Flemenco Montoya

Carlos Montoya didn't invent flemenco music. It was around for years and years before him, the style was evolved from traditional Spanish music the same way today's American music is evolved from Blues, Jazz and Folk. But Carlos is the father of Flemenco, there is no doubt about that. He took the style and with his guitar ran with it. I love this rare video of Carlos just playing his heart out. Strumming with disregard. Its a thrill watching his fingers just flow all over the neck with such flow and ease.

Jools Get Some Mexican Heat

Some may call it flamenco in the new century. Others say its something they never seen before in their life. I call it fantastic guitar playing. Rodrigo y Gabriela are a brother and sister acoustic guitar duo who used fast guitar strumming and guitar body slapping to create a whole new different kind of music. These two kids from Mexico has taken an old Mexican guitar style and taken it to a whole new level. Playing covers of classic songs from Led Zepplin, Metellica, Pink Floyd, etc and taking it to a whole new level. They will blow you away with the way they play and the sounds that come out from their guitars. They are a joy to watch.

Lost Souls

Its unfortunate when a band falls apart after just one album. Its a travesty when a great band that was so innovative falls apart and never gets the recognition they deserve. Leafhound is the latter. Its rip roaring heavy riff rock and roll. Fortunately they at least released one album before they disbanded and fell off the face of the Earth. Listen to Leafhounds Growers Of Mushrooms album and there's no way you wont be blown away by killer base lines and head banging chords. If your a fan of classic Zepplin, Sabbath, Deep Purple, etc, then you will love Leafhound.

Easy Blues Isn't So Easy

I've heard about John Martyn through the record store I visited frequently. I can't tell you enough how much that place meant to me. The music that I've discovered from Skip, Paul, Jimmy and Barance I am extremely grateful for. They told me Martyn's Solid Air album has got to be his essential album. Unfortunately I could never find Solid Air on vinyl. But that doesn't mean I cant find it on youtube, which I have. Easy Blues was the one song that stuck out in my mind. His voice became gravely over the years and I loved it especially on his more bluesy songs. Martyn can jump from jazz to blues to folk without skiping a beat. This song is a blues song true and true. His acoustic twirls from string to string with great plucking power on his heavy strings. I will always be grateful to the Record Exchange in Salam Mass for opening my ears and mind to great music like Martyn.

Some Plucking Good

The first time I heard of Bert was from the group Pentangle. A good friend from the record store I used to frequently visited loved my wide array of taste in music and suggested Pentangle to me and thought I would like it. Sure enough I fell in love with the album. But one guy stood out more than anyone else in the band and that was Bert Jansch. His finger plucking was extraordinary. I searched far and wide for Jansch on vinyl but could never find any of his solo stuff. Finally one day my friend Paul at the record store had one kept behind for me. It was Birthday Blues and I fell in love with it. Its scattered with both beautiful songs with great songwriting to breathtaking acoustic instrumentals. I can listen to this song all day and never be sick of it. Every time I listen to it I hear something new. His voice is hallowing with a slight echo that melds well into the hard plucking of his strings. Its no wonder that Neil Young has been one of Berts biggest fans, even taking him on his recent tour. You can hear how Neil was influenced by him especially in this song.

The Storyteller Waits

To me Tom Waits is the greatest storyteller I have ever had the pleasure to listen to. Being from Newfoundland I've heard my share of storytellers. There's nothing else to do but sit around and tell story's of days passed and sip on bottleneck of beer. So for me to say that Tom is the greatest that I have ever heard is a great privilege towards him. Even MTV made a great choice to get Tom to appear on their show Storytellers. At the beginning of this song he tells a great story about how he was interrupted in a hotel room one night when a couple barged in on him fighting. After the story he brakes into one of his great songs Jersey Girl. Recorded by Bruce Springsteen who made it a hit many people go back to Waits version and think its much better. It has more soul and supposedly written for his wife who's from New Jersey. Waits is one of my favorite artists to listen to and watch and here he proves why hes now in the rock and roll hall of fame.

Hanks Bitter Tears On The Lost Highway

Its one of the saddest songs I have ever heard in my life. Lost Highway was not written by Hank Williams like many people think, it was written by a songwriter named Leon Payne. But Hank made it his own, it was sort of biographical for him even though he didn't write it. He himself was traveling down the lost highway of life. Full of mistakes and drug abuse. He got lost many times and finally could never find his way back. But in the meantime of traveling his own lost highway Hank walked away as the father of country music. With his deathly whine and sharp voice he still is considered as the greatest thing that happen to country music.

The Session Of A Lifetime

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Live albums are a dime a dozen. There are hundreds you can consider the greatest live album of all time. Some may say The Allman Brothers Live At The Filmore the greatest. Or how about Peter Framptons Frampton Comes Alive. Or Humble Pies Rockin The Filmore. I can go on and on about great live albums. But nothing in my mind compares to what Stevie Ray Vaughn and Albert King accomplished on In Session. First when I heard the album I just couldn't stop listening. The guitar work between these two greats are extraordinary. They go back and forth trading licks like nobody's business. The best thing about it though is that they seem to be more having fun than trying to one up each other or sale records. The album was recorded in 1983 and wasn't even released untill 1999. The banter between songs is just great to listen to and you can feel the respect between both guitarists, Albert being the old school blues guitar killer and Stevie being humbled by his presence being the for runner in bringing back the blues. Saving it with an iron fist.

As soon as (Call It) Stormy Monday hits you straight in the face on the first track you can tell these two musicians are not gonna let up. They are gonna give it their all and go full force. This song has been covered thousands of times. Allman Brothers, Van Morriosn, BB King, etc. Has all done their own version of this song. Some were as short as 3 mins long and others lasted over 10. Albert's voice shines in this song, hes done it before on albums by himself but now he has the help of a young Stevie to back up and take care of the solos where he bends strings and minds. Some may say T Bone Walker who was the man who wrote it done it the best and it cant be topped but they either topped it on this one or came damn close.


Next it comes in Pride And Joy. One of Stevies best known songs and you can tell why after hearing the opening guitar licks, then hearing Alberts twang snap right into the mix. Its beautiful and amazing how these two guys so different in age can mix so well together musically. Later you can hear pianos chiming in to give it that upbeat sound, its done so well and I can listen to this song over and over and never get sick of it.

Next up is a BB King classic that Albert once record himself years and years before. Ask Me No Questions is a rip roaring upbeat blues song that is peppered with solos traded back and forth from both King and Stevie. Right after its done Two of Alberts own songs are showcased, Blues At Sunrise and Overall Junction. Blues At Sunrise is a slow blues song that catches your ear and never lets go. Similar to a classic BB King song with a one two punch that knocks you on your feet. Where on the other hand Overall Junction comes with with a killer piano solo and bass line that is jumping like that heard in a old blues joint. Its a killer instrumental from what some may consider two of the greatest electric blues guitarist of all time. How can it get any better than that. It just grows and grows and gets faster and faster as the song progresses.

Matchbox Blues cuts in next. The classic blues standard from Blind Lemon Jefferson cant be denied. Albert sings it with perfectly and Stevies guitar knocks it out of the ballpark going back and forth between Alberts voice and Stevies guitar.

This album is a classic and thank god it got released after 16 years. Two amazingly gifted guitarists get together one night in Canada. Put on a show for whoever was a spectator that night and years later released what I consider the greatest blues live album if not greatest live album ever. Stevie Ray Vaughn died in a plane crash on August 27, 1990 way before his time. Albert King died December 21, 1992  from a fatal heart attack. Fortunately somebody had the sense of mind to get these two musicians together and make a great album and for that I thank them. 

Brazilian Rebel

I was never really into international music. If I cant understand the words than I tend to see no point in listening. Not until i met my gorgeous fiance Virginia Berry have I ever listen to world music. Shes extremely into it being that she traveled so much and seen street performers from Spain to Peru. After listening to her type of music I couldn't help but get swept away by world music such as Roma, Brazilian, Peruvian, Klesmar, African, etc. Last night while we were talking she sent me this video, a deep voiced Brazilian acoustic guitarist named Seu Jorge. Here he is covering Billy Idols Rebel Rebel.I love how you it seems he is recording it near a beach so you can hear the waves rush in behind the music. It coincides perfectly with the song. I also love this version for the fact that its slowed down and calmer, its very relaxing and its nice to see songs that when you listen it just relaxes you and calms you down, this song does that perfectly.

