Long Week of Blues

The week was full of blues discoveries, discussions and plans. I had a great discussion with RJ Howson, currently in Florida, about how politics and fragmentation within the Chicago blues scene has crippled the city's ability to break new artists and remain relevant. Say it ain't so RJ, say it ain't so! He counts Billy Branch among his mentors and you should check out him out at facebook.com/rjhowson. He says that although Chicago still has the name recognition as the world's blues epicenter it lacks the infrastructure to follow thru on the perception. His thoughts bummed me out a bit. Mostly because I fear he is on to something. Yet I was also motivated to prove his thoughts untrue.

Next I had a short conversation with Scott Madden, a blues jack-of-all-trades. From musician to promoter, he's done it all. Scott offered to meet with all the guys in this years' beautillion for some old school learnin' and I will be working to set that up next week. As I prepared for our radio workshop with Scott Hammer of WDCB 90.9 FM and Steven McKinney of WSSD 88.1 FM here in Chicago I asked Scott if he had any comments or questions I could ask on his behalf. He wanted to know - 'where are all the new up-and-comers on the Chicago scene?'. Great question and one I am certainly trying to address with the Blues Beautillion.

When the group met with Scott and Steven, what I concluded from the conversation was that there remains little incentive on the part of radio programmers to promote up and coming artists. Playlists are essentially guided by relationships with major labels and personal tastes. In addition, blues artists aren't supplying new material that draws listener interest. Covers rule the day and little of it is fresh and interesting. Until it is, Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B.King and the other usual suspects will rule what little percentage of the airwaves blues owns. Fans bear a responsibility in all of this too. They don't call in or respond to what's happening on the radio. They don't ask for much from any of the gatekeepers of the music industry; radio, print media, television, retail or venues. Overall, there is a resignation that has set in about the commercial viability of blues.

Later in the week I had the good fortune to sit in with Dan Phelps at Benedicts La Strata's in Crystal Lake, IL. It was a completely accoustic set. As a blues singer it gave me the opportunity to reduce blues down to its simplest form and it was great. With just voice and guitar the listener can really get lyric and story in a way that gets lost when everything is electrified. We'll be appearing together again soon. The crowd was small but appreciative in Crystal Lake despite the tornado warnings and I can't wait to get back.

As I gear up for the workshop on booking/management for the beautillion my brain is simmering with ways to reach everyone who has a stake in the conversation. But mainly the fans. The listeners. The people who take the time to go to a show, to buy a magazine, download or purchase a recording or listen to a radio program. At the end of the day it will be mobilizing you that will cause the resurrection of an industry. Talk to you soon.