Hey there. Sometimes you just gotta go back to your roots. That’s what Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney (AKA The Black Keys) did when they put together their latest album, Delta Kream.
This whole album is a love letter to the Delta Blues. The raw, greasey, swampy Blues that forms the understructure to most of the music we call popular today.
And it’s music near and dear to the hearts of Messrs. Auerbach and Carney. The kind of songs they played together back in their basement rehearsals in high school.
They recorded it all in jam fashion with just a few other musicians. It’s very informal sounding. And you almost feel like you’re eavesdropping more than listening. But though relaxed, each song kicks into a rhythmic gear that feels relentless. It reminds you of the power of this music.
The Black Keys have been one of the most musically independent Indie bands on the scene for the last 20 years. And they certainly put their own unique stamp on Delta Kream. It’s a little bit of an acquired taste, but if you’ve got the appetite, I promise it’ll go down like a 5-course Michelin meal.
Online Corner
This week’s latest crop.
Videos
- Tedeschi Trucks Band released “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out” from their upcoming Layla Revisited album
- Ellis Mano Band is looking for some answers (aren’t we all) so first they’re asking “The Question”
- Live From Nerdville’s got Joe Bonamassa interviewing Samantha Fish this week – this is a great episode
- The Reverend Shawn Amos sings Willie Dixon’s classic “I’m Ready” so are we ready too?
- Arbor Creek just got through climbing a mountain looking for a “Honey” like you
- Lauren Anderson is fed up with your love so she’s decided to go “Back To Chicago”
Audios
- Rosedale Junction tells a sad story we can all relate to when our woman leaves home for a “Bourbon Man”
- Eric Roebuck’s brand new single, “Need A Change,” is a hard-hitting, little guitar gem of a tune
- Cat Clyde & Jeremie Albino do a nice job with the Elmore James classic, “It Hurts Me Too”
- Rob Stone has a piece of money-saving financial advice about avoiding a “Money Hustlin’ Woman
Articles
- Robert Finley discusses what it’s like to finally find success after some 50 years of playing the Blues
- MusicRadar has the inside scoop on the Pentatonic shapes you need to play Blues guitar
Podcasts/Livestreams
- Live From Nerdville’s got Joe Bonamassa interviewing Samantha Fish this week – it’s a great episode
- Eric Johanson puts on an extremely easy to watch, down-home style Livestream from his home in New Orleans
Spotlight: The Delta Blues Museum
“Welcome to the land where Blues began.” So goes the catchphrase used by the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Their Mission? To preserve the heritage and the history of the Blues.
The Museum’s been around since 1979. But the cool part is that you don’t actually have to travel to Mississippi to visit. The powers that be at the Museum have built a pretty darn good set of virtual tours and virtual field trips over the years. So you can access a lot of content from your couch. (Perfect for potatoes like me.)
A lot of the videos are short too. So you don’t have to make a large time investment to be edified. And now, the museum’s back open to the public! Double good deal.
New Blues Albums
This week’s collection.
Out Now
- Robert Finley: Sharecropper’s Son
- The Reverend Shawn Amos: The Cause Of It All
- Big Chief Monk Boudreaux: Bloodstains And Teardrops
- Clarence Spady: Surrender
- Donna Herula: Bang At The Door
- Rob Stone: Trio In Tokyo
- Thorbjorn Risager: Taking The Good With The Bad
- Tom Craig: Good Man Gone Bad
- Oliver Wood: Always Smilin’
Coming Soon
- Patti Parks: Whole Nother World (May 28th)
- Eddie 9V: Little Black Flies (May 28th)
- Dust Radio: Shotgun Shack (May 28th)
- Eric Johanson: Covered Tracks: Vol. 2 (Jun 4th)
- Joe Bonamassa: Now Serving: Royal Tea From The Ryman (Jun 11th)
- Alligator Records: 50 Years Of Genuine Houserockin’ Music (Jun 18th)
ATWB: New Blues Playlist
This week on the ATWB: New Blues Playlist the new songs are coming from The Black Keys, Lauren Anderson, Eddie 9V, and more. There’s even a little live-something from the Tedeschi Trucks Band.
The Playlist is updated each week with the songs I enjoyed the most.
Check them out on Spotify — and please Follow or Share.
Photo by Mohammed Metri, on Unspash
I’ll Leave You With: Some Buddy Guy
Actually, it’s Buddy Guy, Jack Bruce, and Buddy Miles. All in a little gift from 1969. This was all part of a larger show that was turned into a music documentary – Supershow: The Last Great Jam Of The 60’s.
Stephen Stills, Eric Clapton, The Modern Jazz Quartet, and others were part of this British gig too, but I dig the “Buddies and Bruce” parts the most. (I love that Buddy’s the only one in a suit and tie.)
Buddy’s at his fiery best here with “Mary Had A Little Lamb.” And Jack Bruce is playing bass as fast as Buddy Miles can drum. (Almost too much cool.)
Jon Beres
I’m one part Blues Fan and one part Digital Native (with a dash of Curmudgeon.) I’m also the publisher of AlltheWayBlue.com. If you love the Blues, I have a feeling we’ll get along just fine - cheers!
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