Electric Murder Blues

One of the lesser known father of the electric blues, Robert Nighthawk murdered the guitar. His carnage could have been found in all the juke joints around the Mississippi area. Wowing spectators with his dirty blues with a spectacular slide guitar work. You can tell in this video by the smiles on peoples faces and how they just danced with each other. It was raunchy but the people loved it. Nighthawk was a huge influence on a one Muddy Waters. You can tell in this video how much fun it would have been, in the crowd drinking moonshine, dancing with disregard.

Merles Cry

I have a soft spot for classic country songs. One of my favorite country singers is the great Merle Haggard. Being in and out of juvenile detention centers throughout his childhood after his father died Haggard lived the life he would write about later. He finally got sent to San Quentin prison in 1957 and ran a gambling ring from his cell. After seeing friends in jail get executed he turned his life around and started writing songs and working on his singing career even playing in the prisons band. After being pardon by Ronald Reagan. He wrote Sing Me Back Home in prison after contemplating life. Its as real as it gets in songwriting and Haggard's nack for songwriting is fully shown here. I enjoyed this song many times over the years and it never gets old. You can feel the pain in his voice and here accompanied by Johnny Cash its a classic combination of two amazing country singers doing what they do best. Feeling their pain through their voice and lyrics.

Take A Little Bit Of Sea Shanty

Canadian songwriter Stan Rogers was taken away from us way before his time. It was an unfortunate plane crash that took his life and brought alot of tears to fans all around the world. We were fortunate on the other hand to have a wide array of sea shanties that Stan has left behind for us to enjoy and sing along with him. This video gives me personally goosebumps from head to toe. Being from the Canadian Maritimes like Stan there's nothing I love more to see a bunch of friends sitting around the table, enjoying a few drinks and singing their hearts out. Not for money or the fame, no just for the pure fun of it. Its a tradition around here, its how alot of the songs were written, just sitting around looking out your window at the waves crash the rocks. How can you not write a great song and Barrett's Privateers is a great sea shanty. It sounds great with a table full of guys, no instruments, just bring your voice. Beauty.

Fab Four More And More

How can anyone not love this song? I Saw Her Standing There is one of my favorite Beatles songs and you cant deny the billions and billions of fans. Need I saw any more?

Rather Be The Devil

When you think of the blues you think deep voiced, manly, so low it makes you just cry in your hands. Skip James goes the other route, he takes it high, so high that its depressing in its self. Sounding whiny and depressed. His distinctive voice got him recognition from thousands of fans at the Newport folk festival in the late 60s. Devil Got My Woman is a song about a woman that is so mean and low down, he would rather face the devil himself than deal with her. The blues at its best.

Muddy Rodgers

I was always a huge fan of Paul Rodgers. From his First band Free to Bad Company to The Firm with Jimmy Page to The Law and now heading the great band Queen. Rodgers has dont it all and in good fashion. All his bands have released great songs and some may say its because of Rodgers and his golden voice. Hes considered one of the greatest rock voices in rock and roll history. With great range and being able to bend a note with ease there's probably nothing Rodgers cant do. Hes always been influenced by the blues, you can surely hear it in his first band Free. But it wasn't untill the early 90's that Rodgers released his first full out blues album called Muddy Waters blues, it was a dedication to the late great blues singer Muddy Waters, covering his songs Rodgers was accompanied by legendary guitarists as David Gilmore, Slash, Jeff Beck, Steve Millar, and Gary Moore. But nothing compared as to when Buddy Guy stepped up to the guitar and laid down the blues like no ones business. Having played with Muddy before Buddy knew just how to bring back the old time electric blues like no body else. Rodgers voice alongside Buddy's guitar is a treat to hear.

Chrome Kills The Horse

 

If you love the 80s hair metal days these guys can take you back in seconds. It was a great time seeing an old friend of mine Jason Sheppard aka Snake kill his Les Paul while Chesley Pack sings almost exactly like the Brian Johnson of yesterday laying down classic ACDC  songs as Thunderstruck. But they are not just another cover band that just walks through the club scene, no these guys have real songwriting skills and have just landed a grant from MusicNL to record a 6 song EP in the new year. So far the boys have 2 original songs recorded Quite Moist, Bottoms Up and Aim To Please which is exactly what they do. 2011 is going to be a great year for the band consisting of Chesley Pack (vocals), Jason Sheppard (lead guitar), David Pittman (bass) and Robbie Welcher (drums). With their new EP about to be released and more shows already lined up. Watch out for Chrome Cabot and if your local club hasn't yet had the pleasure of having them play, tell them to get in contact through facebook. Last night was a blast, with Pack as the flamboyant frontman and Sheppard tearing up the guitar next to him they are the perfect pairing in the tradition of Plant/Page, Roth/Halen, Johnson/Young, Rose/Slash, the list goes on and on. Congrats on the show last night Chrome you left us wanting more and that is the making of a perfect concert.

Dirty Blues, Oh Well

Before Fleetwood Mac was fronted by Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham they were fronted by a man who was starting the english blues boom, Peter Green. Fleetwood Mac was one of the first english blues bands that brought the styling and blues songs of Muddy Waters, Son House, Skip James, Lightning Hopkins, etc. The band was named after bassist John Mcvie and drummer Mick Fleetwood. But the guitar of Green is what got them the respect of other blues bands coming out of England. The song Oh Well has one of the most raw and gritty chords that I've heard in a long time, as soon as you first hear it, it takes a hold of your ears and smashes your ear drums. Its a song about not caring what anyone things about you or how they perceive you. A confidence song that makes you just feel good, even from the negative lyrics, about yourself.

Belly Full Of Blues

When you hear the word greatest musician of all time a lot of things has be be taken into consideration. One is songwriting, they can't just play a instrument well and be called the greatest musician. Another is controversy, there has gotta be mystery and suspense surrounding the musician. There's enough mystery surrounded Huddie Leadbetter to write a whole series of novels. Hes been called the king of the twelve string for his guitar playing and in regards of songwriting no one can be beat.

Leadbetter or better know as Leadbelly was not a giant man, maybe standing 6 feet tall, but he was a ox. Growing up working in the cotton feilds he didn't scare away from work. Leadbelly's first story of mystery was when he was sentence to prison in 1915 for concealing a pistol. He was sentence to a chain gang. It was bitter sweet because on the chain gangs was where Leadbelly learned most of his traditional songs. After seven years he won a pardon from Governor Pat Morris Neff by writing him a song. He got out of prison and started drifting around singing songs along with Woody Guthrie, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Josh White, Pete Seeger, etc. But in 1930 he was back in jail on counts of attempted homicide. 3 years later folklorist John Lomax discovered Leadbelly in Angola Prison. There Lomax was very impressed by Leadbelly and recorded hundreds of his songs. By request Lomax gave Governor Oscar Allen a recording of Leadbelly singing his signature song Goodnight Irene, impressed with the song another pardon was on its way for Leadbelly.

After prison Leadbelly was starting to write children songs and it didn't go over very well with the public after they discovered that a black man who is an ex con was singing to their children. But still he sung many children songs such as Skip To My Lou, Ha Ha This A Way, Sally Walker,  and Polly Wee.

Again in 1939 Leadbelly was back in prison for assault. Stabbing a man during a fight. John Lomax's son Alan came to his rescue and raised money for a lawyer to get him out of jail. He succeed and started a whole new relationship between the two. Alan recorded him many times and even had Leadbelly on his show Back Where I Came From.

In 1949 Leadbelly would die from a battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. He was buried at the Shilo Baptist Church in Mooringsport . A life size statue of him stands tall across from the Caddo Parish Courthouse in
Shreveport. The town where Leadbelly would have been found roaming the streets singing for dimes and nickles.

