It is telling that the blues songwriters that I find to be
the most progressive and in touch with contemporary times are either European
residents or spend more time gigging there than they do in the USA. This makes
me think that the better songs, the new approaches, the real, honest and modern
stuff will form and develop in Europe, not the USA.
I guess that’s not too surprising when we remember that
prior to the “British Blues Invasion” of the 1960's and 70's, the American blues audience
was very small, especially among white people. All of the important
developments in blues songwriting and performing had already happened (within
the USA) and were complete by the time we Brits started to pay attention and
copy it. But the general US audience was totally unaware of this incredible
music right under their collective nose!
Is it possible that European audiences are more open to
change and growth in the blues? Even actively looking for something new instead
of the same old same old? The new blues will need some love and nurturing
before it can mature, and that might be happening in Europe right now.
Good songwriters take care with the words that go into their
songs. You don’t listen to the words unless you are in an environment that
facilitates hearing those words. That is - not a noisy bar where the music functions
primarily to get people dancing, grooving and buying drinks. It is unusual to
find blues being played in a listening room type of indoor venue in the USA. These
are typically reserved for musicians that we label singer-songwriter or folk.
This is my first post in a while – I've been touring in
Florida and Texas to enjoy the warm winter weather we don’t have in my home
state of Minnesota. I did a lot of listening while driving 7,500 miles over six
weeks and will be posting regularly over the next month or so.
