Thanks, Frank. That's some incredible music. Tracy Chapman: whew! Kim's playing was superb.
I've just started to hear about Gary Clark. Here's his official music video, which blew me away. It's not blues, it's not quite like anything else out there. Prince, maybe. (That was my wife's comment.) But Gary Clark, who did that second song with Jimmy Vaughan (whose singing also impressed me), is somebody we're all going to be hearing a lot more from:
Saw him live in the 80's twice. First time was not impressive. Second time blew me away.
However, a lot of blues and jazz musicians who've dedicated their lives to their music are receiving recognition like this or the National Endowment for the Arts awards (along w/big check$$$).
Remember, we are a white bread based society (unfortunately), so recognition of Black artists and their contributions to one of the few original American Art Forms is somewhat overdue, but at least it is happening now. ---------- The Iceman
It looked to me as if Buddy was making an inner critique of the other guitarists until Jeff Beck came up and then he breaks out in a smile as if he's about to hear something that made the trip worthwhile.
To say that Buddy Guy is overrated just means you have never heard him on a good night. Such a shame, it's magic.
I agree. Buddy appears to sit, in default, to collect the overdue blues accolades from a guilt ridden "white bread society". My choice for the spot would be Otis Rush....I think he's still alive. ---------- Sun, sun, sun Burn, burn, burn Soon, soon, soon Moon, moon, moon
That second Gary Clark vid is just as good as the first. The slow pace is part of it; most bands can't, or don't want to, hold it in that medium slow pocket without speeding up. But he's got more than that. There's something below the surface--danger? yearning?--that gives him a leg up on the rest. I think he deserves the attention he's getting. The production values and creative vision of his music videos are exceptional.
When I see the success he's getting, I can't help thinking about Johnny Allen, a blues guitarist/singer from NYC who came on the scene in the mid-80s and has been doing great stuff for a long time. He's got the same strong smooth soul voice, post-Hendrix approach, and blues anchoring. Every scene has great talents who just don't quite catch the public fancy, but who, on any given night, could blow you away:
Otis Rush is certainly a worthy equal to Buddy Guy. His left handed technique leaned more to the style of Albert King, but was a very original voice and style that others couldn't imitate. As far as I know, Otis never worked in others bands and certainly didn't have the showman's flash and breath of material that Buddy Guy had.
The Rush catalog of music includes a number of live recordings, all with pretty much the same songs. "Cold Day" captures his incredible intensity on slow material and includes a fine rendition of "All Your Loving I Miss Loving." I have always been blown away by his vocal performance on "You're Breaking My Heart." But for shear originality and variety, "Right Place Wrong Time" is my favorite recording.
As groyster1 mentioned, Otis suffered a stroke a number of years ago and hasn't perform in years. I am afraid due to a number of circumstances, Rush never received the wider recognition he is due. I am sorry that no younger "ax hero " championed his cause.
Here's a clip form his younger days doing " I Can't Quit You." His opening vocals are descended directly from heaven.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy2tEP3I3DM
Last Edited by on Jan 01, 2013 5:47 AM
How many of these shows are there? Where presidents and the culturati sit so politely and the TV producers carefully show us how "moved" they are, and hence how moved we are supposed to be, priveliged to be watching it all, until it´s time for the mandatory Standing Ovation (sometimes even >before< the artist has performed, which means that you can go out and fart into the mic and still say, "I got a standing ovation at the White House, Kennedy Center" etc), and then the parade of "stars" continue, this Hollywood concept that has such a tiresome impact upon popular culture.
We now know that Buddy is "officially" a Great Artist, which of course is immensely comforting for those of us who occasionally have had some doubts about his abilities. Or, more specifically, how he has at times chosen to dispense those abilities.
Still, a good sign of Kim W´s professionalism that he injects a bit of soul in this kind of affair.
What its worth I saw some great muscians playing some fantastic music. I'm your typicaly cynical Brit but I was moved by the performances (I didn't need the TV producers to tell me either!).
Frank - please don't be put off posting vids like this...it made my day.
Great post Frank. Keep them coming. I say keep giving the man flowers while he's alive because they smell sweeter than when they are scattered on your grave. Overrated, bad nights? Please. I have seen the man perform over the course of 40 years, from dive bars on a Tuesday night to casino bars, to "proper auditoriums" to large open air festivals and he always delivered the goods, with his huge infectious smile, a bucket load of soul, a showman, an engaging original voice. I always felt joy in his presence, thank you Buddy Guy.
I think it is fair to say that most (if not all) performing artists are entitled to have an off night in which the goods were not delivered....this is just a celebration of being human.
In my concert going experience, I've seen off nights - first Led Zeppelin tour in which they played either Eastown or Grande Riviera in Detroit -Robert Plant and Jimmy Page were not that good (but the rhythm section was smokin'), Traffic sounded terrible, Fleetwood Mac (the ol' version pre-Rumors) Mic Fleetwood was drunk and drooling on the drums, Cassandra Wilson in a small Cleveland club wasn't feelin' it and played a short 45 minute set, Crosby Stills and Nash at a concert where their harmonies were off, etc.