The music library of Leadbelly is enormous. Songs such as Midnight Special, Goodnight Irene, Cotton Feilds, Gallows Pole, Take This hammer, House Of The Rising Sun, Rock Island Line, John Henry, Matchbox Blues, Where Did You Sleep Last Night, and so many more were covered by such bands as   The Animals, Nirvana, CCR, Led Zepplin, Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Ram Jam, Van Morrison, Pete Seeger, ABBA and hundreds more. Huddie Ledbetter was considered till this day one of the most important figures in music history. He was idolized by bands that we idol today. He was feared, respected and loved. He had a hard life and that is what makes his music so great, he put every inch of his soul into what he sung and played.

Old Crow Steals The Show

Improving on a Bob Dylan is a hard thing to do. Dylans been covered a thousand times and only a few can do his songs and take it to another level. Jimi Hendrex did it with All Along The Watch Tower and Guns And Roses did it with Knocking On Heavens Door. Now Old Crow Medicine Show has done it with Wagon Wheel and done with with a bluegrass style. It fits extremely well for the song and almost sounds like it should be a bluegrass song. This is one of my favorite songs of the past year that i heard and I cant help but sing along with the lyrics every time I hear it play. I hope you enjoy Old Crow Medicine Show, the greatest new old band out there running the circuit today.

James Does Dylan

This video comes from the Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There. Its one of my favorite covers that came out of the movie. My Morning Jacket's Jim James did the vocals and he did it well. His ghostly voice matched the deathly scene of the movie and was considered by many as one of the best Dylan covers in a long time. I love the whole scene of faces painted and singing before the girls funeral as a tribute to the youngsters death. I watched this movie in the theater and one of the scenes that stood out in my mind was this one, and of course the one where Dylan first got the Beatles to smoke weed.

A Tribute To The Islanders

While scanning through youtube I stumbled across this gem. I was looking for a nice version of a traditional Newfoundland song of the same name. I've never heard of Nightwish in my life and probably wouldn't have but something told me I should check this video out and so I did and I am pleased. Nightwish is a Finnish band who alot of their songs are based on mythology and folk lore.  Such a beautiful song about the struggles of mariners, us Newfies know all about it so it kinda hits home. Beautiful instrument play and a very nice voice from the lead. The video is done very well, kinda going in the direction of the weird and abnormal but I like it. The old mariner in the video is what a typical sailor looks like and is also what a typical Newfie looks like.The video looks alot like a Tim Burton movie or the movie Big Fish. Take a look at the video and be blow away by the sights and sounds of a well produced song.

If You Wanna Be A Hero Follow Van Ronk

This song has got to be one of the most raw patriotic war songs I've ever heard. Dave Van Ronk was the leader of the New York folk scene in the 60's. Residing in Greenwich Village where clubs like the Cafe Wha?, Folk City, The Bitter End and the Gaslight Cafe were just a few that sparked the careers of Bob Dylan, Joan Beaz, Pete Seeger, Weavers, The Kingston Trio, Phil Ochs and many many more. But with all the big names to come out Van Ronk was always considered the king of the Village. His rough and scratchy voice fits perfectly with this bitter song. A song about a veteran coming back with battle scars and nothing left, still getting left in the dirt with no respect for what he has done. The song is as raw as it gets and I love it, its one of my favorite Van Ronk songs to date.

Say No More To Steve Marriott

I can't remember the fist time I heard Humble Pie, it must have been some lucky chance. But ever since they have become one of my favorite groups from the 60's and 70's. I love Steve Marriot's voice, its so strong and heavy, coming from such a small stature of a man as he only stood 5'4'' tall. It must have been amazing to be at a Small faces concert and watch Steve just wail on the guitar or a Humble Pie concert and see him belt out these old blues and soul tunes from such a small size of a man. But when you heard him sing and closed your eyes Marriott was a monster of a man with that voice. In this vidio I picked one of his more softer songs, an acoustic tune recorded at the BBC sessions of a song he just wrote that day. Marriott on ukulele and clem clemson accompanying him on acoustic guitar. Its a beautiful song, its rare to see Steve not taking full charge of the stage, covering every inch of it. He was an amazing showman, always putting on a great show for the crowd. Listen to the song and be blown away by the raw talent of Steve Marriotts songwriting.

Thou Shalt Love This Video

A good friend of mine Kirsten Joy sent me this video one day through facebook. I was a little hesitant at first because of the fact im not really into these cyber youtube stars. But I gave it a chance knowing Kirsten and her good taste in music. I'm glad I did. The lyrics are stupendous, clever and hilarious. Scroobius pip is the name of the rapper, throwing down with a thick english accent his raps are made up gibberish. His name actually comes from a poem of the same name written by Edward Lear and left unfinished by him after his death. It was later finished by Ogden Nash and tells of a unknown animal named the Scroobius Pip and its attempts at classifying itself. Just like the poem of the same name Scroobius' raps are nonsense but still great and is a mix of between hip hop and jazz. Check out Scroobius right now and you'll be glad you did just like i was.

The Keys To The Future

Hair bands did it in the 80s. Nirvana did it in the 90s. Today its The Black Keys turn. Patric Carney and Dan Auerbach brings a whole new style of music to the table. Some may argue that The White Stripes were the first, maybe so but The Black Keys, in my opinion, did it the best. With just one drum and one guitar they tear up the stage and studio, leaving behind fans stunned and recordings polished. Their brand of new punk/blues is a breath of fresh air from today's pop music or number one hits. It mixes blues, rock, heavy metal and soul all into a nice tight package for all to enjoy. Their new album Brothers is not a let down to say the least. It screams gold and critiques are raving about it. It has been nominated for numerous Grammy awards and Rolling Stone magazine has named it the number 2 album of 2010.
The album starts off with Everlasting Light, which was Rolling Stone magazines number 11 best single of 2010. The song starts off with a blistering drum beat from Carney. Auerbach comes in with his high pitch voice. The song has a grunge feel to it, with the guitar licks and drum beat. I can tell how it got picked as the #11 best single of the year.
Next girl fights in next with its killer guitar riff and solid drum beats. Dan's voice is less high pitched on this song. The songs about how his next girl isn't going to be like the one he has right now. Always picking looks over overall beauty. I like this song alot becuase of they lyrics and Dan's voice sounds great on it.
Their first single Tighten Up comes in next. The song starts with with a nice whistle melody, which i think should be incorporated into more music these days. This song has a bluesy feel to it but like most Black Keys songs its always updated. Its hard to keep your foot from stomping on this song, its one of my favorites on the album. The video is probably one of the best videos I've seen in a while, two friends fighting over one girl. Check it out and be blown away by how great this song is and keep those feet tapping. Tighten Up has been nominated for two Grammys, Best Rock Song and Best Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals. Not too shabby for two guys from Ohio.
Howlin For You comes it next. Blues has a huge influence on this song, maybe even a tribute to the late great Howlin Wolf. Love drum slap that sounds sort of like hand claps at the beginning of the song that goes right on through. I like this song alot, its catchy and has clever lyrics throughout.
Here comes in another Black Keys blues song, this one you can hear the influence of rough blues greats like RL Burnside and Junior Kimbrough. The guitar is rough, with screeching solos and feedback that would make Cobain shed a tear. But that is what makes The Black Keys who they are, its what made grunge, and today they are doing the same. Great song from a great group.
Black Mud charges in next. Its a great instrumental, so great its been nominated for a Grammy award as Best Rock Instrumental By A Group. The mix of drums, guitar licks and piano sounds amazing. It takes you back to the 1960's when free form instrumentals was an everyday occurrence. Well done.
Again with a raging drum beat followed by great keyboard. Aurbachs voice is up to high pitched again. Its amazing how he can sound different from one song to the next but diversity in today's music is a great gift to have. The production from Carney and Aurbach is noticed here, flowing each instrument into each other is hard to do but its highlighted on this song.
Next is Too Afraid To Love You. This songs sounds like some earthly gospel song. With Auerbach banging on the keys. Its a song over frighten lust, love that is hard to grasp. Confusion and loneliness is packed into this song and you can tell it was written straight from the heart. The song has a bitter sweet loveliness to it that cant be denied. Listen to it with your eyes closed and listen closely and you probably can hear the teardrops splash on the keys.
I love how they start this song off. One lick from the guitar and then the drums roll in. Its raw yet brilliant. Ten Cent Pistol carries in next. Its one of their well written storytelling songs. A song of death and murder. A song of cheating and heartbreak. These songs can been found in old country western tunes as well as blues favorites. Its probably what inspired Carney and Auerbach  to write such a great song. They succeed in what they set out to do and wrote what I think to be one of their best storytelling songs to date.
Blasting in next is Sinister Kid. The beginning guitar licks sound like a robot. With backing vocals from Nicole Wray. This song is about a kid who has a troubled past and future. The song is violent just like the kid. Ripping guitar and bashing drums. Its as raw as it gets right here. A song about a kid who fights and disregards authority cant be played any other way. The lyrics and music fits extremely well together.
Next is The Go Getter. A song about making it big in LA and the music industry. Its most likely a autobiographical song. A song about not being around family as much as he should be. Work has got him down. A lot of people out there can relate to this song. Everyone from hard working stiffs to straight up business men. In todays time of economy going down the drain everyones working to make a life for themselves, fighting for that next dollar. That is what this songs all about. Working hard to make a living but not living enough.
I'm Not The One tracks in next. Its not one of my favorite songs on the album. Its sounds a little forced. Like they needed filler which i dont agree with since theres 15 tracks on the album.
I love the beginning of Unknown Brother. Its a beautiful song. Again well written and well played. The progression the the guitar chords are simple but sweet. It seems like a song that was written for a child that has passed away early. Maybe a brother that he hasn't met yet. Auerbach tells the child don't worry we will play together again in heaven. Very sweet song.
Never Gonna Give You Up sounds a lot like a old Motown song mixed with a little disco ala Donna summer in there. Its also the only song that Dan and Pat didn't write on the whole album. It was written by Jerry Butler, the leader of the Impressions. A soul singer with a huge following. The Keys heard this song and had to cover it. They did an amazing job and it shows. Its a slow song that you can listen to and enjoy or take your girl in your hands and slow dance the night away.
The last track on the album is These Days. Its also a low tempo song where you can slow dance to. Its another tearjerker. The lyrics are probably the best written through the whole album. The Keys surely left the album on a great song.
This album is amazing, its on my top list of greatest albums of 2010. In today's music world of horrible music that has no soul or meaning. Just babbling lyrics and thrown together beats, its a relief to hear such bands as the Black Keys to release an album that stands true to everything that music is all about. Heart and soul. They respect the elder bluesmen of the delta, study the crooners of motown and look up to the classic rock gods of the 60's and 70's. Music needs more groups like The Black Keys to carry on the tradition of making pure great music, be it rock, soul, blues, folk, anything, its all music.
 

