Once upon a time, I had more free time. Much of this was spent exploring/researching/listening to music. As I get older, as I take work and girlfriends more seriously, this extra time-on-hand evaporates, slowly, into the ever growing cosmos. SO, what does a boy do????? He spends what little extra time there may be devoting himself to one source (occasionally drifting into others) of music. One genre which includes not only what he plays in his free time, but what he listens to/reads about/watches. Lately, it's been blues. An "off and on" interest over the last few years, but it's where I'm at now regardless. It's been said.
Now, as of this minute, I'm listening to Acid Mothers Temple. The best...no....the "absolute" best compliment I can give to this music is that in all sincerity, I think it would have made Jimi, and probably would make, the likes of Buddy Guy + Muddy Waters proud. It's evolution at it's finest. You can tell what was being listened to, but likewise, you can tell the idea of "pushing forward", is there. Probably the front-gard of blues as of the time of this status update.
Blues? HUH!?!?! To me, the first form of music to where the LYRICS were just as important, self expression,was just as important, as technical ability. If ya mean it, then "dirty/trashed/sloppiness" is OK. For christ's sake, Junior Kimbrough (and really..,Jimi, "proto-noise rock" if there was ever such a thing) would understand alllll too well. AMT are really, and have been really, pushing that to another level. The fans of avant/garage, what-the fuck-evers can get it even if unaware of this VERY deep history of this music.
Blues talks, period. The ONLY form of music in which the basic scale can be utlilized in such a fashion to mimic the human voice.
Ron asheton got it.
Jimi got it.
Keith Richards got it.
The Beatles got it, but not until later into their career as far as my ears can tell.
Really, case in point, blues it he spine of American music. It's been used as a tool on ones palate for decades now, and it ain't going no where. ANY artist worth a damn over the past 50 years understands, including, but not limited to...
Elvis (by his own account, his interest began by listening to BLACK blues performers while hiding under front porches/etc)
Stooges
Stones
White Stripes (to be more precise, Jack White)
Jimi (a blues artists that announced his presence during he absolute height of rock n roll)
Acid Mother's Temple
Nirvana
Screaming Trees
Allman Brothers
Sex Pistols (yes, they were VERY routed in blues)
The Cramps
Earth
,,,,I'll stop, but
only because it's endless.....
"johnny Winter no show"
love.
-s.