BB King :: How Blue Can You Get?
Living in Chicago, some might think that the blues was part of my everyday rotation. I came to the city over 10 years ago it couldn’t be farther from the truth. I used to LOVE the blues. Sittin’ up nights with friends, listening to Hooker ‘n Heat. Kickin’ back on Sunday afternoons with a set of Robert Johnson and rampin’ it up with some Hound Dog Taylor by evening time. Man, I had my heart set that blues like that still existed. I could take a trip to the deep South or the south side of Chicago and there it would be. To quench my thirst I’d hit a blues fest here or there, head over to the Green Door in Lansing, MI and watch Root Doctor tease me with some howls. I still never got what I was looking for. Nothing really hit me.
I ended up in Chicago in ‘97 and my search was done. I’m not saying it was complete, I just gave up. I’d hit a club here or there and try to drink my way toward admiration but that never seemed to work. Everything seemed so scripted. Every chord bent was something archived years before. There wasn’t any heart. It was time to move on.
Over the past few years, I haven’t spent much time thinking about the blues until yesterday when I was heading back from a weekend visit to Michigan. My iPod was turning songs randomly and on came a slice of one of my favorite albums: BB King Live At the Regal. How Blue Can You Get? began with screams, coasted with some more screams and ended with screams once again. Shit, even the album cover shows old BB screamin’!! This is the emotional power I needed. I remembered what I missed and loved those few years ago.
Everything came rushing back but now I knew what I was wanting. I love going to a show and shouting with the band. From jazz, to blues to indie pop, screaming has always enhanced my momentary relationship with the band. I’m not obnoxious with it by any means. I just think some music is meant to be screamed with. So next time you find yourself at a show and if the feeling is right, let it out. Join me. Let’s bring the feeling of the blues back someway, somehow.
How Blue Can You Get? (5MB MP3)
BB King (homepage)
vj said on sunday, july 20th, 2008
Poppy said on monday, july 21st, 2008
Barb and I were just talking about this. That it’s a shame that raspy raw performers tend to opt for smooth production in their older age. I think that has happened to the blues genre and plenty of jazz — smoothing music out so much it loses all character. Just like plastic surgery can take away the flaws that make a face endearingly human.
Kirk, I look forward to screaming right along side you someday soon!