I know we've already announced the Pittsburgh Blues Festival lineup, but I though it might be worthwhile to do a litte profile of each band, and provide some video, when possible. Judging from the comments (I know, there were only five, but I think that's the most one post has ever gotten), maybe it's worth looking at the bands' blues credentials. And maybe it's also worth asking just what we expect of a blues festival, anyway.
First, the bands:
On Friday night, July 24, it's New Orleans night (just like last year), featuring Eric
Lindell and Cyril Neville
& Tribe 13.
Lindell is a bluesworthy and soulful singer who puts a lot of emphasis on his New Orleans musical background. I've seen him a few times in the last couple of years, and he always puts on a good show. He may not be hard-core blues, but he's always a good time. Here's a video of Eric from late last year, sporting his newer shorter hair, and a classic old song:
Neville is the youngest of the multi-talent Neville brothers, and specializes in funky New Orleans rhythms. I've never seen him, but here's a video of a recent performance:
Saturday's schedule includes Shannon
Curfman, Shawn Kellerman, Curtis Salgado and Los
Lobos
Curfman is a hot young guitar player with blues and rock chops. Here' a look at a her performing:
Kellerman is another young guitar wizard with a tough edge. Here's a video:
Salgado is a tough, veteran blues and soul singer who has played in the Roberty Cray band, and later fronted Roomful of Blues. He could well be a festival highlight. He can also play a mean harp these days. I really like his old-fashioned R&B stylings. Here's a look:
Los Lobos may not be a blues band, but they everything extremely well, and you can find clips of them playing with everyone from the Grateful Dead to Neil Young. Here's another one:
On Sunday, look for Deb
Callahan, JJ Grey & Mofro, and the Robert
Cray Band
Callahan is a tough-singing-songwriting blueslady from Philadelphia. Not much video -- here's a sample:
JJ Grey is a swampy, rootsy guitar player with music that contains elements of rock, blues, soul, country, gospel -- you name it. He may not be a pure blues player, but he's an original worth hearing. Here's a nice video of an acoustic piece; he usually works with a band.
Robert Cray is an excellent blues singer and player, but has moved around stylistically for years, adding funky and pop influences. I saw him in Greensburg last year with Keb Mo, and he put on an outstanding show.
Also planned, but not yet scheduled, are local bands, including Glen Pavone and the
Cyclones, Jill West and Blues Attack, Eugene and the Nightcrawlers, the Jimmy
Adler Band, Ron Yarosz and the Vehicle, and local International Blues Challenge
winners Felix and the Hurricanes.
It's fun to talk and argue about what defines the blues. I've done some of that here. I happen to be one of those fans to whom "blues" means the more traditional forms of the music. It's what I generally enjoy most. But there are plenty of non-traditional artists worth a listen, and it helps make the blues tent a little bigger -- that's a good thing these days.
If there are acts or CDs that don't feature the kind of music I don't care as much about, then I just avoid them. Festivals are a different breed. Promoters have to put together shows with bands that are available, that they can afford, and that will draw enough of an audience to pay the bills.
What bothers me most, I guess, is that a lot of younger fans aren't as aware of the roots of the music as they could be. A while back I heard a few guys in a bar talking about what a great blues song "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer," is, and what a great job George Thorogood did with it. I asked them if they had ever heard the John Lee Hooker version, and got mostly blank looks.
I'd hate for the roots of the music to get lost. And in my humble opinion, if you want to hear the blues as it was meant to be played, you have to go to the roots.
Just a thought. And thanks to all who've been sharing their opinions.
Posted
May 04 2009, 01:00 AM
by
Jim White