Real Music

You might want to post your question in the Guitarist forum. It seems out of place in an electronic music forum.

http://equipboard.com/forums/guitarists-bassists

*Edit: I've moved it for you.

There are a few people such as John Mayer and this kid called quinn sullivan.

There are a few people such as John Mayer and this kid called quinn sullivan.

What about that young cat from New Orleans who always play an Epi Casino? Or Keb'Mo? He's pretty traditional if not exacly a virtuoso of roots music.

I think the critical thing here is that the 3 dudes that were referenced by the OP brought so much style and personality to the blues formula that the only way to be truly like them is to be a true original within those immortal 12 bars by doing your own thing completely. That's a tough proposition at this stage of the American musical experience, but not untenable.

So maybe that guy is out there and maybe he's not. I've heard and played with some seriously heavy cats who maybe fly damn low under the radar but are truly unique without disrespecting the roots (although I would say Muddy deviated pretty far from his Delta roots as his career progressed, he and his band were serious trailblazers if you stop to listen without a modern cultural bias). So is the question why is no one copying this music? Well, lotsa great guys are. Or is your question why no one is innovating with the blues anymore?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow5imNn8jk4

and when you say 'real' music do you mean music that's real difficult to do well or music that has serious authenticity? Or maybe you mean music that's really American? Tell me, where's the fake music? There's a lot of music I don't like that much, but its very real to the people making and listening to it. For instance I do not care for Taylor Swift, but she comes from serious money and if her music weren't real to her and filled with her own brand of authenticity then I do not think she woulda broken her way into Nashville when she coulda just been a pampered debutante. Her music is very real in the sense that she chooses to ride around in a smelly bus (probably a not-so-smelly jet now, but you get the idea) putting it all out there on the road instead of sitting pool-side with a pitcher of kamikazes and the latest issue of Vogue. She was so interested in doing whatever the hell she is trying to do (I told you, not a fan) that she invested her trust fund into making it a reality when no one would sign her.

oh yeah, that guy.... there's also the African American cat from new Orleans, god I can't remember his name....

For instance I do not care for Taylor Swift, but she comes from serious money and if her music weren't real to her and filled with her own brand of authenticity then I do not think she woulda broken her way into Nashville when she coulda just been a pampered debutante.

You have no idea how much it hurt me to reference Taylor Swift in this context, but there's a principle at play here that I think a lot of young, hot shit blues and rock guitarists need to absorb and it was a striking way to illustrate my point to the OP and anyone else who might need to look at music from another angle. When it comes to guitars and gear I can be the king of pretension, but when it comes to the music (the stuff that REALLY matters) I am the arch-enemy of snobbishness. Its only through a truly open-minded attitude that we can grow as musicians, and more importantly, as PEOPLE.

I don't know how to respond to this without going on a rant.

Jim or Nick, help me out here, I know the answer is "music has evolved", but my head'll explode if I keep typing, and I don't want to be an arse.

There's still music of every genre being made today. Classical composition, Blues, even throat singing.

If you enjoy a genre that is not highlighted for it's cultural persuasion or underlining values, you will have to turn off the tv and radio to have a chance of hearing it.

I don't know how to respond to this without going on a rant.

Jim or Nick, help me out here, I know the answer is "music has evolved", but my head'll explode if I keep typing, and I don't want to be an arse.

I did my best already, man.

To put it in the simplest way.

In the same way that all of western philosophy can be looked at as a response to Plato, all of American music is a response to the blues. My work here is done.

In the same way that all of western philosophy can be looked at as a response to Plato, all of American music is a response to the blues. My work here is done.

http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/slow_clap_citizen_kane.gif

What ever happened to the old blues that was like s.r.v, b.b king, muddy waters, etc... How come there is no one like that signed today.

I'm still trying to figure out how Vaughan qualified as "old" ... Did you mean Elmore James? or T-Bone Walker? or Blind Lemon Jefferson? As Robben Ford once put it (by the way, you should really listen to him) ... "How deep in the Blues do you want to go?"

Check out Alligator Records, Blind Pig Records, and all winners of the W.C. Handy award (yes, this list includes Keb' Mo' aka Kevin Moore, one of my faves, who has also won THREE GRAMMYs ...)

Also, did Jimmy quote himself? ;)

edit: Derek Trucks plays a little Blues, and also won the GRAMMY for "best blues album" (in 2010?). The drummer and sax player on that record live here in Atlanta and I just gigged with Mace (sax) yesterday afternoon. Mace also recorded a solo on my last album. If you really like Blues, you should consider moving to Atlanta or at least attending a weekly jam during your next visit.

Also, did Jimmy quote himself? ;)

He does this a lot, very strange...

In the same way that all of western philosophy can be looked at as a response to Plato, all of American music is a response to the blues. My work here is done.

I must disagree sir.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aF-Jf-WuGY&list=PLA6R2TCwmV3-6bg2pSnN5ibYOZlfeyF3z

But that Citizen Kane slow clap ...

It's all in his face. See this one just doesn't work

http://media.giphy.com/media/xTiTnC5cMmUx9bfWYU/giphy.gif

Also, did Jimmy quote himself? ;)

He does this a lot, very strange...

actually I was paraphrasing Bertrand Russell, the bit about Plato... oh wait, you mean the Taylor Swift bit.... oh yeah, I did... so what? you can't reply to yourself? Maybe that's why all my employees think I'm crazy, but you get starved for intelligent conversation sometimes and just start discussing things with yourself under your breath....

I could never stand to listen to those, my ear's trained to individual instruments playing music rather than those massive groups...