The Layperson’s Guide to Singin’ the Blues (Page 1 of 2)

I much enjoyed the read. Thanks for the tip.

I'm at an open stage Blues Evening tonight. Should I take the stage I shall claim to be 'Bada$$ Alabama Bush'. But instead of 'waking up this morning', I shall jump straight in and sing that I 'Shot two men this morning, left 'em dead down Memphis Way'.

I actually have a VW T4 but for blues 'cred' shall pretend it's a broken down Dodge pick up.

Rusty, what can I say? This was excellent timing for me. A Blues template courtesy of Davy Knowles.

Not sure about not using 'Queens'. That has good rhyming possibilities.

Oh, and I won't wear a suit.

Sounds good!  That'll work.  If I can find the old version of that list I'll send it to you.  I am Brain Tumor Slim and I wear a suit with a fedora.      I'm at that age.   

Wish I was there.

I love this list, it has been around for quite some time, and has been posted here at least twice.
Here's the most recent...although it IS in "Old Topics":
http://www.jbonamassa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=457

Hey Greyhound Roy,

I remember the thread about your broken guitar. I really felt sorry for you (and your son). If I remember correctly you wanted to give the (repaired) guitar to your son as a birthday present (or something like that) and get yourself a new one. Did you do that?

Well, looks like my post was old news, then. At least it seems that there are other people on here who didn't know it.
Hey, there was no need of rubbing it in with Joe's quote ("...to repeat a good thing is to sit still, to take a chance is to grow")!

Well, there might be a very simple reason for this: He just didn't enter all of his favorite artists. I heard that DK listens to a lot of different music styles...
Nevertheless, I was hoping that some day Joe and Davy would share the stage and trade some licks. I'm shure this will happen sooner or later.
I wonder what Joe thinks of Davy? I think I heard him say that Davy is doing it the other way round: An English guy going to the U.S. to play the blues. But did Joe ever say that he likes Davy's music or something like that?

Mike, I'm glad I could help you.
Did you take the stage? Any videos of your new and improved "bluesmansship"? Please tell us...

I was thinking of calling myself 'Deaf Rusty Fingers' so that people wouldn't laugh when they hear me play and feel pity instead. But now I know that this would break rule #12b.

Just like you, I'm really glad I've read The Layperson’s Guide to Singin’ the Blues. I've been trying to write blues songs for decades, but it always sounded wrong to me. Now I know how I can improve!

Here's one of my pathetic efforts:

Male Pattern Baldness Blues

I fell asleep in the office this afternoon
Yes I fell asleep in the office this afternoon
I was dreaming of going home to my beach house in the Hamptons
And get myself a bottle of Snapple (Lemon Iced Tea) real soon

I was turning up my beige Volvo's air condition
Yes I was turning up my beige Volvo's air condition
So I wouldn't sweat in my Italian designer suit
And then I brought the driver seat into a comfortable position

I had to use the Volvo against my will
Yes, I feel so mistreated because I had to use the Volvo against my will
But the housekeeper needed our mauve-colored SUV
And the gardener damaged our Ferrari driving it into the BMW of our neighbour Bill

I have the Male Pattern Baldness Blues
Yes, my fellows from the Rotary Club, I have the Male Pattern Baldness Blues
Because ever since I broke my leg while skying
My hair is on the loose

Sometimes I think I just lack the talent to be a real bluesman...

Rusty

Hey Rusty!
Old news or not I hadn't seen it and I thought it was real good fun and although it is 'tongue in cheek' humour there are some elements of truth in it.

As for Davy Knowles I was on his LastFM profile page only yesterday. He's been playing a fair bit of Govt. Mule so I played his selections too. Man I enjoy that facility. No more NDR2 or FFN rubbish for me! Treated myself to a proper sound system for the pc just to get the benefit of it. Didn't see any of Joe's stuff on Davy's recent plays but what the hell, Davy's still making his way, starting out. He won't want to depress himself too much listening to a master and realising how far he has to go....only joking

As for the Blues open stage evening. It was a bit chaotic when I got there. Real surprise was how well it was supported.The place was packed. All the local music mafia out in force. No pressure then, gulp. There were some laugh out loud moments but also some very good players. I did crack as the band played 'LaGrange' whilst the singer/guitarist actually sang a different ZZTop song! You had to be there.

Whilst there were a long line of guitar players I had no competition on the vocalist front so after getting up there and doing 'Crossroads' I kind of got the job. Personally, for me it was truly, great fun. I really want to sing this music more. There is so much more scope to it than the 'Marshalls on 11' stuff I normally have to do. Thoughtfully, some people had brought along some texts so it was just a question of interpretation. There was a tremendous version of 'Red House' with some very special organ/guitar interplay. There is no film, which is probably just as well. Anyway beer was only 1,50 Euros so who wants to waste time filming!

The moment I was dreading did come, when a basic blues jam started requiring at some point, a lyric. I just made up some stuff on the hoof. Shame I didn't have your text there Rusty. Would have gladly used it

As to your text. With baldness, a beige Volvo and a Snapple addiction, you have plenty to be blue about. Keep at it. The blues is in all of us. The blues is alright.....alright!

Mike

I've just started using www. lastfm. com. On here you can at first try and then register. Here in D it is free. Absolutely brilliant. You type in the name of the artist and then it will play them and many other similar times of music. I don't listen to any 'normal' radio any more!

Type in Joe Bonamassa and you will get many other blues artists material. I heard many new artist and bands already. You can also make you own playlists or use the playlists of other members.

Try it!

As for the blues thing, it was so successful it will be once a month. Maybe it can be better organised. For such a small stage area to have 3 guitarists all trying to take the lead(!), keyboards, bass, drums and vocalist was overkill.

With better organisation some filming might be possible. Overall, the quality was reasonable, but mostly it was a lot of fun.

I tried LastFM yesterday and liked it! It really helps you find new artists. I listened to Davy's collection and to Joe's collection.
Great stuff! Much better suited to find new music than the 30 second excerpts on amazon...

Something I don't understand is: Who pays for the songs on LastFM? OK, for a less known band it's a great promotion to be played on LastFM. But some artists might be afraid that people might just listen to their music on LastFM and stop buying their albums...
Don't get me wrong - I'm happy there are things like LastFM. I'm just trying to understand the background.
Another question: Where does the music on LastFM come from? If I want to create my own list, do I have to load the songs up? Or does LastFM have a gigantic archive of songs? I know these questions sound really naive... But hey, the internet is a totally anonymous thing! So I ask them anyway.

Mike, now that the open stage event takes place regularly you should think about writing lyrics for a blues song based on the The Layperson’s Guide. Wouldn't that be funny?

Hooraaay! I'm shure this will be the best thing since Black Rock...