Hi

 

Do you listen to blues?

 

think Blues is the most underrated music these days and it is ignored in an entertainment marketplace obsessed with young artists. Yes I do like listening to Katy Perry (did I spell it right?), Jessie J and some of Maroon 5 songs but it's a tough and hard time for blues, the root of modern music, because if it were being played, other than satellite radio, not in the peak hours, prime time and who on earth would know about it? I started listening to Muddy Waters, BB King and ray Vaughn when I was 13, a time when internet and mp3 werent common. The regeneration is very slow. Buggy Guy is getting older, BB king has done all he needed to do. It's scary to see the future of Blues.

I had a conversation with a record producer about ten years ago and he basically predicted the way things have gone, not just in music but in many other industries too. He said that at one time the music industry was run by people who understood music... musicians, producers, people with a love of music and people who want to explore new talent. Sadly, he said that now accountants have got their teeth into the industry, they tend to make a lot of decisions that were originally made by 'creatives.' So they are less likely to invest in new talent, because there is an associated risk. Far easier to continue with what you are already familiar with because they can then produce a projection for the future, something they cannot do with new talent. He went on to say that when they do invest in new talent, it's usually with individuals who can come to the table with a complete package, by that he meant they were singer songwriters and already had material that they could release as an album. The record companies, not always, but a lot of the time, would require that the new artist also fund their own music video! The same has happened in TV in the UK, and probably many other countries too. Very little original material, just more of the same crap! So I sympathise with your concerns...

Hi

 

Do you listen to blues?

 

think Blues is the most underrated music these days and it is ignored in an entertainment marketplace obsessed with young artists. Yes I do like listening to Katy Perry (did I spell it right?), Jessie J and some of Maroon 5 songs but it's a tough and hard time for blues, the root of modern music, because if it were being played, other than satellite radio, not in the peak hours, prime time and who on earth would know about it? I started listening to Muddy Waters, BB King and ray Vaughn when I was 13, a time when internet and mp3 werent common. The regeneration is very slow. Buggy Guy is getting older, BB king has done all he needed to do. It's scary to see the future of Blues.

It's still around on my side of the Atlantic, at any rate. There are plenty of blues festivals going on in UK & Europe, and there's the Paul Jones Rhythm & Blues Show on BBC radio. Granted this stuff never gets in the charts, but did it ever?

 

Things don't look too bad in the States either, with guitarists like Robben Ford or Steve Lukather: and Larry Carlton plays a pretty mean blues guitar when he wants. Or check out Roy Rogers & Norton Buffalo on Youtube (Buffalo is now dead, and Rogers isn't actually the singing cowboy, he's a different Rogers)

 

It's like everything else in non-chart-based music (jazz for example) it's a niche market, but nonetheless a healthy one B)

 

http://www.earlyblues.com/uk%20and%20european%20blues%20festivals%202012.htm

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wrpd

Katy Perry comes and goes, Blues are eternal

 

And i don't even like KP

Katy Perry comes and goes, Blues are eternal

 

And i don't even like KP

I see your location is Portugal. Ever seen Rui Velosa?

 

Here with BB King..

 

You should look a bit deeper. The Blues is still alive and thriving here in the US. It doesn't get the press that the current genre of rock gets though. Jimmy Thackery (a good friend of mine), the Nighthawks, Tab Benoit, Big Al and the Heavyweights, etc... are still active and regional groups are still performing. Memphis, Chicago, and New Orleans are still meccas for blues players. I played the Blues for the last decade of my music career and still listen to it. Many of these groups still tour Europe each year also.

Yep Raindance, i did see Rui in a few occasions. He's one of our nicest musicians, kept faithful to the style

Oh yea....I listen to blues.

 

I do like some of the modern stuff like Arcade Fire as their is still some good talent out there. But you can't overlook some of the contribution to music over the past 50 to 60 years.

 

I also listen to a lot of Motown and Soul music as that was an amazing era for music as well.

 

Grunge music is what ruined the record industry in my POV. You had record companies investing money into these acts that were unpredictable. Some were addicts, some were protesting Ticketmaster or other kind of activism, Kurt Cobain's suicide was another beginning of the end, that basically what was happening was the money being invested in these acts had no control over the talent or their behaviours.

 

This is why following the Grunge movement the record industry created the Spice Girls, an all girl act that had to audition to be in the band and were trained. This way the record company had complete control over the artists. Since then the Spice Girls model, that has been a template of sorts as it makes a lot of money and the record companies have more control over their artists.

 

Following Spice Girls was Christina Aquilera and Britney Spears type acts who were basically Mickey Mouse Club alumni and money makers as well. The recording industry put grunge behind them and wouldn't look at acts like that anymore.

