Road Trip to the Bayou and Back

Sorry, the session musician piece has been put on hold for this:

A road trip snaking down the Mississippi River from Chicago blues to Delta blues.

My husband and I have been looking for an excuse to get our arse's down to New Orleans.  Sure Carnival and Mardi Gras is a fantastic excuse, but he can't get any time off work during those events.  When the lineup for Jazz Fest was posted, it was a sure thing!

We had originally planned a trip to the Caribbean with some family and friends, and have been saving pennies since last winter to do so.  When the Jazz Fest opportunity came up, we had to reconsider, baby.

On the fairgrounds of New Orleans, Jazz & Heritage Fest is a festival expanded over 2 weekends in late April and early May that showcases different musical genres in addition to Jazz.  To see a listing of the lineup for the weekend we'll be attending, click here.

We're going to start our journey in Detroit, Michigan where we'll visit the Motown Museum.  A string of unassuming houses that became known as 'Hitsville USA' after Berry Gordy launched Motown Records there with an $800 loan in 1959.  Popular Motown artists include, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Martha and the Vandellas, and Michael Jackson.

Next, a couple of nights in Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago blues - a little more electrified, showcases blues legends like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon, Koko Taylor, Elmore James, and Buddy Guy.  We'll take a visit to Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven formerly known as Chess Records.  And partake in as much live music we can possibly cram into 2 days.

We'll pass through St. Louis, Missouri - where Chuck Berry, Tina Turner and Miles Davis got their start.

Following the lower Mississippi River down from St. Louis to Memphis, we'll pass through Hannibal where Mark Twain (author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn) was born and the landscape that inspired such story's.

Maybe we'll have enough time to ride on the Delta Queen - a Mississippi River steamboat!

When we arrive in Memphis, I'm going to take Bryce straight to Beale Street for some huge ass beers and live blues music.  I'll take him to Graceland, we'll check out Sun Studio where rockabilly greats Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and of course Elvis Presley recorded.  In the 1950's Sam Phillips gave birth to rock and roll by recording blues artists like BB King, Howlin' Wold and Ike Turner.

We're going to pay tribute to the very place that gave soul it's groove - Stax Museum of American Soul Music.  'Soulsville USA' is the Savannah to Charleston.  The naughty sister of soul.  Otis Redding, Booker T & the MG's recorded there along with The Staple Sisters and super famous Isaac Hayes... and the whole Shaft thang.

Following the river for a drive through the Mississippi Delta.  The Delta land is where the blues began among cypress stumps in stagnant waters.  Stretching for 250 miles from Memphis, TN, to Vicksburg, MS, the Delta is cotton country with sharecroppers whom most remain desperately poor.  Some managed to scrape up enough money to buy a guitar or harmonica and sing prison and levee camp songs.

Clarksdale is more than any other Delta town.  This is where John Lee Hooker was born.  Son House lived in nearby Lyon, and Ike Turner hosted a radio show.  Gospel-soul singer Sam Cooke was born and raised here.  Highway 61 and 49 meet at the crossroads.  This is where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil.

Veering over to Jackson Mississippi, we'll follow the interstate over the Louisiana state line.  This is swamp country, a bayou state where gators lurk in the swamps, and where folks strap washboards to their chests.

Arriving in New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico, we'll be staying near bourbon street in the Treme district.  We'll be indulging in 4 days of live music and Creole and Cajun cookin'.  I'm hoping to make it out alive.  This all may be too much for me to handle.

From New Orleans - our half way point, we're cruisin' on up to Muscle Shoals, Alabama.  The legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studio founded in 1969 by Barry Beckett (keyboards), Roger Hawkins (drums), Jimmy Johnson (guitar) and David Hood (bass) (called The Swampers) left FAME Studios to create their own studio.  The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section can be heard on legendary recordings by Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin and The Staple Singers.  Not to mention Duane Allman from the Allman Brothers Band spend some time sitting in on session before the Allman Brothers Band got their big break.  It was a little extra cash in Duane's pockets, and he has been showcased on so many incredible albums.  Sam Samudio's 'Sam Hard and Heavy', Derek and the Dominos 'Layla' album (it was Duane that came up with Layla's catchy riff).  Other notable artists Duane contributed to their albums were Clarence Carter, Johnny Jenkins and Bonnie & Delaney.


So much history there, I could go on forever!

A nice little drive over the Tennessee state line, and we'll find ourselves in Nashville for a night of honky tonkin'.  I can show my husband the ropes around.  Nashville is so rich with country music, legends, and performances at the Grand Ole Opry that we'll definitely get our fill during our short stay.

If I can save up enough money, perhaps I can afford to buy myself a new pair of western boots from Allen's Boots.  I remember not being able to find anything under $1,000 the last time I was in there.