Trancending Music And Beefheart

When you hear the word psychedelic in music one man rises above all, Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart. With his Magic Band Beefheart blew minds and changed times. On December 17th 2010 Vliet passed away after a long battle with  multiple sclerosis. This blog is my tribute to Vliet, writing how i feel about his debut and in my mind his greatest album Safe As Milk. He was a composer, musician, painter, innovator and a music luminary. His music blended jazz, rock, blues, folk, psychedelia,  and whatever else crossed his mind that day. He had no boundaries, nothing was impossible. He was a dear friend of Frank Zappa, who he met at an early age as an artist. So without a due here is my critique of the late great Captain Beefhearts Safe As Milk.
The album starts off with the great slide guitar of a young Ry Cooder on Sure 'Nuff 'N Yes I Do. It has a blues style to it, especially with Cooders slick slide guitar. Sure 'Nuff' is based on Rollin and Tumblin, a well known Muddy waters song and you can tell from the opening lick. It sure enough takes you back to the days of the delta and you can tell how influential the delta blues singers were on Beefhearts musical style.
Zig Zag Wanderer slides in next, it has a different sound to that of Sure 'Nuff. Sounding more like a Animals or a Kinks song on drugs. With backing vocals coming from behind him this song sounds is great to just pop on and get taken away to another place. Surreal I do think so.
Call On Me comes in next with tambourine clanging on Beefhearts knee. You can tell how great of a songwriter this man can be on this song.  This song is up there with any Buffalo Springfeild song with great licks and a gravely but yet soft voice that only Beefheart can pull off. This song is great and Beefheart called it.
Dropout boogie sounds way ahead of its time. A surrealists dream song. Beefhearts voice sounds more like a monster or creature than a actual singer/songwriter. You can see the influence on Tom Waits  on  this song. Building his career from the growl of his voice and nonsense lyrics, but its sounds good to the ears. Away from the over dubbed and over worked songs of today. Beefheart did it straight from the heart and never looked back.
I'm Glad flows in now. It really don't sound like it belongs on this album. But its why I love Safe As Milk so much, you can hear so many different types of music from one album and one band. This song is Beefheart rendition of a motown RnB song, and he pulls it off nicely. His voice goes from gravely with a growl to a sweet heartbroken swoon-er. Very sweet song from a broken heart.
One of Beefhearts strangest songs closes out side one. Electricity, it is strange to say the least but still great. Beefhearts voice sounds electric at points and normal at others. Sounds like two different people singing but its all Beefheart all the time. The song was later covered by Sonic Youth on their album Daydream Nation. Take a listen and be blown away by Electricity!!!
Yellow Brick Road starts off side two. Sounding like a mash up of Zappa and a Beatles tune. Its strange yet sweet. Beautiful sound mixed with strange lyrics are a great mix for a fine song and Yellow Brick Road dont hold back.
Next chimes in Abba Zabba. With lyrics that dont make sense and a african inspired beat in the background how can you not love this song.
Plastic Factory horns in with Beefheart on harmonica. Again with his signature sharp voice that cuts like a razor. Beefheart shows how great at lyrics and the rhyming scheme he really is on this song. And this guy can really wail on the harmonica, his talent really shows on Plastic Factory.
His song Where There's Women comes in next with a very relaxing beat. Its his tribute to the women around the world. This song also shows off the great range in Beefhearts voice.
Next is the only song on the album that Beefheart did write or help write. Grown So Ugly was written originally by blues legend Robert Pete Williams. Its a rambunctious song, with Beefhearts voice muffled in the background and Cooders guitar laying down the blues licks just like they were back in the delta on the back porch. Just like Beefheart wanted it.
Last on the album is the song Autumn's Child. Very strange with a very sweet melody but then all of a sudden Beefhearts voice blasts in with reckless abandon. It has a very playful sound to it, they really had fun on this song with strange lyrics and an even stranger arrangment.
Don Van Vliet will be sorely missed. Even John Lennon loved Safe As Milk, showing his love he placed two promotional stickers for the album on a cabinet in his homes sunroom. Vliet was an amazing artist along with being a great musician. He painted and even sculpted. He leaves behind a huge legacy from recordings, videos and art. After his retirement from music Vliet escapted to Trinidad California, wheelchair bound from his disease close friends thought that he still seemed to be in good health. Unfortunately that wasn't true and today the world lost a great artist, in all accounts of the word. RIP Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart, may you enjoy creating great music in a better place.

Music and Friends Make The Whole World Right

I had to post one of my favorite Simani songs. The song means a whole lot to a great many Newfoundlanders. Theres not a whole lot to do around here but listen to music and friends.

Christmas, Newfie Style

Take yourself back to the 60's in Newfoundland and this is what you get. People were alot closer together then they are right now. Towns were friends and neighboring towns were friends. Everybody knew everyone else and hospitality was frequent. There was no such thing as locks, people didn't have to worry about brake ins or robbery's. Christmas time was no exception to say the least. The doors were kept unlocked through towns, people dressed up in whatever they could get their hands on and walked from house to house dancing to newfie jigs and reels, drinking whatever kind of drink they would have on the kitchen table. It was a grand old time and before they got too hot they would move to the next house to dance until they would get what they would called the devils own cold. Times were simpler back then, today those times are fading fast. Listen to Newfoundlands favorite sons Simani tear up the dance floor and create music that would last a lifetime. Its music that is close to my heart that gives me goosebumps everytime i listen. Though the times have changed, I wouldn't want these things to just fade away.

Hall Full Of Smoke Is Stained With Coffee

2011 is the year that Tom Waits becomes an inductee into the Rock and Roll hall of fame. Congrats Tom, its been a long time coming. Old 55 is one of my favorite Waits songs, written so beautifully and the gravel in his voice sounds so perfectly mixed with the beauty of the song. Any song where Tom is playing piano is a killer, hes the perfect barroom/coffee shop piano player, singing of lost souls and hard times. Drinking your sorrows away chasing it with a cigarette. Its the way that Tom lived and the way he wrote about.

