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Joe Bonamassa Forum → Off Topics → Saying Goodbye to the Blues
Oh, I'm not upset or anything. But then again, if I was, I wouldn't be all emo on a message board. But that's me. You can do what you want. Free country. 
Y'all check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM
MuchLove
FDOL
Jeff,
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!
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 want Joe to make massive records, because he can.
I want Joe, or my friend...to be Dylan with an electric guitar.
Hell, yeah! Too bad more people don't speak up like you.
Dino's turning his back on the blues.........sounds to me like he got the blues........
maybe he should take up golf or ice fishin you know something to pass the time, something to make him happy..........before the big sleep. Life is short........find something you like to do and do it........find people you like and keep them close...... if music or the blues got you down maybe tv is the answer for you.......you'll be back if the music speaks to you if not I sure hope you find something to fill the void..........maybe learn to play guitar and write a song about how you feel........I wonder if it would be the blues......
Fuzzy - Outstanding response to what is evidently Dino's meltdown with the Blues. I think your words could apply to any number of life freakouts.
Thanks Fuzz.
It might be a meltdown.
The thing with my job, writing about music, writing in general. You need to be able to find meaning in something. I would not get anywhere telling Band Z that I think they are soul less hacks wrecking music and parading around as blues when they are mediocre classic rock.
I can't say that. So I sit, and I listen to them talk and talk. And it is all such crap.
Then I write what I see, and I write what it all means, and i get a call from publicist that they did not like my 100 percent positive write up about their band, because I did not include the talking points that they sent me.
When I respond that I talked to the band, saw them live, listened to the cd, and I wrote my own article...and I am met with hostility to that idea, yeah, that sucks.
For me, with a guitar player of some note, when I did my interview, I had read everythign that was in all the magazines already. So I knew what was asked, and I prepared my questions to not get those answers. I know what I am doing after all.
This guitar player did not answer, or apparently hear my questions, instead literally said the same words I read in other magazines. So that sucks.
Or the rock star giving me ten minutes of really good time, only to have to endure an hour of publicist talk in an airport bar.
It is tough to make music mean anything, when it appears to many that it does not mean anything to anyone else.
Its all so calculated, and rehearse, and all the rest.
Don't get me wrong, I have had some amazing times writing about some amazing bands like The Hold Steady, or Nas, or Lucero. But that is so few.
I feel like I sit in front of a keyboard, and I struggle harder than the musicians do. I struggle harder to give their work meaning, significance, divinity than they do. They just say the code words they want to see in the magazines.
You say you have an amazing interview with an amazing artist like Nas? Nas aint nothin but a THUG. You want to talk about the blues, you should really dig deep into Rap music. They are the pretenders who really need to be asked the hard questions.
Dino,
It is not your responsibility to give their work meaning. Someone once told me, never take what you love and turn it into your job, for you will not find the same enjoyment and satisfaction you once did. If you are sitting in front of the keyboard and are struggling with what to write, something is wrong.
Although I do not agree with your current state of the blues genre, you seem to be a good writer. Maybe you need to stop writing about the blues and music in general and choose a different subject to write about.
One thing to remember about the artists that you are comparing; there is a big difference in age. You are comparing BB King and contemporaries to artist half their age. That must account for something. Life experiences have played a huge part in the evolution of the blues and what was, versus what is. The blues is music of emotion and life.
I feel like you are expecting Joe and the other musicians, who are still developing their style and sound to be at the top of their game. I for one am excited about Joe and similar artists. I can't wait to see what they do next. I feel like Joe is more artistic and creative now than the days of Blues Deluxe.
I am thankful for those very talented musicians that have chosen the blues/blues rock genre, knowing that they will make probably half of what they could in many other genres. I think that in itself commands some respect and support. It is not an easy genre to represent or work in. The purists exclude many and do not encourage the evolution of the genre, almost holding it back. If it does not sound like the blues of 30 or 40 years ago then it is not the blues in their minds. I find fault in that logic. Nothing stays the same. If we bought into the blues purists philosophy, we could just listen to old recordings of BB King and the others and have no need for new artists and their vision.
In business and life, if you grow and evolve you help ensure the success of the business or relationship. If we support it, encourage it, and believe in it, it will survive. If we turn our backs on it, it will die.
There really is no good answer here. If you continue to obsess over something you have no control over it will consume you, and not in a good way.
Enjoy life and music.
Just my 2 cents....
~Rhonda
Thanks Fuzz.
It might be a meltdown.
The thing with my job, writing about music, writing in general. You need to be able to find meaning in something. I would not get anywhere telling Band Z that I think they are soul less hacks wrecking music and parading around as blues when they are mediocre classic rock.
I can't say that. So I sit, and I listen to them talk and talk. And it is all such crap.
Then I write what I see, and I write what it all means, and i get a call from publicist that they did not like my 100 percent positive write up about their band, because I did not include the talking points that they sent me.
When I respond that I talked to the band, saw them live, listened to the cd, and I wrote my own article...and I am met with hostility to that idea, yeah, that sucks.
For me, with a guitar player of some note, when I did my interview, I had read everythign that was in all the magazines already. So I knew what was asked, and I prepared my questions to not get those answers. I know what I am doing after all.
This guitar player did not answer, or apparently hear my questions, instead literally said the same words I read in other magazines. So that sucks.
Or the rock star giving me ten minutes of really good time, only to have to endure an hour of publicist talk in an airport bar.
It is tough to make music mean anything, when it appears to many that it does not mean anything to anyone else.
Its all so calculated, and rehearse, and all the rest.
