Contemporary Blues

[billshurv]

Although not 'new' talent I rather like Walter Trout's last few albums (2013 onwards). Nothing like coming close to death to get the blues flowing.

 

[mountainman bob]

Thx Bill, I’ve got ‘common ground’ from 2010 I’ll check out some of his newer stuff.

 

[mountainman bob]

It’s certainly interesting when you have the insight of life events that shape the artists music,
The album I had (common ground) was just ok to me and one really good track I like ‘maybe a fool’ but nothing must have about it so I never really pursued anything else by him until Bill brought it up.
I checked out ‘the blues came callin’ (2014) which was apparently an effort to raise money for the liver transplant he had no insurance or funds for, you can hear the desperation while pulling every blues breaker card from his sleeves. This effort was quite good and raised enough for his operation.
Then the next album after his recovery ‘Battle scars’ (2015) is full of new life and self, I never would have picked up on any of that if it wasn’t brought to light.....thanks Bill.

I’m not a big fan of his two latest efforts though, ‘survivor blues’ (2019) and ‘ordinary madness’ (2020) seems off (he does mention mental issues in a lot of the new music?)

 

[mountainman bob]

Bobby Rush @ 86 still kickin and keepin the classics alive.....this whole album is awesome!

Bobby Rush "Shake It For Me" - YouTube

 

[tsmith1315]

Here ya go, Bob-

BTW, that's Duane Allman's '57 Les Paul in his hands. The one he used on Layla.

Marcus King - Dyin' - YouTube

 

[billshurv]

.thanks Bill.

I’m not a big fan of his two latest efforts though, ‘survivor blues’ (2019) and ‘ordinary madness’ (2020) seems off (he does mention mental issues in a lot of the new music?)

You're welcome. Newest album of his I have is 'Alive in Amsterdam' which is a live recording in front of an appreciative audience and the one I often turn to.



For a smile here is an old UK beer advert featuring the blues. Heineken advert - The Blues - 1992 - YouTube


Before beer adverts were stopped from claiming they do great things for you Heineken made a lot of great ads from their strapline 'refreshes the parts other beers cannot reach'. Great ads, but their good beers where generally not sold in uk as the drinkers of the time either wanted cheap stuff or wife beater* strength.



*seriously the 5% lagers were referred to with this name. We were not a cultured bunch 30 years ago

 

[mountainman bob]

Thx Timmy, I had no idea how young this dude is, I’ve got the album ‘Carolina confessions’ and ‘Goodbye Carolina’ is one of my favorite tunes I’ve come across in a long time but had never seen a picture or video.

Marcus King - "Goodbye Carolina" | Live at the Opry | Opry - YouTube

That is pretty funny Bill.....Lonnie Brooks is one of the greats!

Lonnie Brooks - You're Usin' Me - YouTube

Edit.....holy crap! Look at his son go! Gotta look him up.

Edit too.... It’s Ronnie Baker Brooks.....this him a few yrs ago (never would have known if it weren’t for a heine commercial!)

Ronnie Baker Brooks - Take me Witcha/Sweet Home Chicago - 6/16/17 Rams Head - Annapolis, MD - YouTube

 

[tsmith1315]

Same here, I listened to the first album assuming they were a couple decades older. Then I was told he was a teenager. Say what???

Some good stuff on the earlier albums.

Plant your corn early

 

[mountainman bob]

That’s too cool.....quite the talent! Gonna have to do some more digging on his stuff, looks like a lot of it out there.
Gotta love the way music is so available nowadays, instant overload!

 

[mountainman bob]

This album is awesome too!
Dyin' - YouTube

 

[mountainman bob]

This is a commercial free non-profit internet radio site that plays a lot of new stuff mixed in with the old blues, I’ve picked up on some great music listening to it.

BluesMusicFan.com - Are you a fan of the blues? So are we!

 

[mountainman bob]

Seasick Steve is awesome!

Seasick Steve - Toes in the Mud (Live) - YouTube

 

[mountainman bob]

Something New - YouTube
This is someone I’d never heard of before, her tone is so sultry and captivating.

Heres young feller with a good groove
Ain't That Somethin' - YouTube

 

[mountainman bob]

G. Love - SoulBQue - YouTube

Love this ! Kind of a sloppy fusion of blues,funk,rap....

Anyone have opinions on fusion blues? I think it’s awesome.

 

[scottjoplin]

Examples please.

 

[mountainman bob]

Well that G.love song for one......it’s light fusion

gimme a minute I’ll throw ya a few more of what I’d consider blues fusion, it’s kindly hard sometimes finding things from my Tidal playlist on YT.

Here’s Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) and the BFG’s with a whole album dedicated to a Cuban/Latin blues hybrid
Billy Gibbons - Perfectamundo from album Perfectamundo - YouTube

Dirty south blues
Southern Chicks - YouTube

 

[scottjoplin]

Those don't do it for me I'm afraid. The blues spawned and influenced many genras and those examples sound like a contrivance to me, unnecessary in a way, if you get my drift.

BTW, I love early ZZ Top

 

[mountainman bob]

Yah, I kindly agree, not exactly classics in any sense, more like fun just for the heck of it.

Before ZZ Top they were ‘the moving sidewalks‘ toured with Hendrix who was a big influence on their sound.
The Moving Sidewalks (pre ZZ Top) ~ ''Joe Blues''(Psychedelic Blues 1968) - YouTube

Think the moving sidewalks opened for the doors a few times too, that seems the influence for this one
99th Floor - Moving Sidewalks - YouTube

 

[scottjoplin]

Although it's OT, I think Gotan Project did a fusion that worked, particularly like their version of Zappa's Chunga's Revenge

 

[mountainman bob]

I go through all the trouble of posting links and you make us go dig it up......i see how ya are Matt !


Gotan Project - Chunga`s Revenge (Zappa Cover) - YouTube