Saying Goodbye to the Blues (Page 2 of 3)

Dino needs to go thru whatever he needs to go thru. It's what makes us who we are. I do not agree with everything (or even with most) of what he wrote but he has the right to feel whatever he feels. I am suprised at how quick people are to attack on the forum.

Its hardly surprising, you go onto any artists site and post a negative about them you are  putting your views infornt of that artists most passionate followers.
Lets be honest here, the post was deliberately worded for a backlash. You get trolls on every forum who for whater ever reason enjoy this type of thing. Although nothing wrong with putting an opinion accross bt dont be surprised when folks disagree with it.
I have re read and re read his post and each tiome it makes less sense other than to stir up a backlash.

I wasn't talking about the disagreeing with the opinion (all for intelligent conversation), I was talking about the comments that were more ofa personal nature toward Dino being on the board.

And one more thing, the only personal attack I do not like is being called a troll.  As an internet guy, I know what a troll is.  I think my post was thoughtful, and earnest, and made with the intent of engaging.  Not with the intent of creating some sort of sideshow.  That is what a troll does.

You go ahead and not like me, that is fine, but get your insults correct.

Call me a bad guy, self serving, ego based.  All of those would fit.  But, I am not doing this just to upset you.  I engaged you with the hopes of hearing your side of it.

Dino, you may get under my skin..often..but I know your feelings are real. I'm more optimistic than you however. Again, it all comes back to defining the Blues...and that's a deadend street. I agree that the music business, as we have known it, is changing. I think it's a good thing. The internet has opened the world. To me there's more music out there than I'll ever be able to hear. This has given smaller, regional bands a chance to widen their audiences. Live, local music should never be deemed irrelevant. It's the backbone of the industry. I'm glad the major record company's have lost the power to dictate what I get to hear.

I know that you have a different vision for Joe. From past posts, I know what you would like to see. But, I see steady progress and success. I never feel like it's stale. And, I see lots of shows. I also take great joy in the young artists like BDS and Ryan McGarvey because I see them carrying the Blues tradition to a new audience.

So, don't "break up" with the Blues completely. If you're unhappy..just take a break. You won't be able to stay away...it's love afterall!    Cathy

You said it, Cathy!
Günter

Jeff,

I was 20 years old or so, and Junior came to play at the blues fest here in Wausau.  The band was onstage, he was sitting drinking with me and another crew guy.  His mic was open, and the band was waiting for him to get onstage.  We just hung out, he played while we drank.  Like he was slicing bread, just just tore through it right there in front of me.

Then, he fired a guy onstage, and LEFT HIM in Wisconsin.  Oddly enough that guy met a girl here, years later married her, and moved here.  All because Junior threw a fit.

I do not have a vision for Joe.  I have a vision or a desire for everyone.  I do take it seriously.  I take it far too seriously, because I know what it can be.  I know what it should be.  It should not be this.  We should not have to settle for mediocrity or transparency.

Our leaders in this industy...the labels and the Handy people, should not abandon us.  Our artist should not abandon us because the money changers think it is going to sell better with a Popa Chubby remix.

We should have new sounds.  We should have emotional blues players, not cats calling it in.

You say you are more hopeful than I am, and you are right.  Where is the next Muddy Waters, who will make the next Electric Mud. 

Did we miss it in the RL Burnside remix record, or his record with Judah Bauer that the blues establishment rejected?

Was Electric Mud rejected by the people?

I think about Dylan, walking on stage with a strat, getting boos.

I think about SRV walking onstage at Montreaux and getting bood.  And still going 1000 miles an hour  at Motorhead volume.  Not stopping because of the boo; but pushing through, because he trusted his vision.

Years later these moments were heralded as iconic.  Historic.

Where are those moments now?  What is Tommy Castro doing to rival that?  What is Albert Cummings doing to rival that?  (For the record I picked those names at random, so lets not get defensive).

The reason I own the Joe records, and go to the shows is the chance that he is going to walk out onstage, and something is going to happen.  I might not see it at the time, but someone will, and years later I can say...Wait, I was totally there for that!

Will I see that moment at Tommy Castro?  Does he have that innovation in him?  Will Popa Chubby break that door down?

I did not see it, but I own both the old version, and new version of SRV at Monteaux, the show he got boo'd and his epic return set when people got it and bought in. 

You can doubt me all you want, but you take a look around, and aside from the technical wizardry of Joe...I wonder if it is out there.  If someone, (and I include my friend in this discussion), anyone is going to be Dylan, be Iggy Pop, be u2.

