Blues Run the Game

wmthor · Post by **wmthor** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 4:43 pm

Speaking of blues, here's a Video of some of the guys that I jam with on a regular basis.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:47 pm

Jerry, there was a point when a few people were watching Jeff Scott play, and John Allgaier said "I wanna see John do his thing!", but I just felt sheepish (No knock on Jeff - what a player!). I can noodle on scales and make it sound flashy but like I said, it's just not my bag.

One of the worst parts for me is going into a shop to try a bass. I never have any clue what to play! I always wish I had a guitarist with me, just to have someone to play with.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 8:00 pm

El Maestro

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:41 am

Hey! Fumbling my way through "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better", I think.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 7:40 pm

I'll email the full size to you, though it is darker and has red eye - though that might be because of the beer and staying up!!

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 5:58 pm

Blues does not have to be sad. That is an old wives tale! Check out John Lee Hooker's Mr. Lucky! Blues is a style of music that runs the gauntlet of emotions.

BB's Lucille can cry and wail, and she can scream with glee!

Jeff Beck made his sound like dogs barking and cats meowing.

I Ain't superstitious,
black cat crossed my trail.
I ain't superstitious,
but a black cat crossed my trail.
Bad luck ain't got me so far,
and I won't let it stop me now.
The dogs begin to bark,
all over my neighborhood.
And that ain't all.
Dogs begin to bark,
all over my neighborhood.
Mmm-mmm
This is a mean old world to live in,
And I can't face it all by myself, at all.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 6:15 pm

Blues certainly does not have to be sad. But once you hit that V chord, there'd better be an ironic twist in the lyric!

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 4:07 am

I've long thought the blues was about getting OVER the blues. Kind of a paradox kind of thing. Like having your cake and eating it too.

winston · Post by **winston** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:16 am

Playing the blues is all about expressing deep feelings and events that have or are impacting a writer or perhaps even the players life.

I believe that it's about expressing sentiments and feelings that are not usually shared in mainstream society.

That's why I play the blues. It allows me to share and in a strange way, get rid of any stresses that have built up in my life.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:47 am

Playing the blues is all about expressing deep feelings and events that have or are impacting a writer or perhaps even the players life.

Any kind of music - except for, perhaps, modern "barbie-ken" pop - is all about it. IMHO.

winston · Post by **winston** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:04 am

I am not being picky but I think you are over generalizing Sheena when you say "any kind of music".

Blues is a genre that cannot be compared to others when it comes to telling a story, or expressing pain, humility and/or sadness. It more often than not, serves up a lesson for others to avoid or perhaps presents an ironic twist to the story being told.

I think it's rather unique in that regard.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:19 am

How about those - Jazz? Punk? Art rock? All of them can express pain, humility or sadness in their own unique way; and in any of them, you can hear the story. It's not about the style, imho. It's about the story teller (writer/performer).

winston · Post by **winston** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:31 am

Well... you can lump them all together. I certainly won't be anytime soon.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 10:03 am

I'm not talking about lumping the styles all together. I just mean you can find a story, a plot, feelings and emotions in a song that belongs (or, more precisely, is attributed to) almost any style. For instance (obvious examples, songs known by most people):
Story - Louis Armstrong, "Go down Moses".
Feelings - Louis Armstrong, "What a wonderful world".
Old jazz is all about emotions. Take "In the mood", for instance.
Of course, that's just my opinion.

winston · Post by **winston** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 11:25 am

I see that you are narrowing your field of vision a bit Sheena. That was my point. You were being far to liberal with your interpretation and application of my earlier comment.