If Levon is rambling in Woodstock during the weekend we're driving through, then we'll stop in to say hi to my old pal.


Can't wait to blog while on the road.  Stay tuned!

Time Is on My Side

Well, I'm taking a sabbatical from being employed for a few months.  Perhaps that will give me time to update this blog more often with more topics of great music.

Am working on a good piece at the moment about session musicians.  Should have it posted in a couple of weeks.  Stay tuned.

Tucker County and Duane Allman

I can't believe I have gone this long without mentioning The Marshall Tucker Band or The Allman Brothers.  Those are 2 of my favourite bands.

The Marshall Tucker Band... it was the pedal steel, and then it was the rock and roll flute and then it was just the complete awesomeness of their tunes.  Southern boys and that Southern rock.

Sure I always loved 'Can't You See' and 'Fire on the Mountain', but I discovered more when I picked up 3 albums on vinyl at a record fair in Greenwich, London a few years ago.  'Carolina Dreams', the self titled album and 'Long Hard Ride'.  Since then I can never get enough.  Bryce and I do some major air banding in the car to 'Running Like the Wind'.  Have you heard the awesome drums and bass in that song?  The flute gets some honour of its own.  Toy Caldwell has a great voice and I love singin' along.

I just received the album 'Where We Belong' for Christmas and it's been in the car stereo ever since. 

Together Forever is another good album.  But there are still so many more.  I love that I LOVE the Marshall Tucker Band but don't have all of their albums, so when I get a new one it's just love over and over again.

They kick major Southern arse.

Now onto Duane Allman and the Allman Brothers Band.  I have a major love-on for Duane Allman and his slide guitar.  I started learning how to play lap steel because Duane's slide is so fucking awesome.  And, listen to Gregg Allman's voice!  I mean come on!!!

Duane had a short-lived life (he died in a motorcycle accident weeks before his 25th birthday) and I can't imagine how much amazing music he could have made or collaborated on if he had more years.  I mean, just in the 2.5 + years he was in the Allman Brothers Band, he collaborated with some pretty fucking great talent.  Eric Clapton in Derek & the Dominos, Aretha Franklin, Delaney & Bonnie, Johnny Jenkins to name only a few. 

Allman Brothers tunes?  Whipping Post, Dreams (both live versions with Duane for y'all).  Their self titled album is amazing.  The album artwork?  Fucking great.  Brothers and Sisters, Eat a Peach (tribute of sorts to Duane).

The Allman Brothers Band kick more arse than any Southern Rock band to come out of the South.  The principal architects of Southern Rock.

Dig it!

Riding Again

December 13th was my last entry?  Geez. 

I have been listening to a few things lately, but most recently I stumbled up James Gang's 'Ride Again' album on my iPod.  You may be familiar with their tune 'Funk # 49' off of 'Rides Again'.

I really love heavy bassy rock and roll like Humble Pie, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath.  So, when I found myself replaying 'The Bomber (medley): Closet Queen' it was bliss to my ears.

This is a great album all in all.  Joe Walsh kicks some pretty good arse.  Released in 1970 it was James Gang's second album.

The other James Gang album I have is 'Yer' Album' which is their first album released in 1969.  You might be familiar with 'Collage'.  Their cover of the Yardbirds' tune 'Lost Woman' kicks some major, major arse too.

Give them some love; it's some good rock and roll!

I find it extremely hard to navigate on iPod, and that is why the James Gang stumbled upon me.  I really dislike not being able to see my full collection of music at one time.  Like opening the drawers to the vinyl cabinet, I can see what I have, look at the album art work and make a decision that way.  On the iPod, it sucks, I can only scroll through a few at a time and I get lost in it.  I don't like the shuffle options, although I do use them all of the time.  It puts the feeling of the album out of whack.  I think it's pretty great to walk around have 8000 + songs on you at all times, but I'm sacrificing the feeling of the album.  Being with it you know?  Experiencing it song by song as the artists have laid them out.

Digital music?  Give me vinyl.. mono.  There's more of a connection.  Spending time with the album, flipping it; it's a process.  It's love.  Song by song.

Poco

Finally, another album that I can’t stop listening to!  I had picked it out of a couple of boxes that my aunt and uncle were getting rid of.  I hadn’t had a chance to listen to it (my collection is getting rather large), but as time allowed I finally put it on the turntable and haven’t been able to stop listening to it!

The album ‘From the Inside’ was recorded in 1971 by country rock band Poco.  I have a couple of their other albums and actually my favourite was ‘Pickin’ Up the Pieces’ but From the Inside is taking over!

There is a great book you should read by Barney Hoskyns about the Laurel Canyon music scene back in the late 60’s to mid 70’s in LA called ‘Hotel California: Singer-Songwriters and Cocaine Cowboys in the LA Canyons 1967-1976’.

