What About Blues?

When meditating on the month of Februrary, the first holiday that comes to mind is almost always Charles Dickens Day (February 7). The second would probably be Groundhog Day and then maybe President's Day after that. A day, or night, that is just as equally important for some is the Grammy Awards. The Grammy's are kind of a big deal in the music world and beyond. I mean, think of all the singers, songwriters, musicians, and producers who have won Grammy awards. There has to be at least one recipient you are a fan of. I can probably assume that most people have at least heard of the Grammy Awards (the show has been around since 1958). Finally, here is a program that the whole family can enjoy. In a couple of weeks (February 13), grandparents can watch to see Johnny Mathis and Barbra Streisand. Entertainment for the baby boomers includes Neil Young and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. And for the teen audience, popular artists like Bruno Mars and Rihanna are nominated, too. So, after the Green Bay Packers win Super Bowl XLV (February 6), you and your kin can gear up and sit down for the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, presented on February 13, 2011, beginning at 7 p.m. central time on CBS. And when I say gear up, I mean to say practice Guitar Hero and/or Rock Band before the festivities begin.

The Grammy Awards honor all types of music, from rock and pop to country and blues. Yes, Virginia, there is a blues genre at the Grammy Awards. The problem is, the genre is so overshadowed by big names like Eminem and Lady Gaga that blues is hardly the top priority. Or so it wasn't. This year, Jeff Beck is one of the leaders in nominations (5), although it is still nothing compared to Eminem's leader-of-all ten nods. Jeff Beck's not afraid of him though. In fact, I bet the real Jeff Beck stands up, takes all and Eminem walks away with nothing...or 8 statues at the most.

In order to make the blues genre and myself feel a little better, here is a mock list of nominations. The winner will be crowned on February 13 after Eminem, B.o.B., and Lady Antebellum lose. Here they are:

Best Blues Song
"Three Times A Fool" by Joe Bonamassa
"Travelin' Alone" by Eric Clapton
"Thank Me Someday" by Buddy Guy
"Losing You" by Mavis Staples

Best Blues Album
Songs from the Road by Luther Allison
Booker's Guitar by Eric Bibb
Clapton by Eric Clapton
Living Proof Buddy Guy

Best Blues Artist
Jeff Beck
The Black Keys
Joe Bonamassa
Eric Clapton

And here are the real lists:

Best Traditional Blues Album
Giant by James Cotton
Memphis Blues by Cyndi Lauper
The Well by Charlie Musselwhite
Joined At The Hip by Pinetop Perkins & Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith
Plays Blues, Ballads & Favorites by Jimmie Vaughan

Best Contemporary Blues Album
Nothing's Impossible by Solomon Burke
Tribal by Dr. John and the Lower 911
Living Proof by Buddy Guy
Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook by Bettye LaVette
Live! In Chicago by Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band Featuring Hubert Sumlin, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith,

Bryan Lee, And Buddy Flett

Maybe one day there will be equality among all genres of music. Until then, you and I can support the musicians who represent blues at the Grammy Awards. I will admit, Cyndi Lauper's nomination surprised me a little. I was not aware that she had recorded another album, let alone a blues one. I decided to give it a try. I mean, if Memphis Blues is nominated for a Grammy, it must be pretty good (disregarding the fact that Justin Bieber's album is nominated...what is this world coming to?!). The raspy 80's singer is not too bad. I mean, the album is certainly not the greatest there has ever been, but Memphis Blues is at least worth a listen. My favorite songs were "Don't Cry for Me" and "Crossroads," probably because B.B. King and Jonny Lang are featured, respectively. The album has a whole different Cyndi Lauper sound, away from "Time After Time" and "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." Bravo, Cyndi Lauper.

Also, if you are an advocate for a greater amount of blues integration/recognition at the Grammy Awards, you can donate to Grammy Lovers Against Audio Discrimination (GLAAD), an organization with the intent to promote awareness on the issue of unequality at the Grammy Awards concerning blues music and a handful of about three other genres. Created about thirty seconds ago, GLAAD boasts a rich history that includes a campaign for hope and change in America--that maybe one day, music will not be judged by listeners on the basis of record sales and music videos, but by the sincerity of the artist.

Please do not send money, that was just a joke. But come on, Justin Bieber? Really? What's next, Taylor Swift?

Artist of the Week:
Joe Bonamassa, a relatively young blues-rock singer and guitarist, has had a decade of mainstream musical success, beginning with his 2000 solo debut A New Day Yesterday. Bonamassa, which sounds oddly similar to bossa nova, has created his success through the inspirations of legendary musicians such as Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Paul Jones, among others.

