Standards, blues, country, folk, or rock and roll are all grist for his mill. The thing is, he's not unique. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of musicians out there who can do that, but we have discarded them in favour of stroking our own egos. These people we have tossed aside are our links to our musical past. If it hadn't been for people like them, so many people would have never experienced the joy of seeing this music performed live.
Perhaps the cycle will come around again to live music in all the small bars across North America, and real music performed by real musicians will be in demand. The recent interest in Johnny Cash and movies like O Brother, Where Art Thou? has rekindled people's appreciation for the sound of fingers on strings.
I only hope that the roots rock revival that people talk about with such reverence will actually have some wide-ranging effects and not just be confined the a few centres. I'd love to be able to go into a bar again and hear a band play classic blues, vintage rock and roll, and real country all in the same set.
We all have our vision of what components are needed to make up an ideal world. Mine includes bars where bands play real music for real people.
Article comments
1 - Barry Stoller
'The recent interest in Johnny Cash and movies like O Brother, Where Art Thou? has rekindled people's appreciation for the sound of fingers on strings.'
Let's remember the OTHER type of strings, too. The big bands and the orchestras got zapped by the rock outfits you're eulogizing. Replacing 20-piece orchestras comprised of literate musicians with 5-piece bands comprised of untrained teens was another cost-cutter for bars and record companies alike. Unfortunately for art, all labor-saving technologies set in eventually.
2 - Bennett
Well written! Thanks for speaking to this fading bit of our culture.
Yo Barry, when's the last time a 20-piece orchestra (comprised of literate musicians) EVER played in a roadhouse, punk bar, or Haight Street dive?
I remember Santana, Credence, and The Who when they were "bands comprised of untrained teens".
Rock on!
3 - Barry Stoller
Many places now associated with Santana, CCR, Who, etc. were former ballrooms - featuring ballroom orchestras. My point is that cultures move with technologies. (I could care less about your particular set of fave bands, as I'm sure you could care less about mine.)
4 - Joanie
The bands are out there, Richard. You just have to know where to look and you have to be willing to go out to see them.
I'm wonderfully blessed to have many MANY locations around me where I can listen to quality music for a small fee, or sometimes even free.
5 - Greg
That is a great article, and funny enough, it reminds me of my own band which is primarily original, but on a really good night (only a great night), we sometimes launch in to Credence's Born on the Bayou, and our Drummer sings it with absolute heart and soul, riding the wave of life to its fullest....
6 - Greg
www.buzzuniverse.com
7 - Scott Butki
I go every Thursday and Friday nite to Port City Java, a local coffeehouse, where they have open mike nite on Thursday and a performer on Friday.
Invariably some will sing country, some rock, some both.
Its not unusual to hear acoustic covers of everything from Skynard, Cash and Oasis in the same set.
I know it's not a bar but it is free and, to me at least, thrilling and fun.
Keep hope alive.
8 - John
I am trying to find out what ever happened to an awesome bar band that came to Edmonton, AB in the mid to late 80's. They were called "Sweet Lucy" and their album was titled "Taste It" I actually wore the cassette out and have never been able to replace it. The lead singer was awesome! he sounded like a cross between Robert Plant and David Coverdale.
Signed
HELP!
9 - Lori
In reply to John,
I remember Sweet Lucy! I have a couple pictures of and with them. Unfortunately I don't have their tape. If you're on facebook, we have a group "Memories of Rock Central Station and Cheers at the Beverly Crest". I've put up pictures of Sweet Lucy, Electric (which later became the Age of Electric), Smask LA, Slick Toxik, Black Diamond, Big House etc.....
Lori Lynn
10 - tjmusic
go to songsoflove.org and give us a facebook vote to help terminally and chronically ill children with music, thanks. tom
11 - Larry Blom
Beautifully said! As much as I hated it then, I miss the nightly grinding out of the "honkytonk hundred"---and making a living at it! Sigh.