Why Hard Rock Fans Should Listen to Blues
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When you think of Blues music, you might think of some old guy playing a harmonica in the backwaters of Louisiana. Or maybe the old Cheech and Chong comedy routine with "Blind Melon Chittlin" sharing his enormous endowments with a recording crew, or Elwood and Joliet, the Blues Brothers, and their deadpan, "we're on a mission from God." No doubt about it, there are as many Blues cliches as there are variations on the same 12-bar riff in the music itself. For years, this was pretty much where I was with Blues music - it was an interesting oddity, but it wasn't something I wanted to explore.Then, on a lark, I bought the House of Blues tribute to Led Zeppelin, "Whole Lotta Blues," performed by various contemporary Blues artists. In one listen, I was transported to a whole musical dimension that lay just below the surface of modern popular music. I discovered that modern Blues is not only a venue for the cream of the crop of American guitarists, but is also an incredibly soulful, meaningful, and powerful musical medium. Before long, I was buying up albums by modern masters like Alvin Youngblood Hart, Eric Gales, Carlos Guitarlos, and Paul Wood. I was descending deeply into the purple haze of Hendrix enthusiasts like Jack Falk, and I was listening to the history of the 20th century from the likes of Robert Johnson, Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker, BB King, and Muddy Waters. Don't get me wrong - I'm still a hard rock listener. When I'm in need of comfort music, I turn to the anthems of my youth, from Black Sabbath to Led Zeppelin to Pink Floyd. But there's the funny thing about all this - all of these bands were blues-influenced. To some, this is an obvious and long-established fact, but to me it was an academic, minor tidbit at best. It wasn't until I saw these bands from the other side, from listening to Blues - I mean really listening to the music - that I understood just what a massive contribution this musical style has made to all of popular music. It was as if I had been standing on a bridge across dark and unknown waters, and finally dived in to find them cool and refreshing, full of beautiful and enticing wonders. Beyond the historical significance of Blues, however prodigious that might be, the music has to be good. Blues music is great, in that way only music built around a tight-knit community of talented musicians can be. Some of the best modern Blues music can be found on collaborations like the House of Blues tribute series, which features ensemble jams of familiar tunes by artists like Aerosmith, Dylan, Clapton, Hendrix, Joplin, Zeppelin, and others. On the Zeppelin tribute, check out "Custard Pie Revisited" for an amazing taste of high-end Blues musicianship. Another great compilation is the Chicago Blues Reunion: Buried Alive in the Blues. Check out "Snake." If you are wondering, as I often used to, where all the guitar gods went, look no further than modern electric Blues music; some of the very best of them can be found on anything by Alvin Youngblood Hart and Eric Gales. You just have to listen to appreciate it.If it's that dark, foreboding, doom feeling you want to sink into, check out Howlin' Wolf. I suggest "Spoonful" or "Smokestack Lightnin'." Forget the heavy metal growl... this guy has a snarl in his voice to put any metal vocalist to shame!Eight Reasons Why Hard Rock Listeners Should Listen to Blues1. Black Sabbath started out as a blues band named "Earth".2. Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at a crossroads long before it was cool.3. Many Blues guitarists would blow your favorite Rock guitarist away.4. Rock musicians think they've had it tough. Blues musicians HAVE had it tough.5. Howlin' Wolf. Tell me this guy wouldn't "get" doom metal.6. A large percentage of Led Zeppelin's music was more or less Blues. People just didn't know it.7. Rock musicians kill themselves. Hip Hop artists kill each other. Blues musicians kill your blues.8. Be honest: who would be cooler to know -- a 60-year-old Rock star, or a 60-year-old blues legend?
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