I had a conversation with a record producer about ten years ago and he basically predicted the way things have gone, not just in music but in many other industries too. He said that at one time the music industry was run by people who understood music... musicians, producers, people with a love of music and people who want to explore new talent. Sadly, he said that now accountants have got their teeth into the industry, they tend to make a lot of decisions that were originally made by 'creatives.' So they are less likely to invest in new talent, because there is an associated risk. Far easier to continue with what you are already familiar with because they can then produce a projection for the future, something they cannot do with new talent. He went on to say that when they do invest in new talent, it's usually with individuals who can come to the table with a complete package, by that he meant they were singer songwriters and already had material that they could release as an album. The record companies, not always, but a lot of the time, would require that the new artist also fund their own music video! The same has happened in TV in the UK, and probably many other countries too. Very little original material, just more of the same crap! So I sympathise with your concerns...

 

 

Thank you thank you thank you.

 

 

I am a reggae musician and undergraduate BA hons.. student at the University of Leeds.

 

I cannot say more than the above

Grunge music is what ruined the record industry in my POV.

 

Didnt ruin it for me. its alive and well in my collection. I do not, never have and never will, play into the "Pop Music" culture! KIDS buy what record companies feed them. Im an underground real music listener.

Didnt ruin it for me. its alive and well in my collection. I do not, never have and never will, play into the "Pop Music" culture! KIDS buy what record companies feed them. Im an underground real music listener.

 

Totally agree. I still listen to all those acts as well. I was 20 years old back in 1991 so I must have seen everyone of those acts during that time at some point. I even saw Pearl Jam opening up for Neil Young in 1991 as Pearl Jam was protesting Ticketmaster and did a one off show opening up for Neil Young.....It was awesome. Neil young did an encore and had Pearl Jam come out and did Keep On Rocking in a Free World together. Great show

 

I am a reggae musician and undergraduate BA hons.. student at the University of Leeds.

 

Can't forget about Reggae. I was always a big fan of old school Ska and Rocksteady. I did get the chance to see the Skatalites live in concert back in 1989 when all original members were present. Jackie Mittoo passed away shortly after so I was blessed to see them for the last time together.

 

I've also seen Desmond Decker on a few occasions and that guy has amazing energy.

[...]

 

 

Can't forget about Reggae. I was always a big fan of old school Ska and Rocksteady. I did get the chance to see the Skatalites live in concert back in 1989 when all original members were present. Jackie Mittoo passed away shortly after so I was blessed to see them for the last time together.

 

I've also seen Desmond Decker on a few occasions and that guy has amazing energy.

 

oh wow dude!

I know zilch about blues, can anybody recommend some all-time greatest blues classics so i can listen to them on youtube?

Totally agree. I still listen to all those acts as well. I was 20 years old back in 1991 so I must have seen everyone of those acts during that time at some point. I even saw Pearl Jam opening up for Neil Young in 1991 as Pearl Jam was protesting Ticketmaster and did a one off show opening up for Neil Young.....It was awesome. Neil young did an encore and had Pearl Jam come out and did Keep On Rocking in a Free World together. Great show

 

 

I am a PJ fan since their inception. I've spent a fortune on their bootleg collection as I think they are still one of the best Live acts out there. Some of the best music I have found is on the independent labels. There are excellent bands/singers out there if you steer well clear of the mainstream and dig a little. I found some of my favourite music here. http://www.emusic.com/listen/#/

 

I'm not a blues fan though, like jazz I just can't get into it.

 

My favourite album at the moment is

 

http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/12573/Talk-Talk-Laughing-Stock/

I had a conversation with a record producer about ten years ago and he basically predicted the way things have gone, not just in music but in many other industries too. He said that at one time the music industry was run by people who understood music... musicians, producers, people with a love of music and people who want to explore new talent. Sadly, he said that now accountants have got their teeth into the industry, they tend to make a lot of decisions that were originally made by 'creatives.' So they are less likely to invest in new talent, because there is an associated risk. Far easier to continue with what you are already familiar with because they can then produce a projection for the future, something they cannot do with new talent. He went on to say that when they do invest in new talent, it's usually with individuals who can come to the table with a complete package, by that he meant they were singer songwriters and already had material that they could release as an album. The record companies, not always, but a lot of the time, would require that the new artist also fund their own music video! The same has happened in TV in the UK, and probably many other countries too. Very little original material, just more of the same crap! So I sympathise with your concerns...

 

Affirm!

 

Maybe I am just too old for new stuffs in music so it my opinion is very arguable, but the majority seems losing taste.. they listen to "what" rather than "why", doesnt matter "who" is creating the music but people are moving to something instant and lite.

 

There are hundreds of men, most of them are in mid 20's - 30's, who are being trained how to operate complex machines made 20-30 years ago and they are well paid once they are through with the training... MD 80's, 737 classics, Fokker and few 747 200's. There are no such devices in the world that last long than those... and still being studied! It happens to with Classical music. So it is not an excuse. Blues is supposed to be more festive than it is now.

 

No one is worried about jazz, but blues is just losing its listeners (enthusiasts) as times go by... And taste cannot be learned or taught, there are no pdf manuals in the net how to stimulate good taste.

I blame

 

"now accountants have got their teeth into the industry, they tend to make a lot of decisions that were originally made by 'creatives.' So they are less likely to invest in new talent, because there is an associated risk. Far easier to continue with what you are already familiar with because they can then produce a projection for the future, something they cannot do with new talent."