the pure truth
Last night, after a tip off from Glen, I went to see Simen Taylor play.
It was an excellent gig - small and intimate with awesome playing all round. It was great to see a young, talented player who's style was so steeped in the history of the blues - and someone performing who so clearly lives and breathes it.
I checked out his myspace videos a few weeks ago while at work and drew unnecessary attention to myself by inadvertently ejecting expletives in amazement. Our office is open plan and as it happened, was experiencing a lull in the general ambient chatter at the time. Its a bit of a give away that you're not actually working when one suddenly shouts "Holy fuck! Listen to this guy. Jeeeeee-SUS!"
Back at the cafe a besuited Simen was playing an acoustic piano, stomping his foot on the wooden floor as he sang. As I listened, it occurred to me that this would have been exactly how the blues would have been experienced in the 40s and 50s: a juke-joint, a piano, some storytelling and some liquor. I turned to Tracey "All we need now is some moonshine and some reefer (maybe a knife-fight or two) and this would be totally historically accurate."
As I sat, I pondered my own journey through the blues. It has always spoken to me more than any other genre. Its simple musical structure means its accessible and the personality and feel of the players whom I hold to be my heroes means there's a place for everyone even though its the same 3 chords. When you play, the truth is out there - in the ether, sometimes elusive or difficult but it is there. The expression comes when you channel that truth, draw it down in to you and tell it in your own way, thats why the timing of two notes and how they are phrased will always be more potent than endless flurries of licks. Its because they are the pure truth.
So whats the "pure truth"? (as I've named it). How does it feel? Well, you know it when someone plays the blues and you find yourself nodding - not in time with the music but in agreement with the music as if to say "Uh-huh, aint that the truth" That's the pure truth.
Saturday night was inspiring, so much so I resolved to write and record more original blues songs. I written a few, my favourite being Volcano Blues (which I hope to make a decent recordinhg of fairly soon). Now its Sunday and I've written two. Whilst writing I tried to keep in mind the traditions of a blues song: the story telling aspect is important, as is the innuendo and humour and also the lexicon.
Its been quite a productive weekend. Songs come easy when you're in the zone and I've got Simen to thank for that. A guy that talented will always be in demand and have something going - but secretly, I want him for my band.
It was an excellent gig - small and intimate with awesome playing all round. It was great to see a young, talented player who's style was so steeped in the history of the blues - and someone performing who so clearly lives and breathes it.
I checked out his myspace videos a few weeks ago while at work and drew unnecessary attention to myself by inadvertently ejecting expletives in amazement. Our office is open plan and as it happened, was experiencing a lull in the general ambient chatter at the time. Its a bit of a give away that you're not actually working when one suddenly shouts "Holy fuck! Listen to this guy. Jeeeeee-SUS!"
Back at the cafe a besuited Simen was playing an acoustic piano, stomping his foot on the wooden floor as he sang. As I listened, it occurred to me that this would have been exactly how the blues would have been experienced in the 40s and 50s: a juke-joint, a piano, some storytelling and some liquor. I turned to Tracey "All we need now is some moonshine and some reefer (maybe a knife-fight or two) and this would be totally historically accurate."
As I sat, I pondered my own journey through the blues. It has always spoken to me more than any other genre. Its simple musical structure means its accessible and the personality and feel of the players whom I hold to be my heroes means there's a place for everyone even though its the same 3 chords. When you play, the truth is out there - in the ether, sometimes elusive or difficult but it is there. The expression comes when you channel that truth, draw it down in to you and tell it in your own way, thats why the timing of two notes and how they are phrased will always be more potent than endless flurries of licks. Its because they are the pure truth.
So whats the "pure truth"? (as I've named it). How does it feel? Well, you know it when someone plays the blues and you find yourself nodding - not in time with the music but in agreement with the music as if to say "Uh-huh, aint that the truth" That's the pure truth.
Saturday night was inspiring, so much so I resolved to write and record more original blues songs. I written a few, my favourite being Volcano Blues (which I hope to make a decent recordinhg of fairly soon). Now its Sunday and I've written two. Whilst writing I tried to keep in mind the traditions of a blues song: the story telling aspect is important, as is the innuendo and humour and also the lexicon.
Its been quite a productive weekend. Songs come easy when you're in the zone and I've got Simen to thank for that. A guy that talented will always be in demand and have something going - but secretly, I want him for my band.
posted by Phil at 10:26 pm
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