Everythings Bigger In Texas

Mance Lipscomb, the Texas sharecropper bluesman, was born to an ex slave father and a half native american mother. He never really gained much fame untill the huge folk blues revival of the 1960's. He was dubbed a songster writing songs as if they were story's. Not alot is known about Lipscomb only the recordings that hes left for us to enjoy. Here's a great example of his songwriting and picking style.

The Wolf Will Be Howlin

A monster of a man is how you can describe Howlin Wolf. He stood 6 feet 6 inches and close to 300 pounds. He certainly was a huge man with a huge voice. Wolf would scare fellow musicians with just a stare of an eye. Wolf learned the blues from possibly the man who created the delta blues alongside Son House, Charley Patton. Wolf would listen to Patton tear up juke joints in the woods of Mississippi. He later met Patton who taught him everything he knows. After he would play with Patton all over the delta.

In his early career Wolf would play with such blues muscians as Son House, Robert Johnson, Robert jr Lockwood and Honeyboy Edwards. At age 30 he was station in the US army but found that it wasnt the life for him and got discharged 2 years later.

I've picked Shake For Me as the song to best represent Howlin Wolfs career for the simple fact that he struck fear in the hearts of men with his growling voice and huge stature. He was feared by some but respected by millions. After his death Wolfs family had nothing and its said that Eric Clapton paid for his tombstone. It just shows the sense of family between fellow musicians. Enjoy the legendary and blues great Howlin Wolf.

The Monk of Jazz

Thelonious Monk is a monster of the jazz piano. Today im apparently in a jazzy kind of mood. This video of the song Blue Monk is great, showcasing Monks amazing talent on the piano and how smooth he plays along with the bass and drums. Watching on in front is the legendary Count Basie, admiring and taking in how Monk is making that piano sing.

The Best Kind Of Blue

Considered by many as the greatest piece of jazz ever written Kind Of Blue was a milestone in Miles Davis' career. Recorded on March 2, 1959 Miles had the best in the business working with him on this album. From Cannonball Adderley to John Coletrain to Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb. They all made a name for themselves on this album. Its said to be the best jazz selling record of all time and influential to millions of jazz musicians who has listened and learned from it. Listen to it once and you will find out why.
Its hard to describe jazz, you cant really brake it down its just one fluent piece. Its a melting pot of sax, trumpet, drums, piano and what ever other instrument is thrown in. So I cant brake down each piece like I would on other albums. On Kind Of Blue you will just have to drop the needle and be taken away to a jazz club. Smoke fills the air like thick fog and glasses thump the tables like a hammer of sorrow. Getting swept away by Miles is one of the greatest musical experiences a lover of music can experience.
Kind Of Blue influenced a great many of legendary musicians. Duane Allman from the Allman Brothers noted that his soloing in the song "In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed" comes from Miles and Coltrane, mostly from the Kind Of Blue sessions. Even Richard Wright from Pink Floyd said the chord progression from Kind Of Blue influenced the structure on the intruduction to "Breathe" on their landmark album Dark Side Of The Moon. Even legendary jazz trumpeter/producer Quincy Jones once said that he listens to Kind Of Blue everyday. Pianist Chick Corea once said " its one thing to just play a tune, or play a program of music, but its another thing to create a whole new language of music, which is what Kind Of Blue did." Even rapper Q-Tip recognizes the importance of Kind Of Blue by stating " Its like the Bible you just have one in your house".
In 2002 Kind Of Blue was one of 50 recordings chosen that year by the Library Of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry. Rolling Stone magazine selected Kind Of Blue as the 12th greatest album of all time in its list of 500 greatest albums of all time citing that " This painterly masterpiece is one of the most important, influential and popular albums in jazz". Even in 2009 The United States House Of Representatives pass a resolution honoring the fiftieth anniversary of the album and " reaffirming jazz as a national treasure".
Miles Davis really did a huge favor to the music industry in making this album, giving other musicians decades later more drive to make amazing music just like he did. Take this album, pop it on the turntable or cd player or tape deck, whatever you have, and sit back with a nice coffee or tea or whiskey on the rocks and enjoy the smooth jazz of Miles Davis and friends.

Theres no sand in your pants on this beach

Its hard for me to pick my favorite Neil Young album, its like picking a favorite son or daughter to some people. But On The Beach is up there with the best of them including Tonights The Night, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, After The Gold Rush, etc. The album was recorded after Tonights The Night but released before, in true Neil Young fashion no one really knows why he does the things he does.
Starting off the album is Walk On.  The song is upbeat and uplifting. Its seems more of a way for Neil to deal with the problems and troubles in his life. Especially after the death of Danny (Crazy Horse guitarist and singer) and Bruce Berry (Neils roadie) both dear friends of Neil. In the song hes basically saying no matter what life throws at you just walk on through. Perfect opener to the album.
See the sky about to rain flows in next with a beautiful piano intro. The song has a twangy feel from it useing slide guitars played by Ben Keith. I like the song but its not one of my favorites.
Coming in next with a bullet is Revolution Blues. Written about Charles Manson its one of the darkest songs Neil has ever written, which is saying alot if you ever heard his Tonights The Night album. David Crosby once said that the song scared him so much that he would not play it at concerts. He could barely listen to it. Young wrote it about Manson after meeting the man  himself while he was living in Topanga Canyon. "We live in a trailer at the edge of town, you never see us cause we dont come around" is the first line of the song that grabs ahold of you and you feel taken away back to the days of the Manson murders. The song is brilliantly written and is one of my favorites on the album.
By far my favorite song on this album is For The Turnstiles. Its has a bluegrass feel to it with Neil playing banjo on it and Ben Keith singing backup. I love this song its just what Neil is all about, diversity. He can write a hard rocking song, then a bluesy song, bluegrass, the man can do what he feels like doing and make it sound good and For the turnstiles is proof that he can do it all. If there was one song on On The Beach that i would suggest for someone to hear it would be For The Turnstiles.
Next is a Neils attempt to write a silly blues song. Vampire Blues comes out of nowhere. "Good times are coming, i hear it everywhere i go, good times are coming, but they sure are coming slow", the line suggest that Neil knows things will get better but not for a while. Young loves writing about his life and thats what makes him a great songwriter, it separates him from the crowd.
The title track On The Beach starts off side 2 of the album. It has a lethargic kind of feel to it. A slower beat and song structure but amazing lyrics. The song runs about 7 minutes long but worth every minute of it. An array of beautiful solos are thrown in there time and time again showcasing Neils guitar work. Its why he is considered by many as one of the greatest and underrated guitarists of all time.
Motion Pictures is Youngs tribute or elegy to actress Carrie Snodgress who Neil had a huge crush on from first sight. Its a beautiful song but is very hard to follow cause Neils voice is a little low and hard to understand at times.
Next is the beautiful and lengthy Ambulance Blues. Full of acoustic guitar and a sweet voice straight from Neils soul. The song was hugely influences unintentionally by Bert Jansch's song Needle Of Death. Its a beautiful yet angry song, it speaks strongly about his critics, Richard Nixon and his relationship with CSNY. The line "your just pissing in the wind" comes straight from CSNYs manager regarding their relationships. Its also the longest song on the album racking up 9 minutes of angry lyrics and harmonica solos.
On The Beach was wrote off as a flop at its first release by critics. But in later years it was considered one of Youngs best albums by fans and critics worldwide. The recording sessions of the album reflected on the album. Rusty Kershaw (slide guitar and fiddle) would make his famous honey slides which was a goop of sauteed marijuana and honey that you would eat. It would put you in a state of mind that matched that of heroin. You can tell how the mood changed on the album the later it went into it, more slow and laid back. Enjoy On The Beach.

The Zombies - She's Not There

The Zombies number one hit was a smash in the early 60's. In this video you can hear the hysteria from the screaming girls in the background throughout the song.