When will the blues innvate again, and when will our epic players stand up?  I go to gigs, and I wait like a baby bird with an open mouth waiting for inspiration.  I dance, and sweat, and I pay attention.  I leave tired from dancing, but unchallenged.

God man...Ray Charles wrote the handbook for rock and roll in the song "What'd I say".
SRV took volume to a new level, making the blues a knock back music.  Making it anthemic, arena capable, innovative.

I am tired, and I am saddened by the safe psuedo chicago sound.  The cool blues stylings.  Really, blues stylings?

Its the same across the genres...where is Hank Williams?  Where are the Mc5?

You want me to be happy listening to Trout noodle?  I heard Rory Gallagher already.

Whats next Walter?  You, like Joe, have a pretty wide ranging talent.  But, what is next.

Trout is like the Jimmy buffet of the blues world.  I mean that in a good way.  Buffett makes a zillion, gives fans exactly what they want, and is right there in the pocket of wamth and security.

When will the blues world produce a record like "Nebraska"?

Was it Sweet Tea by Buddy?  Sure, there are epic records out there from 15 years ago or longer.

But who now has that epic blues record in them?

OR

Is it just a record?

I mean I think that blues deluxe by Joe is an epic record, or pretty close.  And look how far he has come since then.

Unlike you guys, I think the work with this Kevin fellow is the weakest stuff so far.   I think the brave peacock of colorful freedom that is Joe with a guitar in his hand, has been strapped down on a table and been put in a nice sounding slick pop box.  Its his vision, and that is fine.  But god...there is so much more in him.

How much would you like to give Joe and his band ten cups of coffee, put them in a giant warehouse recording studio, and have them play for HOURS.  Till they were exhausted and bloody in the hands.  Drunk with playing.

Then, make them play some more.  Then after 8 hours, hit record, and make them go for 2 more hours.  Give them dancing girls, or big steaks, or whatever makes them inspired.  See what happens next.  What is in this band that is next.  What brilliance is there?  The diamonds are buried deep I bet, and only after digging a hole do you find them.  Can you imagine?

How amazing is the work of Joe, just sort of on the fly in the fit of inspiration?  It is that moment that I think makes him the best.  Not the record.  But the moment when he goes off the page, and lets it swing, knows his band is iwth him, and is free enough to go.  How cool is that moment, and we have all seen it, when Joe looks around during solo, and the guys have that goofy look on their faces, because that was new, or that was wrong, or that was so right that the are surprised it never happened before.  How cool is it to see the band in that improvisational joy of friendship and musicianship.

Can you imagine if they made an Allman Brothers style live double record of just one take, front to back?

I have an exhaustive collection of Prince recordings, I have an exhaustive collection of Elvis stuff.  Without question, the best of both of those guys is when the band is just rehearsing.  I have the moment when Elvis first sang Burning Love on stage holding a piece of paper and hating the song.  His band though, was like a sherman tank of brilliance.  While he hated the song, he knew what his band was doing, and he knew it was an amazing band.

Prince has the best band in the world, year in year out.  You hear them rehearse, its like watching Muhammed Ali jump rope, or Jordan shoot free throws.  Its perfection hard as diamonds.

Thats what I want.  I want my blues players to dare to be great.  To dare to really lay it down.  I do not want your safety, I want your brilliance, and I accept the moments when it all falls apart, because the next moment might be Dylan with an electric guitar.

You never know if you do not try.

I pay attention, and my feeling is that from the top down, trying is sort of frowned upon.  Trying is out of style.  We are all so scared as a planet, as an economy, as people...we are not risking losing our jobs, not risking losing our agents, or fans, or tour buses or the good gig in Iowa.

I think I have these raised expectations of Joe, because his talent is limitless. 
Its the same thing like with Jordan, I wanted the Bulls to win 72 every year.  Cuz they can.

I want Joe to make massive records, because he can.

I want Joe, or my friend...to be Dylan with an electric guitar.

I want everyone to be.
I want to feel like they are trying.

I agree Paul.  I think they are selling me crap.  I think radio is horrid.  I think blues fests are terrible.  I think Summerfest and Shank Hall, and the Modjeska, and the Rave, all are out of their mind.

Look at what is nurtured.  NOTHING.

Hell, I am a hip hop fan, a giant hip hop fan actually, more than blues.  And I am most disappointed in that genre.  More than blues, more than pop.

But, I think in blues, the leaders have let us down.  They have sold us out.