The Bloody Nerve: Rock & Roll in Nashville? Whatever next?

The Bloody Nerve: Rock & Roll in Nashville? Whatever next?

“Hey, Paul, That is the best write up yet!” The Bloody Nerve (@thebloodynerve), Nashville, USA, 15 December 2013.   Updated 16 December 2016. Last month (6 November actually) I wrote a post about the scarcity of mixed rock duos these days. Apart from Sweden’s Roxette, I couldn’t think of any other male/female duo to hit the international big-time…

Get ready for the centenary of the world’s first-ever blues recording

Get ready for the centenary of the world’s first-ever blues recording

BLUESMUSE45. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, etc. etc. The countdown is on for one of the most important centenaries in the history of the blues. As soon as the year ticks over to 2014, we start celebrating the 100th anniversary of the world’s first blues recording. When I say we, I mean probably just me…

Five exceedingly rare nineteenth century “blues” guitarists

Five exceedingly rare nineteenth century “blues” guitarists

“Always fun reading, Paul. Thanks.”  Jason Vivone  (@JVivone), leader of the Billy Bats, Kansas City, December 3, 2013. Charlie Patton: taught by Henry Sloan BLUESMUSE44. We ended last week’s post around 1910 on the streets of Dallas, Texas. It was five years before Huddie Ledbetter, also known as Lead Belly, began the first of his…

The birth of boogie guitar

The birth of boogie guitar

“Fantastic, as usual. U always seem 2 write about bands I am interested in, with great links & writing style! :-)” Bev Wills@CoreCritical, Miami, USA and Leeds, UK, 27 November 2013 BLUESMUSE43. UPDATED October 20, 2021. There’s been a fair share of boogie woogie piano in this blog lately, including a rare clip featuring Jools…

Celebrate 40 years of AC/DC. Help make ‘Highway To Hell’ the UK’s Christmas No. 1

Celebrate 40 years of AC/DC. Help make ‘Highway To Hell’ the UK’s Christmas No. 1

” Love that blog! 🙂 AC/DC are one of the best bands to work for too.  They definitely get my vote over X-factor!” Bev Wills (@CoreCritical), Miami, USA and Leeds, UK, November 21, 2013.   If you’re reading this in the States, let me explain. The song topping the charts on Christmas Day is a…