New Album of the Week:

(image taken from amazon.com)
Low Country Blues by Gregg Allman

He may or may have not been married to Cher...just saying. Whether he was or not, this is hands-down one of the best blues albums of the year. Of course, this is just my opinion; but Allman's latest effort of Low Country Blues is easily one of my top ten blues albums and I recomend it for anyone, blues fanatic or not. I never thought I would be giving props to an Allman brother, but this is too good of an album...irt's right up there next to Clapton. Here is a preview of the SRV-esque masterpiece, plus an interview with Allman:

P.S. Happy Valentine's Day

(taken from http://www.blogcdn.com/www.spinner.com/media/2008/06/cher-gregg-allman-200-062708.jpg)

Artist of the Week: Michael Grimm

You might have seen him on the last season of  America's Got Talent, the show that hand-picks ordinary people and transforms them into celebrities just slightly less noticeable than American Idol contestants. Grimm, 31, was bursting with so much talent that he won the competittion, securing himself $1 million and a recording contract. Not too bad, huh?

Well, Mr. Grimm's fans are the ones responsible for keeping his stardom and career on the straight and narrow. And, in all honesty, I think this guy deserves just a bit of appreciation. Even though he auditioned for, became a contender on, and won yet another tasteless talent show, I believe he is a real blues musician who has the potential to be great. Sure, he's not the best out there. There really is no point in comparing him with B.B. King or Muddy Waters. At the same time, it's easy to see that he is current enough to be enjoyable for blues and pop fans alike. And with a name like Grimm, he's bound to be a good fit for the blues genre. Check him out! Here he is:

Grimm grew up in the swamplands of Mississippi, so if you're a fan of Creedence Clearwater Revival, you'll probably like this guy just as well. His music is very much influenced by blues and soul, with some southern rock thrown in there. Simply put, his sound is like a nice helping of gumbo and crawdads. He has several albums available, including:

Leave Your Hat On (2010)
I Am Michael Grimm (2009)
Live (2007)
Michael Grimm (2007)

These are all available from his official website, http://www.michaelgrimmmusic.com/.

2011 Blues Music Awards

Feeling blue? I have some great news that will restore your natural color. Unless you're an avatar...then you can stay blue.

The Blues Music Awards, otherwise known as the Oscars of blues music, will be held on Thursday, May 5, 2011, in Memphis, Tenn. The 31st annual ceremony is scheduled to be presented at the Cook Convention Center, which looks like this:



And you could be here too! Individual tickets are $125.00. However, if you gather a blues fan club of 10 people, the group cost is $1200.00. Additional information, including travel and lodging, can be found at: http://www.blues.org/.

Even if you are not completely interested in the BMA Awards or even blues music, I encourage you to look at the official Blues Foundation website (http://www.blues.org/). The Blues Foundation has some great charitable organizations affiliated with it, like helping out music programs in schools so students can learn in a variety of ways related to music. You can gain membership into The Blues Foundation if interested, and learn ways to give back to musicians through healthcare and various other outlets.

Caught in the Crossfire...No, Not the Movie.

Hey music fans or bored internet surfers,

50 Cent's Caught in the Crossfire is actually down the hall. But don't worry, I'm glad you stumbled in here because what I'm about to tell you is actually better. Leave the rap music behind because I've got something more enjoyable, but as equally angry. The Crossfire blog is dedicated to all things blues and maybe even a little jazz here and there. I hope you enjoy all the news, videos, photos, tour updates, and anything else I can come up with concerning the world of blues (and sometimes jazz).

First, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Carla and I'm from North Dakota where blues music is relatively extinct aside from the stylings of Jonny Lang. Unfortunately, he fled years ago. But just because he's gone and blues is hard to come by on the radio these days doesn't mean all hope is lost. I'm here to attempt to bring some of the good ol' blues back.

At this point you may be wondering, "What would a blonde-eyed, blue-haired girl from North Dakota know about blues?" And I really don't know. I'm leaving that for you to answer once you decide whether or not I am worthy enough to be called a true blues fan. If I am, I appreciate your support. If not, I will continue to listen to the genre as I did before. Either way, I still am under the impression that I am a sad, bluesy person.

Even if you are not yet a full-blooded blues fan, I hope you enjoy your weekly fix of some blues-related stuff found on this blog. I'll try my best to supply all the knowledge you need, week-by-week, and I will not rest until it is done. Alright, I may rest once and awhile. But who really wants carpel tunnel syndrome?

To start you off, here's Stevie Ray Vaughn (a.k.a. blues guitarist extraordinare) playing his 1989 hit "Crossfire," which is also the name given to this blog: