When I started playing guitar I wanted to be Stevie Ray Vaughan. I wanted to play those high flying electric blues like lightning but unfortunately for me my fingers just didn’t move that fast and I ended up turning into kind of a folkie indie singer songwriter. But then I heard Robert Johnson and I thought I’d become an acoustic folk blues master and slide slinger, again though I didn’t end up being able to sound just like I wanted and I joined a punk band playing bass. I heard BB King and I tried to play just one note that could make you cry but this time I ended up singing in an indie rock band and it wasn’t too bad.
No matter what style of music I ended up playing my original intention always comes back to the blues. And now, finally, I do play blues. I don’t sound like any of those guys I wanted to be when I was younger but I get to lay it down at the local pub twice a month with a great band that’s just loose enough and just tight enough too. The blues is just that pure feeling for me, whether it’s hard rockin’, plaintive spiritual acoustic, New Orleans jazz influences, rhythm and blues-as they say.....it is a pure emotion with poetic form devoid of illusions. It is heartbreak, poverty, regret, anger, sex and drugs and guns and blades and you can dance to it. These are some cuts I would recommend to anyone, these folks had the blues.
1. Preachin’ Blues (Up Jumped The Devil)-Robert Johnson
2. Hobo Blues-John Lee Hooker
3. Poor Black Mattie- R.L. Burnside
4. Sweet Little Angel-B.B. King
5. Double Trouble- Otis Rush
6. Don’t Mess With My Baby-Howlin’ Wolf
7. Can’t Be Satisfied- Muddy Waters
8. Nine Below Zero- Sonny Boy Williamson
9. Careless Love- Bessie Smith
10. Hoodoo Lady- Memphis Minnie
11. Ball and Chain-Big Mama Thornton
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Thanks David!
love,
Marty
@martyzylstra
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