Setting the Blues on fire

Take Son House mix him with a little Doc Watson add a little bit of Jimmie Rogers and you have Ben Prestage. Blues is on a comeback folks, not since the folk blues explosion of the 60's have we seen such a huge amount of blues musicians come out of the woodworks. Prestage came out fists flying and knocks you on your ass with his in your face down home country blues. This traditional song brings tears to my eyes and stomping to my feet. As i listen to it I can see myself at a fish fry back in the 1930's listening to John Hurt or Furry Lewis. Never in my life would I ever think that music can come out like that again and out comes todays blues musicians proving me wrong in a good way. I can listen to it all day everyday, its one of those things that can never get old. No matter if your Charley Patton or Ben Prestage. Good music like this goes down smooth like a good bottle of whiskey, but instead of hitting your lips it hits your ears and after enough your drunk on blues.

Golden voice, cursed life

Such an amazing talet talent that has been taken away too soon. Ironically Tim's son Jeff followed in his dads footsteps to the T. Cursed with a golden voice and an early death. Tim covers the great Fred Neil song called Dolphins and it really shows off his amazing talent as a singer. Its a beautiful song from the man with a beautiful voice. RIP Tim and Jeff Buckley, we all know you both are in heaven teaching the angels how to sing those high notes.

Gallager is the cloverleaf bluesman

The greatest irish blues guitarist to ever kiss the blarney stone. Rory Gallager has amazed fans and legendary guitarists all around. His amazing slide playing on this video blows me away. His voice sounds alot like Johnny Winter in a good way. Both has the soul and passion that one needs to sing the blues.

The Bonavista Chain locker Rises Again

The Bonavista Chain locker. The name derives from a now shut down bar in the small town of Bonavista where i personally grew up and spent many teenage dances half cut in the corner waiting to see whos going to be the next fight outside after it shuts down. These guys heard about the good times at the Chain locker and decided what a great name for a band, I personally love it!! The name is great and so is the band. I met three members recently and cant say enough good things about them. Steve Hoskin (guitar/vocals) plays amazingly and has a great voice that carries greatly over the array of different instruments (guitar, drums, bass, slide whistle, clarinet, sax, trumbet are just a few). Mary Beth Waldram plays clarinet and slide whistle and also chimes in on backing vocals that pairs nicely with Hoskins voice. Last but certainly not least who I met this past week was Mr Andrew McCarthy. The guy was nice enough to give me a ride to the dmv, need i say more?? Andrew plays drums in the band as he does in many bands in St John's. A master of the drums he is soon taking a trip to Ghana to study drumming. They all are great people as is their music. This song Pharmakon Floortom is just a taste of what this band can do. A kind of gypsy circus mixed with barroom roma. Its refreshing to hear music like this being played today in the fashion of classic Waits or todays Gogol Bordello. Check these guys out if your in St John's Newfoundland on December the 11, thats this weekend at CBTG's just across from George St on the deck. You will not be dissapointed. Wish I could make it boys. Hope my poster posting helped you out.

Leo Kottke - Vaseline Machine Gun

Leo Kottke has amazed me for about 7 years now. Since i bought his debut album. As soon as i heard one guitar player play with such passion and make one guitar sound like theres multiple playing it brought me to my knees. In this video Kottke plays a instrumental which is what hes most famous for called Vaseline machine gun. You can tell the talent in this mans fingers from the video easily. Enjoy my friends to the legendary guitar of Mr Leo Kottke.

Baseballs one and only no hitter on LSD

Chuck Brodsky is a folk singer that has an amazing talent for songwriting. With the songwriting of Bob dylan and the voice of a more coherent Tom Waits Chuck is tearing up the coffee spots with his hilarious songs and brutal talent. Here he sings about a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates named Doc Ellis who didn't know his team was playing the next day so him and his girlfriend takes LSD. They stay up all night and takes some more in the morning. The girlfriend finds a newspaper the next morning and read that his team was playing that day. Not only were they playing but Doc was pitching. So he rushes to the ballpark high on LSD, had to lie his way to the coach's and makes it out to the mound. Chuck tells the rest brilliantly in this song and the story is hilarious, but they best part is that its true. Enjoy the brilliant talent of Chuck Brodsky, folk singer extraordinaire!

Tom Waits I Hope I Don't Fall in Love with You

Thought I would just post this creepy claymation style video of a Tom Waits classic. Enjoy folks, its Tom at his best on his debut.

Ed nukes his ukes

Punk Ukulele? Sounds like peanut butter and ketchup right, two mixed doesn't sound good. Well think again, Mr. Ed White ladies and gentlemen. From doing Ramones covers from I Wanna Be Sedated to KKK Took My Baby Away he blows up the stage at the Cantab lounge in Boston. I met Ed on Artist Row this summer while he did a gig at the store me and my fiance Virginia had with another couple, Sara and Dan. Sara knew Ed from her college days but haven't seen him in years. They corresponded and a couple of weeks later Ed was at Artist Row with his trusty uke setting up. I talked to him at first for a while and was blown away at how nice of a guy he was, then he started playing. Punk played on a ukulele sounds amazing!! Not only does Ed play covers of punk songs but he writes his own as well. My favorite having to be I Thought Your Boyfriend Was A Lesbian or The Bronco Rides again (Tribute to the hatred of OJ). With the energy of a young man and the wit of a old man Ed plows through songs like a hurricane. Everyone should listen to the great Ed White, just like the lucky crowds at the famous Cantab!! Uke till ya puke Ed!!

These blues will rock ya so much it will make you Seasick

He's been tearing up the blues scene all over Europe. Keeping the old world blues tradition. With an old junk shop personality and look he plays the blues like no one else can, keeping your feet stomping and heart thumping. There's always hands clapping and people smiling when Seasick Steve starts strumming his 3 string broken down guitar and a wooden box he carries around to every show with a Mississippi license plate nailed on the front that he calls the Mississippi stomp box, he kicks with his foot and heal with every force like it was his last show. Its amazing that a old man like Steve can still make it in a world of multi million dollar rock stars with concert hype and budgets to support a small town for life. But hes finally made it after all the hoboin around the world with his trusty guitar and dog pal, playing the street corners like the true blue blues singers of yesteryear. Son House, Leadbelly, Blind lemon Jefferson, Robert Johnson, etc they all didn't have million dollar contracts, or even a place to live. They all started in the streets like Steve. Most blues singers never lived to see their true potential to reach the masses, to be respected by millions and envied by billions. Seasick Steve made it like all those blues legends of the 30's and 40's so i saw congrats and i suggest everyone to take the time and listen to a true talent that brought himself up from the gutter and make something of himself and his music.

The Son Is Shining

One man has a spot on top of the blues world. He’s not a multi millionaire like Eric Clapton. He’s not covered by millions like Robert Johnson or Willie Dixon. He’s not considered the greatest guitar player to ever live like Jimi Hendrix or Page. In retrospect he didn’t see much fame at all until in his later years and not much then.  His name is Eddie James House Jr., more commonly known as the great Son House.

House was born on March 21, 1902 in Riverton Mississippi. By the age of 7 he and his mother left his father and moved to Tallulah, Louisiana. There a young Eddie House was determined to become a Baptist preacher and by the age of 15 he began his preaching career. He rejected the church’s firm stance against blues music; House was attracted to it and taught himself the guitar by his mid-20’s. Inspired by a traveling musician named Willie Wilson, Son House traveled around Mississippi and Tennessee with such legendary blues musicians such as Charley Patton,  Robert Johnson, Willie Brown and Fiddlin’ Joe Martin.

To give House more of a blues credibility he spent 2 years at the Parchment Farm State Penitentiary. He spent all of 1928 and 1929 in the prison after allegedly killing a man and receiving a 15 year sentence. The story goes Son House was working a juke joint one night when a man came in and started shooting everyone. House got shot in the leg then shot and killed the man. It was self defense but Son still did the time.

Son’s early recordings can be heard on Paramount in the 1930’s and later he was recorded by Alan Lomax for his Library of Congress recordings in 1941 and 1942.

After that he faded into black. He was rediscovered in the 1960 after the huge country blues revival. He was found after a long search in the Mississippi delta region by Nick Perls, Dick Waterman and Phil Spiro. They could not find him in the delta but later found him in Rochester, New York where he has lived since 1943. He had been working for the New York Central Railroad there and hasn’t played music in years. He had no idea that so many great musicians had been listening to his early recordings and built a career from his style.

