Great Blues Guitarists

As I have a 20 year old who loves blues, I have been exposed to some folks I would have never listened to in the past. Of course there are the standards....SRV, EC, BBKing....but, how about Davy Knowles (www.davyknowles.com) and Walter Trout and Robert Randolph and Herbert Sumland and Pinetop Perkins and Hound Dog Taylor and Otis Taylor or Henry Garza (Los Loney Boys). All uniquely different yet playing in your standard blues progressions.

My favorite will depend on the mood I'm in and what I have going on. Steve Ray for the sheer pleasure of speed and timing. Eric Clapton for note clarity and BB King for his recognizable. The "old guys" that have played with or follow Robert Johnson fit the bill when I just want it simple. Most of the time I enjoy Davy Knowles. I met him 4 years ago at the ACL Festival and subsequently the following year I met his manager, Bob Miller. As I walked over to the stage that first year, I heard a blues master with a voice that sounded like he had been singing in smokey blues joints for 50 years. Much to my surprise, her was a 20 year old "kid" playing with his mates from the Isle of Man. Davy has since move on the a fuller blues sound. His second CD release was produced by Peter Frampton (who also plays a bit of guitar on the CD) and has a feel much like the Clapton sound from the early 2000's. Lots of movement with excellent bass and drums while adding a bit of keyboards. Take a listen to Davy.....or better yet, catch him on tour. He is always out playing. If you get a chance to shake his hand, be sure to tell him "Lynn sent you". Should make him smile.

AND MORE....ACL & SXSW

SXSW, ACLFEST....AUSTIN

OK.....Austin Texas has a bit of my soul...particularly when it comes to music. The blues has been re-invented here--over and over again. But, Austin also gives us the likes of Tito and the Tarantulas and all that is Robert Rodriguez; The soulful sound of Alejandro Escovedo....seeing his performance next to Jose's on South Congress for SXSW was such an enlightening experience--gave me new faith in the human race; getting free DJ mixes on the street at 3AM on the third day of South-By-Southwest (SXSW); standing in line to hear Jakob Dylan in 30 degree weather with the wind chill dropping way below freezing; walking on new grass at Zilker Park and then, the now infamous 'Dillo-Dirt', standing in stinky mud for 2 more days. Has it been worth it to venture to Austin to fight the cold, the drunk insanity, the Hurricane aftermath (Katerina and Martguerita) and of course...the Dillo-Dirt of ACLFest 2009-----YES!

The payback has been seeing and hearing talent like never before...seeing Tom Petty play in a massive downpour and nobody leave 'cause the shows to good and you're singing along anyway. Joe Pug (from SXSW 2010), just look him up on myspace and enjoy the best folk punk you might ever hear. Wilco, Racatours (after Meg bagged the White Stripes performance the year before) and then Jack White followed up the next year with the "in-our-face but I only play drums" performance by Dead Weather....absolutely incredible! I met Jack the next morning after the Dead Weather performance in my hotel lobby. He was kind and grateful and humble. When asked what he would bring next year to ACL....he said, "I don't know yet. I will probably just perform by myself". That is what makes the whole ACLFest worth the effort--rain or shine. Each year there are 7-8 stages and you can enjoy everything from death metal to gosphel. New talent (Davy Knowles in 2006 and now well on his way) to old talent doing new things (Them Crooked Vultures--with John Paul Jones (yes John Paul Jones) on bass....but playing with David Grohl (playing drums--shades of Nirvana). Headlines....Pearl Jam, Dylan, Petty but don't forget the new comers like Los Loney Boys in 2005, Davy (mention earlier), the Avett Bros., The Sons of Bob, the list goes on and on. Hats off to the C3 guys for making this the ultimate ride.

Every year for SXSW I ensure I make my way to the Continental Club on South Congress for 'Mojo's Madness'. Mojo Nixon ventures from San Diego each year to put on a showcase of new talent with a unique variety of music. I've been 2 year now and have not purchased a 'badge' yet....hasn't been needed. 2 years ago, I met my dear friends Pat and David and we saw 52 new bands in 2 days. A couple that still come to mind and worth a listen are HillStomp--2 piece band with true eclectic play...and Chili Cold Play--some of the best slide guitar you could ever hear (besides Robert Randolph, a must hear and see)...Turbo Fruits - punk band out of Nashville that sound link early Clash.

Enjoy the tidbits and....plan you trip to either SXSW or ACLFest, they are both worth the trip.

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY

WELCOME TO PALM PRODUCTIONS MUSIC DISCUSSION SITE. EACH WEEK I WILL PROVIDE MY LATEST INSIGHTS INTO THE FANTASTIC (AND NOT SO FANTASTIC) VIEWS OF THE LATEST IN MUSIC.....NOT JUST THE SAN DIEGO MUSIC SCENE BUT WHATEVER COMES ACROSS MY DESK. I HAVE BEEN IN (AND INTO) MUSIC MY WHOLE LIFE AND WANT TO SHARE MY THOUGHT AND OBSERVATION WITH THE WORLD (WIDE WEB). I WILL TELL YOU OF MY ADVENTURES IN AUSTIN (SXSW, ACLFEST) AND THE FESTIVAL SCENE IN SAN DIEGO.

MY FIRST RECOMMENDATION......'THE REFLECTACLES' OUT OF LA!!!! HEARD THEM FIRST AT THE ADAMS AVENUE ROOTS FESTIVAL (AS GREAT FREE SOCAL FESTIVAL IN SAN DIEGO). THE SING LIKE C,S,N&Y AND THE EAGLES WITH BEAUTIFULLY STACKED 4 AND 6 PART HARMONIES . YOUNG KIDS (26ish), INCREDIBLE MUSICIANS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT. THEY HAVE MASTERED THE ECLECTIC SOUND OF COMBINING FOLK, BLUES AND BLUEGRASS WITH PUNK LYRICS AND HAVE A NICE MIX OF ACOUSTIC GUITAR, PIANO, BANJO (YES....BANJO) WITH ELECTRIC GUITAR, BASS AND CREATIVE, TIGHT DRUMMER (BY WILLIE NELSON'S YOUNGEST SON)........CHECK THEIR MYSPACE....AND WATCH FOR THE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS COMING SOON..... http://www.myspace.com/thereflectacles



Next post....AN UPDATE OF THE RECENT SXSW