The 2010 Blues Music Awards are this Thursday in Memphis. I'm excited enough that my bags have theoretically been packed for ages. If only my organizational skills matched my enthusiasm. I still have nothing to wear to this thing. Rumor has it I'm considering wearing a tie. I'd say don't hold your breath but anything is possible. As the biggest night for the blues approaches, I've been sharing with all of you, dear readers, the ballot I cast. Who did I vote for and why? Today's epistle shall cover Blues Band Of The Year, the B.B. King Entertainer of The Year, and Best New Artist Debut.
In the other pieces I've written about my ballot — Acoustic, Contemporary, Traditional — I've tried to maintain some semblance of suspense through the article by withholding my vote until the very end of it. The first thing I did after renewing my Blues Foundation membership and opening my 2010 BMA ballot was scroll down the list to find the Band Of The Year category. There is no suspense here because there was no conflict here. That's not a slam against the nominees I didn't vote for — they're great. Blues Band of The Year was the easiest vote for me because I didn't even attempt objectivity or careful consideration.
I remember telling friends in 2004 the reason I wasn't watching any of the presidential debates between Sen. John Kerry and President Bush was because I pay attention; skipping those insipid debates was my reward for doing my homework year 'round. It's a similar thing here. The reason I didn't have to agonize over my ballot is because I've already put my time in. There's a reason I allowed the fan in me to dive in with reckless abandon. There's only one nominee in this category for me and that is Nick Moss & The Flip Tops.
Tommy Castro is wonderful and I really like Hard Believer. Duke Robillard is blues royalty. I'm not 100 percent sure but I think The Mannish Boys have been nominated in this category every single year since I started following these awards in 2007! All these bands deserve to win. Can I tell you with a clear conscience Nick Moss & The Flip Tops deserve it more? Yes! But that doesn't matter because that's not why I did this.
Article comments
1 - Tom Johnson
I don't like Joss Stone either, she sounds like a sick, warbling cat, but I'd suggest Susan Tedeschi if he wants 'that' sound. I don't hear much in Taylor at this point in her career, vocally- or guitar-wise. She's technically competetent but it's pretty generic sounding stuff. Maybe given some time something powerful will happen, but it's not there now.
2 - Josh Hathaway
I like Tedeschi as a vocalist very much, Tom, but I'm not as big a fan of her playing. I don't think she's bad but I find her vocals more appealing.
As for Taylor, you're not wrong. I guess I hear a bit more of a spark in her voice and playing than you do and I'm viewing this through the prism of a debut from a 22 or 23-year old artist. If this is her launching point, I think we have something special on the horizon. If this is as far as she can take it, it will be a bit of a disappointment. I do like her, though.
3 - Joanie
Tedeschi isn't very dynamic when she's performing (it sounds like she's wailing on the guitar, but it doesn't look anything like what it sounds). And her speaking voice, ay yi yi yi yi. I don't like squeaky little girl voices. Never have. She can sing, though. And yet, gimme Joanne any day. There's something happening there. You can hear where this can lead.
Now, about that whole Super Chikan thang...we need to talk. lol