player is also in a little band called Pearl Jam)

While we're mentioning favourites, one of my 'top 5' albums would probably be Fire of Love by The Gun Club. It's blues with a definite punk twist (vice versa?), and apparently also an influence of Jack White's sound.

She's Like Heroin to Me

BoostedBrandon wrote: Adele I don't mind, but that song, whatever it's called, is WAY overplayed on the local pop radio.

Try this: (not quite as played)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpky0V0t4c4

Luke--damn, that Gun Club song was pretty far ahead of its time.

RXBeetle wrote: The Black Keys and Adele I consider blues / soul crossing into rock / pop in a huge way and apparently selling like hot cakes which makes me think that the love of blues is far from dead. Which makes me He's not exactly young and new but Seasick Steve anyone? http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=AGvejTmWNac

I have two Seasick Steve albums and love his GRM approach to music, but his sound gets a little repetative. He would be better as part of an ensemble. Don't get me wrong...I love slide guitar. Bonnie Raitte's Just No Getting Over You is Brilliant.

FWIW, the best solo slide guitar I have ever heard is Kraig Kenning's song Sonic Blues

I think Curtis had it right when he called it a universal music. Not only that, but most if not all music came from somewhere. You can find blues and soul in the roots of modern music.

Don't overlook the female blues singers, Susan Tedeschi can lay down a mean track.

+1 for Shawn Smith -- loved the Brad albums, mainly for his voice.

Didn't know about Satchel.

Thanks Gamby!!!!!

orphancars wrote: +1 for Shawn Smith -- loved the Brad albums, mainly for his voice. Didn't know about Satchel. Thanks Gamby!!!!!

Oh, my pleasure. I LOVE turning people on to stuff they didn't know.

Yeah, that Satchel album was pretty solid.

This was the radio "hit" from it (and it's AMAZING) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpI2O39qJw0&ob=av2e

As I type this, I'm getting bummed that there isn't more stuff like this out there now. As I near 40, I'm still always the one saying "there's still great stuff out there!!! (see this thread and my other music threads), but sometimes the reality of how good it was before the death of the music industry is hard to ignore.

I guess I'm feeling conflicted today.

TRoglodyte wrote: Don't overlook the female blues singers, Susan Tedeschi can lay down a mean track.

I posted this one in another thread recently (Jeff Beck w/ Imogen Heap from a few years ago) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm__TU45RWo

It RIPS.

curtis73 wrote: Disco and Techno rode waves of teenage hormones, but blues is pretty universal.

I can't really agree with that statement. Disco and Techno are still popular forms of music, just not in those incarnations. They've evolved into more modern styles, but the basic ideals are similar.

ReverendDexter wrote:

curtis73 wrote: Disco and Techno rode waves of teenage hormones, but blues is pretty universal.

I can't really agree with that statement. Disco and Techno are still popular forms of music, just not in those incarnations. They've evolved into more modern styles, but the basic ideals are similar.

Yep. Dubstep is riding those same waves as we speak. Very popular form of electronic music at the moment.

Meanwhile, Daft Punk is just plain awesome, regardless of their electronic nature.

With the right kind of ears you'll hear it. AC/DC is NOT rock and roll. It is and always will be heavy duty blues. Really.