#greatbluestakeover

[catevscole]

I can’t promise this will be the last blues song on the takeover. Cole’s back next week in case you’re tired of me! These guys were super fun live, a real highlight of Saturday at the festival. By the way, the name is ironic- there’s only three people making all this noise.

[catevscole]

I’m certainly no expert on what exactly classifies you as blues, musically speaking. This sounds like something I’d call Blues Rock. It’s heavy on the rock guitar, but then there’s that harmonica in there. And who doesn’t loves some good harmonica? I sure do. These guys were unexpectedly fantastic live- I’d highly recommend a show if they’re in your area. I’d see them again in a heartbeat!

[catevscole]

It’s that time of year again! I’m back from Telluride Blues & Brews, so the Great Blues Takeover on CvC is comin’ atcha! I’m going to kick it off with some pretty classic stuff. Alabama Slim was one of my favorite acts of the weekend. His fantastic blues guitar and steady blues groove really worked for me on Sunday afternoon after a full weekend of variety. The guy’s not young- he’s been in this game for a while. My favorite quote from this soft spoken gentleman was “that’s the blues for you- it can always get worse.” Enjoy this mini-journey into the world of blues over the next couple of weeks!

[catevscole]

One last Blues Takeover post before I move on to sharing all this great new music that has found its way to me. NMAS rocked that Telluride stage so hard it shook. I think they were my favorite act of the weekend- which surprises even me to say! They are the most unsuspecting blues rock musicians ever. They look they should be working in a physics lab and determining the molecular weight of beer for fun on the weekends. But they played a killer set. I’d see them again in a heartbeat, and you should absolutely put them on your live music radar.

This cut is with Anders Osborne- he played the closing show on Sunday night. Another big name in blues, and one worth a listen if you want some classic down home southern style!

[catevscole]

Sorry for the brief hiatus folks, a vacation was in order! This is blues rock at its finest. The Rev played a grungy set up at B&B, often literally playing his guitar with his tambourine... as in, left hand picking out chords, right hand pounding the guitar strings with the base of his tambourine. The effect was mesmerizing and even though I was watching it happen live, I still couldn’t believe the guitar riffs I was hearing were coming from the instrumentation I was witnessing. Get down on this scintillating track!

[catevscole]

A brief search on the internet reveals that “Blues is a genre and musical form originated by African-Americans at the end of the 19th century... characterized by a call and response pattern... Blues shuffles or walking bass reinforce the trance-like rhythm and form a repetitive effect known as the groove.” [thanks wikepedia] 

I’ve never thought to define “the groove” with words- it’s always been something I’ve just felt. I feel it when I’m at a show and the crowd seems to be swaying as a single person and the music hits me somewhere deep and makes me close my eyes so the feeling only gets stronger. I feel it when I hear that certain bass line that makes my body move in what I guess what you would call a state of “trance.” And I feel it, most certainly, when I hear the right kind of Blues. The blues is groove. Groove is the blues.

It’s time again for my post Telluride Blues & Brews Festival takeover! Gary Clarke was an absolute highlight of the weekend. He puts on a trance-inducing show that I’d gladly pay money to see again! While he rocked hard (and reverbed even harder), I loved some of his slower numbers like this one! Looking forward to sharing some of my favorites from the weekend with you all over the next few weeks.

[catevscole]

I’m really in love with this song, despite some cheesy lyrics in the first verse. It’s that chorus- it’s just such a sweet little segment! It keeps popping up in my head. I saw the Revivalists at Blues & Brews this fall, and was impressed with them, despite never having heard them before. Their album has a range of bluesy tracks and rock tracks, with some pretty pop-y stuff thrown in too. Give it a listen!

[catevscole]

Let me tell you how fucking awesome Sharon Jones is-- really fucking awesome. Like, beat cancer, was in remission, cancer returned, she started chemo treatments the Wednesday before Blues and Brews, and then she still PLAYED A FULL SET that Saturday night awesome. That’s pretty awesome, wouldn’t you say? I would. Not to mention that she put on the most energetic, dance filled show of the weekend. And she wore electric blue pants. The woman is a total badass.

This isn’t one of the band’s originals, but I love their version of it. It’s got that funky little guitar riff, and Sharon sings it like she’s felt these lyrics deep down inside more than once. But then again, she sort of sings every song that way- from the bottom of her soul. All I have to say is- Sharon, you got this girl!!