Hey there. So the story begins in Louisiana, 85 years ago. Buddy Guy was born to a sharecropper’s life, but music touched his soul and showed him a way to something better.
Or as Buddy says, “the Blues turned my life upside down.”
Buddy’s life story is told in his own words, in the documentary The Blues Chase The Blues Away. A really terrific film that manages to encapsulate the magic-carpet ride that’s been his life.
His stories alone are worth the price of admission. But if you need more of an incentive, there are some great vintage clips and some wonderful guest star commentary and insights to enjoy.
The Blues Chase The Blues Away is a great way to spend 90 minutes. It’s a tale of hard knocks. It’s a tale of endurance. And it’s a tale of the musical education of a man who became (and still is) a true Blues touchpoint.
It should be required viewing for any Blues fan.
Online Corner
Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash
Every week I cull through the Internets. Discarding all the useless babble as I go and only keeping the good stuff. The stuff we Blues lovers care about. Best job ever!
Here’s this week’s 20%.
Videos
- Tedeschi Trucks Band: A peek at a Beacon Theatre dressing room rehearsal with the Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson.
- Blues Traveler: They’re “Sittin’ On Top Of The World.” (In Hobart, Indiana – go Brickies?)
- Jimmie Vaughan: Jimmie’s mixing together his love for classic cars and classic Blues with “Roll Roll Roll.”
Articles
- Les Paul’s Number One: This guitar is set for auction at Christies on the 13th. It’s expected to break the $6M (Wow!) record.
- Gov’t Mule: Read how the band got busy this past year and recorded two albums at the same time. (Over achievers.)
Podcasts/Livestreams
- Guitars And Meatballs?: The story of how one classic Les Paul guitar rose from the dead. (With meatballs.)
- The Blues Rock Show: A charming interview with Brit Blues-Rock guitarist Davy Knowles. (New album soon.)
- Jimmie Vaughan 2: A mini set from a Live At Paste Studios taping in Austin, Texas. (Jimmie ain’t slowin’ down.)
New Blues Albums
I ran my digits through a bunch of new albums this week and cherry-picked the ones I liked.
I especially liked Whitey Somers – he and his band can sure play. And Hubert Dorigatti was a surprise – it’s a pretty slick production of an album.
Out Now
- Whitey Somers: The Call Of The Blues …A well-crafted, Blues buffet of an album with some terrific playing.
- Carolyn Wonderland: Tempting Fate …Bluesy with a side of Texas Americana. Some tasty guitar & boom-boom vocals.
- Hubert Dorigatti: Stop …Not all Blues but a little gem of an album. I loved the variety. (And Hubert’s accent grew on me.)
- Joesph Veloz: Joesph And The Velozians …A short (only 8-song) mixed bag of an album, but it’s solid inside and out.
Coming Soon
- Buffalo Nichols: Buffalo Nichols (Oct 15th)
- Sue Foley: Pinky’s Blues (Oct 22nd)
ATWB: New Blues Playlist
Speaking of playlists, remember when we’d stack LP’s on a turntable and play through every one? Well, now we have much more control over our musical destinies. But paradoxically, it’s harder to decide what to play.
ATWB to the rescue!
I make decisions about new Blues music every week and grapple them to my ATWB: New Blues Playlist with hoops of steel. So you can just sit back and enjoy.
Tune in on Spotify, — and please take a moment Follow or Share.
I’ll Leave You With: Some Eric Clapton & Mark Knopfler
Here we are at the Royal Albert Hall in 1997 for the Music for Montserrat benefit concert.
There were a lot of brilliant stars on stage that night. Front and center in this video is Eric Clapton playing “Same Old Blues.” This is his song. Not to be confused with the Don Nix tune or the Phantogram tune, or the “(I Got The) Same Old Blues” by J.J. Cale. (Wow! That’s a lot of Blues goin’ around.)
Mark Knopfler’s backing up Clapton. (Not a bad rhythm guitarist for your band huh?) And then there’s that old Genesis drummer in the back … Phil somthing.
The concert raised nearly 2 Million dollars for Montserrat relief.
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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