He toured frequently in the US and Europe as the revival was growing and growing. Playing the Newport Folk Festival alongside of Mississippi John Hurt, Rev Gary Davis, Bukka  White, Skip James, Mississippi Fred Mcdowell, etc. They were loved everywhere they played alongside such amazing artists as Bob Dylan, Pete Seegar, Joan Beaz, Dave Van Ronk, etc.

The success of the touring took a toll on House. He started having a drinking problem and it showed at the Newport Folk Festival one evening. A dear friend of his and great blues musician Howlin' Wolf was performing on stage. Son was horribly drunk and making a lot of noise off stage to a point where Wolf stop playing to tell House that all he cared about was whiskey. Also that he could have had a great career but he threw it all away.

Drinking really distorted his style and had an effect on how House played. He couldn’t play like he did on those field recordings by Alan Lomax. To help him out Producer John Hammond Sr. asked Canned Heat guitarist Alan Wilson, who was a huge Son House fan,  to teach Son House how to play like Son House. So Alan went to work and the result was the Columbia recording The Father Of The Delta Blues – The Complete 1965 Sessions.

House later moved to Detroit, Michigan where he retired once again in 1974. Ill health plagued him and House died as a result of cancer of the larynx on October 19, 1988. The Detroit Blues Society performed benefit concerts to raise money to raise a fitting monument on his grave. RIP.

The influence of Son House can be seen everywhere in the music world. From Gary Moore to Andrew Bird to The White Stripes to Warren Haynes and Govt Mule. Lynyrd Skynard’s song  Swamp Music was a  tribute to Son House.

Long live the memory of the greatest blues musician to ever sing of love and pain. To ever write of whiskey and murder.  Be it belting out field hollars or Gospel tunes or just deep and dirty gut wrenching blues. The master of the slide guitar with just using a broken bottle neck as well as a great a capella  singer as heard in John The Revelator and Grinnin In Your Face. He could do it all before anyone knew what it was.

Get Yer Ya Ya's In The Record Player

Yesterday I took my weekly (at least) visit to the local record store The Record Exchange. With a huge supply of beautiful albums they never fail to impress me. I was looking through the usual Neil Youngs and Lenard Cohens but I was so drawn to the Stones today for some weird reason. There I picked up an album that I was totally surprised I didn't already have, Get Yer Ya Ya's Out. This is the first full length live album done by the Stones and they done it well. Recorded in Maryland in '69 and later in New York in '70 they ripped though their usual set on this album leaving the crowds happy and full filled without the tragedy that was Altmont. That's always a good thing.

At the beginning of the album they were introduced with screams blaring in the background. The screams were silenced with Jagger's own screams with the help of Richards' screaming guitar on Jumpin' Jack Flash. They picked the right song to open up with, killing the crowd with an amazing riff from one of the greatest songs ever written.

Next they cover one of their major influences Chuck Berry. Carol got the crowd dancing in the aisle's with a great twangy sound to it. The Stones really do Chuck Berry well as is heard on this live set. Then, later on the tour had Chuck replace BB King which must have been an honor.

Stray Cat Blues flows in next. One of the Stones' attempt at a deep down dirty blues song. It wasn't a huge hit for them but it did have a great guitar riff throughout it, Richards really did shine on this song like he did on Exile On Main St.

Next comes in one of my favorite songs of all time. Another cover by the Stones, Robert Johnson's Love In Vain. It has been done a million times by different artists., but one of my favorite covers come from the Stones. Done acoustically with just Keith and Mick at first it had that singing on your front porch feel to it. Then later the drums chime in with Keith switching it up with an amazing slide piece which goes really well with the blues. I'm a huge Robert Johnson fan and love hearing his influence in classic rock. You can really hear it here.

To end out the first side the Stones break in with one of my favorite songs by them The Midnight Rambler. Keith Richards has got to be the riff king. He powers his way through this song with an amazing solo, you can faintly hear Mick blowing the harp in the background but there's no way hes playing over Keith's gritty guitar. An amazing song from an iconic group.

Starting off Side two you can hear some silly girl yell out Paint It Black, the Stones didn't listen and started off with one of the most haunting of their songs Sympathy For The Devil. I've heard better versions of this song live but you just the fact of denying that girl at the beginning makes the song even that much greater. They start off slow like a lot of their songs and start getting more into through the middle. Keith's solos are always great and this one does not disappoint, he kills the song just like they kill Satan, or do they?

They come in next with Live With Me, one of their lesser known songs. Lesser known doesn't really mean bad. This song is great. With backing vocals from Keith, Mick kills they lyrics while Keith kills the strings. They rampage through this song, it sounded great and is better song live than on the album.
Next is another Chuck Berry cover song Little Queenie. It does have the twangy Berry feel to it, although I liked their version of Carol better, they seemed a little less impressed with this song and kind of walked through it. I wasn't at all impressed with it and think its one of the lesser songs on this album, hey 1 out of 10 ain't bad.

At the beginning of Honky Tonk Women Mick praises Charlie Watts because of his greatness on the drums though out the whole album. Honky Tonk Women is one of the Stones' most famous songs but really isn't my favorite in the studio or on this album.

They end the album with Street Fighting Man which left the crowd wanting more and more. Its one of those songs that can really get a person riled up and amped. They achieved what they wanted in giving everyone a great show, great album Stones.

This album was great, I've got the original copy with heavy vinyl which really makes a guy think he's right there. Nothing sounds as good as a great clean vinyl. Plus the cover alone was worth the money. Charlie Watts jumping in the air with two guitars in his hands and a huge smile on his face on one side of the road with a donkey with a drum set strapped to  its back and a guitar, pair of binoculars and a camera around its head. Which was inspired by Bob Dylan's lyrics from Visions of Johanna. The album Get Yer Ya Ya's Out was inspired also by the blues legend Blind Boy Fuller's song Get Yer Ya Yas Out.

Runaway With The Title

In my opinion these girls revolutionized the music industry. Yes there were girls in rock before them, but they didn't kick as much ass and force themselves to be in your face as much as The Runaways did. Forming in Los Angelos in the middle of the 70's they took the music scene by surprise. Facing ridicule from an industry run by men they pushed through and came out on top of the scene.

Joan Jett was the brains behind the band and real leader. Writing most of the songs and playing a mean rhythm guitar. With that bad ass punk edge of hers she was the face of The Runaways and was the reason the band originally formed. After the band broke up Jett was the most successful as a solo artist. Writing such hits I Love Rock And Roll, Crimson and Clover, and I Hate Myself For Loving You. A Legend in the punk scene Joan still plays and tours all over the world.

Sandy West founded The Runaways along with Joan Jett. As the drummer she was the backbone of the band laying down the beat. After breaking up, Sandy worked as a sessions drummer with The Who's John Enthwistle. She was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2005. She died in 2006.

Cherie Currie was the lead singer. Coming into the band at the young age of 15 she was rattled with drug abuse early in her career. It later lead her to a downfall that she could not bounce back from.
The Runaways throughout their career went through numerous members. They defined girl punk and influenced countless bands such as Courtney Love, Germs, The Go Go's, L7, Pink, etc.

You should check out Runaways, the movie, it really gives you an insiders view of the formation and early years of the band!

There's a Storm Brewing

Art and music go so well together. They are like two conjoined twins that are too proud to be torn apart. But nothing's more brilliant than Album art. The size of a record is just too perfect to display beautiful artwork. It's not just all about the music anymore, a beautiful cover can sell a record just as well as a strong voice. I find no greater pleasure than listening to a great album and just staring at the album cover blankly trying to conjure up what the band or the cover artist was thinking about when they reached the conclusion to the completion of the then thought to be greatest album ever to be recorded on God's green earth.

So album art has been around since the beginning of albums. Around the '60's is when they just didn't feel the need to keep putting the artists face on the cover anymore. Something more surreal would be better. To keep the buyers not just interested in the artist but the art as well. The greatest surreal album artist of all time in my personal opinion and plenty of others as well has got to be Storm Thorgerson.

