In rural folklore of the Deep South, the intersection of two roads has often been regarded as an evil place, the site of black magic.
Category: blues
That time R.L. Burnside told me about all the relatives of his who were murdered in Chicago
I did my second interview with Mississippi hill country bluesman R.L. Burnside back in 2000, when he was touring behind his 12th album.
Dave Chisholm recalls sipping whiskey with Willie Dixon’s bandmates at the Commodore
When it comes to the history of blues music in Vancouver, there may be no greater authority than Dave Chisholm.
That time Taj Mahal got all cosmic on my ass about the infinite possibilities of music
Taj Mahal wasn't too impressed with the fact that I wasn't really up on John Coltrane. "I'm tellin' ya man, you're missin' out on life."
Charlie Sexton loves touring with Charlie Musselwhite, calls him “the real thing”
Blues fans eagerly anticipating the upcoming Vancouver show by Charlie Musselwhite have further reason to be psyched.
Nanaimo’s David Gogo shares photo of himself jamming with blues legend Albert Collins
David Gogo has hung out with some of the greatest names in guitar, including Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and B.B. King.
That time I asked Duke Robillard if there were big shoes to fill replacing Jimmie Vaughan in the Fabulous Thunderbirds
By Steve Newton I interviewed Rhode Island blues guitarist and vocalist Duke Robillard back in February of 1995, when he was touring behind his eighth album, Temptation, and about to play a show at the famed Antone's in Austin, Texas. A few years earlier he'd been playing with the Fabulous Thunderbirds, having taken over the … Continue reading That time I asked Duke Robillard if there were big shoes to fill replacing Jimmie Vaughan in the Fabulous Thunderbirds
Sue Foley’s stunning guitar licks make for a killer night of Texas blues at the Rio
michele gare photo By Steve Newton When I did my first interview with Sue Foley, back in 1992, she was 23 years old and about to play a show at the Commodore Ballroom as part of the Antone’s Women Blues Revue, which saw her in the company of blues belters Angela Strehli, Lou Ann Barton, … Continue reading Sue Foley’s stunning guitar licks make for a killer night of Texas blues at the Rio
Former Muddy Waters guitarist Jimmy Rogers brings real blues to the Yale
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 17, 1985 By Steve Newton "People who can't dig the blues, they must have a hole in the soul." That's how veteran bluesman Jimmy Rogers puts it--and he oughta know. For many years Rogers played guitar behind one of the most admired and influential figures in the genre, Muddy Waters. Muddy … Continue reading Former Muddy Waters guitarist Jimmy Rogers brings real blues to the Yale
That time I asked Magic Slim if Magic Sam was okay with him having some of the magic
Back in the summer of 1999 I interviewed blues guitarist and vocalist Magic Slim, who'd been a major contributor to the Chicago blues scene.
Can-Am blues-rock summit sees David Gogo trading fierce licks with Walter Trout in Vancouver
By Steve Newton Two of the top talents in Canadian and American blues-rock collided in a fine way at the York Theatre in Vancouver last Friday (March 10). That's when the New Jersey-born bluesman Walter Trout--formerly of Canned Heat and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers--invited Nanaimo's David Gogo up to jam. Gogo had opened the show with … Continue reading Can-Am blues-rock summit sees David Gogo trading fierce licks with Walter Trout in Vancouver
Slide-guitar ace Harry Manx praises Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Kevin Breit, and his first blues influence, Johnny Winter
By Steve Newton When I call up Harry Manx for an interview, I have no idea where he's located. The area code (250) signifies that it's somewhere in B.C., but that's about it. Turns out he's been residing on Salt Spring Island for the last 20 years or so. And as luck would have it … Continue reading Slide-guitar ace Harry Manx praises Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Kevin Breit, and his first blues influence, Johnny Winter
That time blues legend John Mayall told me why he handles his own gear and never uses roadies
By Steve Newton I did the second of my three interviews with British blues great John Mayall back in May of 1990, when he was heading to Vancouver for a show with his band the Bluesbreakers. He was touring to promote his latest album, A Sense of Place, which featured slide-guitar ace Sonny Landreth on … Continue reading That time blues legend John Mayall told me why he handles his own gear and never uses roadies