Tag: Blues

R.L. Burnside keeps his fridge chained shut and his blues cool as hell

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 24, 1999 By Steve Newton On the back cover of his latest CD, Come On In, Mississippi bluesman R.L. Burnside is pictured standing in his modest kitchen, strumming a Stratocaster and gazing toward his fridge—which is chained shut. Since Burnside has been known to distill his own moonshine, you might think … Continue reading R.L. Burnside keeps his fridge chained shut and his blues cool as hell

Eddy Clearwater took Magic lessons on Chicago’s West Side

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 24, 1999 By Steve Newton Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater chose a good guy to hang with when he moved to Chicago’s West Side in 1950. As a budding, 15-year-old bluesman, Clearwater became close friends with Magic Sam, the legendary West Side guitarist who died of a heart attack at the age … Continue reading Eddy Clearwater took Magic lessons on Chicago’s West Side

Bluesman Bill Perry lays it down fast and raw on Love Scars debut

  ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 17, 1996 By Steve Newton I remember when I was about 13 years old and my guitar teacher had his students put on a recital in some big old rented hall. If I recall correctly, the highlight of my performance involved some nervous noodling on an unspectacular rendition of everybody’s … Continue reading Bluesman Bill Perry lays it down fast and raw on Love Scars debut

Down Under slide-guitarist Dave Hole sports an over-the-top style

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 18, 1993 By Steve Newton As a musically inclined teenager living in Perth, Australia, during the 1960s, Dave Hole didn’t get the opportunity to hear much music by the great American bluesmen of the time. One fateful day, however, a member of his teenaged cover band got his … Continue reading Down Under slide-guitarist Dave Hole sports an over-the-top style

Jim Byrnes busts out of the blues

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 18, 2004 By Steve Newton For many Vancouver music fans, the name Jim Byrnes brings to mind a laid-back blues veteran, grizzled yet hip, weaving soulful tales with his smoky voice, slipping in subtle slide-guitar bits here and there. The actor-musician's latest CD, Fresh Horses, doesn't abandon his patented sound, but … Continue reading Jim Byrnes busts out of the blues

Blue Voodoo shoots for versatility

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 15, 2004 By Steve Newton It's just after midnight on a Friday in downtown New Westminster, but there are few signs of weekend revelry along the main drag of Columbia Street. Still, a Surrey-based acoustic combo named the Blue Voodoo is doing its best to get at least a few of … Continue reading Blue Voodoo shoots for versatility

Tinsley Ellis shed blood en route to blues mastery

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JULY 16, 2008 By Steve Newton Like many of today’s top blues-rock guitarists, Tinsley Ellis was hugely influenced by the six-string action of the early Rolling Stones. He recalls being particularly entranced by the fretwork of Brian Jones on the Stones’ 1965 cover of Willie Dixon’s “Little Red Rooster”. “I heard … Continue reading Tinsley Ellis shed blood en route to blues mastery