The man who did great albums for bands such as Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, Peter Gabrial, Muse, Audioslave, Paul Macartney, Steve Miller, Styx, Yes, etc.

He was the main player in the graphic art group called Hipgnosis. From Houses Of The Holy to the iconic Dark Side Of The Moon they created amazing artwork that has been regarded as mind blowing by millions.
Storm artwork has been displayed in gallery's all over the world.

Blues Is Her Business And Business Is Booming

Her voice pairs well deep down in the delta. You can find her in the pubs and clubs of New England belting out a great diversity of songs such as the one posted (Willie and the Hand Jive), Midnight Special, Ring of Fire, Walking the Dog, etc. She recently started playing at GASWorks on Artists' Row in Salem, MA. There you can find her voice stopping people in their tracks. She can even be compared as the Siren of the blues, trapping people with her voice from far away and carrying them down the corridors of the Row to marvel in her ability to sing her heart out. I’m lucky enough to call her a friend.

Lisa Marie’s a Boston based blues singer that shares her talent all the way from RI up to Maine. Her voice is mostly compared to Janis Joplin (although she doesn’t really sing a lot of Janis) she explains that she loves just singing songs that she listens to and loves. I have no complaints, there’s no better feeling than sitting on a chair at the Row across from Lisa and listening to her wide array of songs (something different every time). She comes with her little box of musical nick naks and just sings better than anyone I’ve seen in years.

There’s no slowing down for her, from the first song she belts out to the very last she gives it her all. It’s not rare to see a crowd of dancing fiends shake their stuff while Lisa makes the songs her own. She always has an amazing guitarist sitting next to her be it Eric Reirden, Silvertone Steve, etc. Also the great Mamadou Diop sits in every time he has a chance and wails on the African drum on the other side of Lisa and never misses a beat with every song she puts down. I advise everyone who reads this to check out Lisa’s website at http://www.zyworld.com/lisamarie13/ and watch the video that I’ve posted above. She’s always amazing live. Not only is she an amazing singer but a really great person all in all. Thank you Lisa Marie for the fun times.

Closing Time opens up

Finally I’m going to review my first Tom Waits album. That gruff voice can never get old to listen to. There were a few albums that I was considering (Nighthawks at the Diner, Rain Dogs, Mule Vibrations, The Heart of a Saturday Night) but I thought it would be appropriate to review his debut. Tom did not let anyone down with this album, usually debut albums are a little less than desired but Tom hit this one out of the park. Waits has got to be one of my top five artists, if I really had to choose, up there with Neil  Young, Son House, Beatles and Leadbelly.  I just couldn’t wait to review one of his albums.


Ol’ 55 starts off the record. Now this song has been covered numerous artists, most famously by The Eagles on their One Of These Nights album.  The Eagles made it famous but Tom sang it the best ( too much harmony for such a down song).  From the first line “well my time went so quickly, I went lickety splitley out to my ol’ 55”, the line just rolls off the tongue.  It’s one of the great driving songs of all time, a story about just getting away and throwing caution to the wind. The song actually has a funny story behind it.  Tom had a friend that needed some gas money go drive the date he was out with back home. He was in an old 55 Buick. The car could only drive in reverse so his friend drove all the way home in reverse, hence the line “Now there's trucks all a passin’ me, And the lights all a flashing”. Amazing song, one of my favorite Waits songs.

Next we have a sweet melancholy song called I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With You.  It’s a song about Tom finding a girl in a bar (of course) and wanting to pick her up and sleep with her, but he’s afraid that he will fall in love and have his heart broken.  He keeps mowing over in his mind about how to pick her up but just can’t figure out the right way. He finally grabs a seat next to her and orders a stout. Of course he falls in love in the end.

Virginia Avenue comes in next. Bringing in a jazzy feel to the album. The song just oozes cool. After a hard night drinking at a club there’s nowhere to go so he just walks down random streets contemplating on skipping town and hitting up another club with a later closing time.  The last line “The blues I leave behind, keeps catching up on me” just says it all.

In comes a country feel to the album, Old Shoes (& Postcards). This song is about a breaking up and getting back together. The vicious circle of a bad relationship.  It’s all there in the song, written out so clear. Cheating, lies, love, lust, this song has it all.


Toms jazzy lullaby flows on in with Midnight Lullaby. His attempt at a cute sweet song is failed, with quotes in them as “you can burn the midnight oil with me” and “Sing a song of six pence, pocket full of rye”. It just means that Tom’s not meant to write a cute sweet adorable song. Nor does he need to.

To round out side two it’s the first of two solo songs done on piano.  Martha, Martha was a long lost love of Tom’s in the song. Who knows if she was real or not but in this song it’s as real as it gets.  He gets a little teary eyed while calling her up on the phone.  Even though its been over 40 years since they last had contact he has never forgotten her.  She was his perfect mate, between laughing and sharing poetry.  At the end of the song it turns out it was never meant to be so they go their separate ways.   He still loves her and can’t seem to forget the nights of trembling close to her.  Let’s leave it at that.


Side two starts with Rosie, yet another song about a woman.  A late night thinking about Rosie and how could he win her heart. Beautiful piano and pedal steel guitar flows well together through this song.


The second solo song on this album is Lonely. It’s the only disappointment to me on this album, a little too strange and dragged out without making much sense. Not my favorite, its why I always skip pass this song and listening to it again I remember why.


Ice Cream Man drives on in next.  It has a 50’s be bop beat to it that makes you want to get up and dance around the room wishing you had a root beer float in one hand and your sweetie pie in your other.  The happiest song on this album since the others are kind of gloomy and about heartache.  I love the celeste bells at the end of the song, well done Tom.


Little Trip To Heaven sounds like Sinatra; Tom was the new age Rat Pack.  Booze, drugs and women all wraped in one skinny little kid.  I’m sure if sure if the original Rat Pack heard this song they would be proud. Maybe even cover it, everyone else covered Toms songs. He even throws in the Shoobedopapada in at the end. Sweet!!


Another song that I’m kind of on the fence about is Grapefruit Moon. The string arrangement in the background goes very well with Toms piano. A tune can breaks his heart and the only thing that can fix it is a grapefruit moon and one star shining.  I’m still a little confused about the whole lyrics in a whole. It’s hard to comprehend but that’s what makes Tom Waits, obscure.

The last tune is a instrumental that consists of piano, cello, bass and trumpet. Beautiful sounding. Tom pounds at the piano while the trumpet comes in and out . Tom on his debut shows everyone he can cover any genre of music, be it country, jazz, rock, 50s be bop, his diversity shines through on every album. Some artist are diverse from album to album covering different genres. Tom can do it on one. Well done.


p.s. Classic Rock named Tom Waits’ Closing Time as one of the greatest debuts off all time. I know why. Listen to the whole album and you’ll know why as well. Congrats on getting nominated to the rock and roll hall of fame.

My kind of Voodoo

Tonight I have to introduce to those who haven’t had the pleasure of hearing yet an amazing group of Londoners called The Urban Voodoo Machine. They call their type of music bourbon soaked gypsy blues bob and stroll. Unfortunately this group hasn’t made its way overseas to the states quite yet but believe me when they do you will know. They are however blowing up the European market with great live music and a huge stage of between 7 and 12 musicians playing every instrument between guitars, drums, fiddle, trumpet, banjo, washboard, upright bass, gong, mandolin, accordion, harmonicas, saxophone, tuba, sousaphone and even empty bottles & tie racks. I like to call them rockabilly horror punk myself but you can decide for yourself what (if any) genre you can classify them under.

Orphans Lament’s video is just outstanding. From the production to the lyrics to the transitions of characters in the story is phenomenal. The song has a pirate feel to it; it kind of sounds like a horror sea shanty which goes very well with the group.

The song is a tale of Snake Eyed Jack, the bastard child of a sailor and a whore. The life he lives is mean and cruel often being told that he’s the devils child. The father leaves him at an orphanage to rot. The orphanage could not hold him so he runs away with the circus at 13 becoming one of the scariest clowns that you’d ever seen.

The video defiantly has a creepy feel to it. Having the lead singer Paul-Ronney Angel change in the video from himself to a pirate to a whore to a blood covered just born baby and other numerous characters. It worked out really well and told this sad horrific story beautifully. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I do again and again.