UPDATED 19 JULY 2017 Once described as a Mediterranean port transplanted into the Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans has always been, and felt, different to the rest of America’s South. As far back as the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, when Louisiana was under French and Spanish rule, slaves were allowed to congregate freely in Congo Square, in New Orleans’… Continue reading History’s great blues cities: New Orleans.
Month: January 2014
When guitars were the instruments of the devil
“Enjoying your writing, thanks!” Wes@wes_oneill, 28 January 2014, Bristol, England. The Banjo Player, 1856. William Sidney Mount. UPDATED AND REFORMATTED March 23, 2020. BLUES MUSE 51. When most people think of the earliest days of the blues, they often imagine rural African Americans playing rudimentary delta blues on acoustic guitars. But, in reality, it wasn’t… Continue reading When guitars were the instruments of the devil
The magical sounds of Muscle Shoals
No one looks less like a rock band than The Swampers. Yet, these elderly(ish) white gentlemen The wonderful Swampers. They’re a bit older now. produce one of the most magical sounds in the history of rock, pop, funk and soul music. Like Neil Young, they even had a verse dedicated to them in the lyrics… Continue reading The magical sounds of Muscle Shoals
Heavy metal drumming’s getting too fast to beat
” I know those guys must be smart to use computers in such a way. Just not the same.” nora j mckiddie (@mckiddie_j), January 18, 2014, Michigan, USA. I don’t know much about heavy metal drumming, but this post is about exactly that. My experience in this area stretches to witnessing live performances by Led… Continue reading Heavy metal drumming’s getting too fast to beat
The song that introduced blues to the world
BLUESMUSE50. For some reason, W.C. Handy’s classic blues tune, “St. Louis Blues”, has popped up on this site a number of times recently. Perhaps, subliminally, it’s because I know it was first published 100 years ago, in 1914. One of many St. Louis Blues sheet music covers “St. Louis Blues”, generally regarded as the tune… Continue reading The song that introduced blues to the world
The first recorded blues turns 100. So what else happened in 1914?
“Mainla shit war … better the world would have been listened to the paulmerryblues!!! Music does not harm anybody! Sergeant Six (@sergeantsix), Munich, Germany. January 8, 2014. BLUESMUSE49. Start spreading the news. The world’s first blues recording, The Memphis Blues, was laid down three times in New York 100 years ago this coming July. But… Continue reading The first recorded blues turns 100. So what else happened in 1914?
The Bloody Nerve’s big new wall of sound
Hot on the heels of their debut EP, ‘Red’, Nashville’s hottest rock vocal duo, with a little help from their talented friends*, have released their follow-up three-tracker, ‘Blue’, which I’ve been invited to review. Due to my geographical circumstance during the cold UK winter, I can only to listen to music on my laptop, so… Continue reading The Bloody Nerve’s big new wall of sound