Re: Interesting article on the blues

[the Leones <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

>"The shift has brought negative repercussions as well. Hadju notes 
>that because so many of today's blues fans come from a rock 
>background, blues guitarists are celebrated at the expense of 
>vocalists, harmonica players and keyboardists. And blues has been 
>watered down".

   A lot of the blues (of today) is nothing more than rock musicians 
PLAYING (AT) blues. To do the blues, you have to BE blues. Just 
dressing up in a ratty costume and trying to look poor (while sipping 
a Latte) doesn't make you " The blues". In fact, I hate to see guys 
wearing STUPID selections of clothing in an effort to look "Bluesy". 
True blues men just wore the clothing that was prevalent for the 
times (while possibly a little rumpled).

   Another of my pet peeves is guys playing blues wearing a "Beret". 
IF you're gonna play blues and IF you're gonna wear a Beret...you 
BETTER be good. I think after hearing Norton Buffalo play, he is the 
ONLY guy (lately) quallified to wear a Beret. Besides?? Isn't a beret 
French?

   Which begs the question "Who was the first blues-man (woman) to 
wear a Beret"?
and more importantly..WHY??

>
>"In a similar vein, I detest having nonblues artists on a blues 
>bill. Los Lobos is one of the finest, most intriguing rock acts to 
>ever strap on guitars, but there's no reason the East Los Angeles 
>veterans this spring should have headlined the Stockton Blues 
>Festival".

   Interesting, and I agree. The other night,I was watching a program, 
something about "Road to New Orleans" or some drivel. Yes, they DID 
hit on a bit of Zydeco & Dixie-land, BUT OVER HALF the program 
gravitated back to the Neville Bros. AND the best IS; they were 
playing RAGGAE/R&B/Afro-Beat stuff. This is NOT what NOLA is known 
for.

   I was starting to get "Vomituous" and "whacked" the channel button.

  Smokey-joe

>
>End of quotes..
>
>At the Long Beach blues festivel this year the headliners were the 
>Neville brothers, a pop/R&B group.  Go figure.
>
><http://www.recordnet.com/daily/lifestyle/articles/090503-l-2.php>http://www.recordnet.com/daily/lifestyle/articles/090503-l-2.php
>
>Mark
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