Anyway, the short story of Poco is that a couple of members of Buffalo Springfield, Richie Furay and Jim Messina joined forces and created this band along with Rusty Young and George Grantham (among the others that auditioned but not chosen was Gregg Allman.).  It all sounds so country rock/California-ish.  Which is great if you’re into The Byrds, The Eagles, Poco, Buffalo Springfield and Mason Profit.

If you dig country rock, then you should get your hands on From the Inside and or Pickin' up the Pieces.  One or the other, but preferably both.

Twang

There is something magical about the sound of a pedal steel.  Some people love them, some people hate them.  I LOVE THEM!

It all started with my first listen to Gram Parsons with The Byrds and their 'Sweetheart of the Rodeo' legacy album, with all of the outtakes.  I was given that album back in 2004 and cranked it in my headphones.  I couldn't let anyone know that I liked country music.  I was becoming a closet fan!  If you knew me a few years ago you would know that I absolutely hated country music.  Well, I was ignorant.  I didn't know enough about it to differentiate between top 40 country and real country music, western music.

I brought this over to the UK with me and started loving country music. 

It was the sound of the pedal steel that would just make me melt inside.  Under the influence, it would kill me even more!

I met all kinds of folks over there who felt the same.  It surprised me.  I didn't think anyone really liked it.. especially anyone my age.

I attended 'Come Down and Meet the Folks' at a pub in Camden town, London one Sunday afternoon for a piece of country pie, wearing a 'The Band' shirt that some kid made me when I was volunteering down at Levon Helm's.  Some long haired, bearded 'bloke' approached me with a card.  'Sin City' nights near the  'Great Portland Street' tube station.  Down there in a little pub was a f*cking hoedown.  Proper!  It was amazing.  Folks dancing to Waylon, Emmylou, Southern Rock, all kinds of great tunes and westerned right up.

It was heaven!  I can only hope to do something around here someday.  It's been my dream ever since to play this awesome music and have people dance to it.  Actually, build a music barn and have hoedown's.

Bryce and I put on a barn dance in September of '09 with live music and I DJ'ed some great tunes afterwards.  We had the barn looking ripe.  Straw bales to sit on, corn stalks, gourds, pumpkins, white lights, corn roast, the whole lot.  People were pumped about it and this will become an annual event.

Anyway, I will come up with a list of great ditty's that will surely impress you if you love the sound of pedal steel like I do.  Just a great mix of country music.  Bands and artists that you SHOULD KNOW ABOUT.

Knee Deep in the Blues

Reading Keith Richards' autobiography is really bringing me back to my love for the blues.  I was knee deep in the blues at one point in my life.

My love for the blues spiraled out of control after I had seen The Last Waltz and was on my search for the elements of rock and roll.  That and visiting Levon Helm and listening to the blues; eating, sleeping, breathing the blues.

I didn’t realize how much Keith and Mick loved the blues.  I mean, yeah their first singles were blues covers, but I had never read any biography’s of theirs.  Actually, my search for the elements of rock and roll were all American based, and I can honestly say at this point, I am reading for the first time how and when the blues exploded in the UK.  Didn’t I mention that some of the greatest rock and roll bands came from the UK?  Led Zeppelin is 100% blues influenced, Eric Clapton, Free and Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green.

I need some book recommendations for the birth of rock and roll in the UK.  Believe it or not, while I was actually LIVING in the UK I went crazy over country music.  London and country music.  Who knew?  I came home a country gal.

Anyway, I was right heavy over Chicago blues’ Willie Dixon, obviously Muddy Waters and Jimmy Reed.  Man, Jimmy Reed is one cool cat.  “Bright Lights, Big City”, “Big Boss Man” and “Baby What You Want Me to Do” is a real groovy ditty.

I have met some blues legends and greats when I was knee deep!  Little Sammy Davis, Bob Margolin, Luther Johnson, and Hubert Sumlin to name a few.

Chicago blues and the Delta blues.  Delta blues artists like R.L. Burnside, John Lee Hooker, Son House, Elmore James, Lead Belly, Sonny Boy Williamson, Mississippi Fred McDowell, and of course Robert Johnson.  My love for both Chicago and Delta are both the same.

To discover more blues, I used to go to the record shop and pick any album that had a great cover.  I discovered Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee that way!

It has been really great rekindling my love for the blues through reading Keith’s biography.  I am pulling out some albums that I haven’t listened to in a while.

The blues just filters through you.  Right to the bone; the sound of the blues.  Real soul music. 

I can't not mention the attitude that comes with being a blues cat too.  Bad ass.

I always loved Son House's quote about blues being about a man and a woman in love.