Don't get me wrong, I have had some amazing times writing about some amazing bands like The Hold Steady, or Nas, or Lucero. But that is so few.
I feel like I sit in front of a keyboard, and I struggle harder than the musicians do. I struggle harder to give their work meaning, significance, divinity than they do. They just say the code words they want to see in the magazines.
Dude, take some advice from a fellow journalist, and as Lennon said, "Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream".;) You're over analyzing things, and if you're not getting inspiration from the artists you're writing about, find new artists. There are plenty of them out there who have the passion to be inspired by. And if you don't like the answers you're getting to your questions, steer them in the right direction. It takes two to tango, and if you're not feeling it, you're going to get the same stock answers. Treat the subjects as people you care about.(And mean it. Genuinely care.) People can sense, musician or not, when you're not interested, whether YOU feel you're giving off that vibe or not. As for publicists, it's all part of the game. There are ones who are good, others who aren't - you just have to roll with it. If not, you're in the wrong business.
As in anything in life, you're only going to get out of it what you put into it.
Dino, isn´t it nice that everybody is trying so hard to bring you out of your (musical) depression? Meanwhile I understand Jane who keeps saying that she doesn´t understand what you really want.
Günter
I was wondering when Keith would jump into the conversation and after reading his reaction I hope Dino takes his advice to heart.
This has been an interesting thread, chock-full of mostly thoughtful counsel to a talented writer. Dino - you need to listen to these people.
Meltdown, burnout...exhaustion? Been there, done that. In my lifelong struggle to grow up, I have discovered that expecting every relationship, every interview, every jam session, ad nauseum, ad infinitum, to move me to my soul, is self destructive. Counter intuitive, counter productive.
I don't expect too much out of most modern musicians. Inspiration? Oh please. Yeah... Look somewhere else. Unrealistic expectations are cause for disappointment. Balance is required.
More often than not now, I just state the facts and let the chips fall where they may. Live and let live has served me well. In the beginning, I lost business and promotions and assignments because I wouldn't compromise my principles. It was worth it.
My rep is safe. My respect is earned. Most importantly, the kind of people I want in my life are attracted to me, love me and listen to me. Conversely, one disagreement does not roll me under. I TRUST the great spirit. The spirit trusts me. I hold a lot of secrets.
Sometimes I lead. Sometimes I follow.
Nurturing requires looking for the good and praising it. Evil will die only of neglect. I want more, so I must do my daily drill with some gratitude or else I will not be prepared when more arrives.
Hell I might not even recognize it, especially if I have my head down trying to wrestle the world down to make it give me what I want. Bedtime? OOPS!
Let he who has ears to hear, hear. Thank you Eva.
It's a good day for the blues.........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCEFNRYf … re=related
is right.
and Hey, the blues is all right too!!!
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=ncJMvZQkM2I
Hey Eva !
You know these boards well and your instincts are good.
We are up to four pages already and I think your 'six page' prediction is looking good!
If it gets tooooo depressing add something cheery, please ??
Hey, did you not find Barbara cheery and uplifting????
Thanks everyone.
I really want to get a few things across though. Its not about Joe, or any one else. Its about the idea. Its about the idea that it ALL lets me down. So defending Joe or whatever, makes no matter to me.
As far as writing about what I love...what I love is WRITING. Not music. I love writing first. I write about stuff I like and love, and I am good at it. Or rather, people send me checks, so I am at least worthy of a buck a word.
The thing is this...and I think Jeff and Moods get this better, and I only use them as an example because Moods and I have talked a bunch, and Jeff and I have emailed a few times. So I have heard from them.
The thing is...onstage some of these guys are hard charging, wall breakers. But the sort of Wal Mart version of what they put on records is insane. It so beneath them.
Then you talk to them, the ones that are still climbing, and it is like this insane presidential debate. They do not listen to the question, they just let you stop talking, and say what they want to say. It is so sad. I have met other music writers, and for the most part it is the same thing. Look at Ryan Adams and his threats against Jim Derogotis because Jim wrote what he heard on the records.
When I sat down with BB King, and I had the recorder on, and a notebook out, he told stories that made him look BAD. Just awesome stuff. I spent a lot of time with him, and man he can be a mf'er. Butm he does not care, he is him. He is getting his 100 grand a night no matter what. So, piss off.
But, the others, it is insane. I spent some time with KWS, and I swear I never saw him do one true thing the whole time. I was there when he shot the Dodge Charger special for Speed Channel or something, and it was all so contrived. I have spent time with him as a young man as well, with him mom and dad. He played at the theatre in my town ten years ago or something. The night before his mom called and asked if he could come to our club and play, just cuz he had been off for a while. Sure. He showed up at 230 am, and played scales for two hours through our PA, and never talked to anyone. Like we were beneath him.
I get the artist on the road thing. Its hard, your tired, he was young. But, he grew up into a little blues version of P Diddy. A empire builder. A politician.
And locally, the self importance of local musicians is terrible. I wrote an article about this vanilty project band, bartenders who got a nu metal band together and made a record. So I wrote about them, what I heard, what they told me. I quote them accurately.
They then sent me an article from a blogger friend of theirs, after mine was published, and said they were hoping that I would write more like this person wrote about them. I responded by telling them go to take a hike, and maybe they could just write my articles for me, and sign my name.
I just want some honesty. I am going away this weekend, and I think that will help me start back. But, my assessment on the state of the blues stands. It is a sad state of over controlled image, and under served records.
This is symptomatic of the leaders of the blues wanting to not ruffle feathers. Not wanting to take a stand.
Joe Bonamassa Forum → Off Topics → Saying Goodbye to the Blues
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