Re: Is Joe re-defining the modern day Blues?
bobkatmsu wrote:hulldanfan wrote:I really don't what you mean by 'redefining the blues'
If you really think that Joe is doing that then please tell me how he is doing it.
Explain what revolutionary changes/advances or innovations he is making to the genre.
I think Joe is great at what he does and at the moment, he is rightly at the top of what is, in reality, a pretty small tree. I just don't see any differences in what he is doing compared to many other artists and I certainly don't see anything that carries the weight of influence that the giants of the Blues had.
Ok, I am getting real philosophical here for an x-dump jock, so if I screw up don't hit me with to big a stick. In the Art's and Sciences there have always been ground breaking discoveries and performances where people spend decades or centuries trying to imitate and improve on. Whether it's Monet and his French Impressionist movement that changed a section of the art world forever, or Robert Johnson's playing three different timings all in one song, people with incredible talent have been taking their art to new levels. I believe Joe has that type of talent, which is the beginning point. What I saw at last weekends show, took me to the next level. As I have stated before I am not a music expert, I am not a instrument, or arrangement or production expert. I know what I like and I know when I hear something completely different and unique form anything I have ever heard before and I have some experience at this. It maybe a small tree, that's ok. Most great artists are not recognized until after they are dead. Joe does not have to wait for that. He has enough of us "died in the wool" fans that he can afford any guitar he wants and good for him.
What I see and hear is so pleasurable, I believe, a good portion of the next generation of Blues artists will emulate the style and genius of Joe. Whether it is Joe, in music, Robert Oppenhiemer, in science, Monet in art, thank God there are those people that push their phenoninal abilities to the limit. The rest of us are blessed to have them in our midst and our lives are so much richer for their courage.You are seeing and saying the same thing I saw and said over 10 years ago when I saw him for the first. Re-defining the blues but in much the same way as it has been done for over 100 years. Taking the foundation musically and expounding on it. I have always contended that blues is usually played by musicians that can't play anything but the blues. Joe is a musician that can play anything he wants but chooses the blues. However he is not just a bluesman he is a musician that amalgamates many genre's and influences. He is inspiring another generation of guitar players and giving rebirth to the blues.
As to an earlier post mentioning the Black Keys who are bringing the blues to a younger generation I do agree with that however, they aren't telling where their inspiration comes from much the same way Led Zeppelin didn't. We at the time thought they invented what it was they were doing and only later discovered it was blues. The Black Keys don't want to really be identified as a blues band although we know they are, Joe on the other hand isn't afraid to claim the blues as his love and isn't afraid to name his influences or give recognition to them. In turn those that follow will claim the genre' and not run from the stereotype that so often follows blues players. Average musician with average talent playing tired I IV V progressions often out of tune and out of key but who cares if it is authentic. So yes I think he is re-defining the blues as I said before.
I think Joe is a phenomenal musician who like someone else says plays a lot of different styles at such a high quality level. It's not just his guitar playing. It is his whole package and as a live performer, he sets the bar.
I personally don't see anything that he has done that has really redefined or has changed the Blues.
Interested like Hulldanfan to know what is it?
He plays Blues, but he has said he was influenced by British Blues more than American blues. And that is what I hear in his music. I think rock fans look at blues a little bit differently than blues fans. For Blues fans it is more of also an expression of life experience, the lyrics and the emotions that pours into your playing out from your soul. I do think British Blues was an actual redefinition of the Blues.
I actually would love to hear Joe do another album of traditional Blues, like Blues Deluxe. I really, thoroughly enjoyed that album.
