Music Discoveries and Recommendations

[Garth Osborn]

I thought it might be interesting to start a thread about music in general and blues in particular. What other COBS members are listening to and enjoying.

My first recent discovery is a 2005 CD by Robin Trower called Another Days Blues. Trower is an amazing blues player. And the vocals by Davey Pattison are quite reminiscent of the late, great James Dewar, who played bass and sang with Trower for many years. There is really only one song on the CD that has that real Hendrixy-vibe that permeated Bridge of Sighs. Trower's phrasing and tone are incredible. A real treat for any blues fan.

[Cliff]

Just found a "new" CD!!! Had it burned to my hard disk and hadn't even listened to it before. "Todd Wolfe Blues Project Live at Manny's Carwash." Bein's that I ain't a guitarist I can appreciate the sound. Since I don't play keyboards, I am allowed to be awestruck. I don't play bass, don't sing and .... well ...suffice it to be that I am nearly overwhelmed by the whole CD!!!! And, as I like it, it is LIVE!!!! I really prefer live to studio, no matter the genre!!!!

[Garth Osborn]

No worries, Barbara. I was just saying that I'm currently listening to Benoit's "Power of the Pontchartrain" CD a LOT. I love his soulful voice, and of course, the great guitar work. He could be a country superstar if he ever decided he wasn't making enough money playing the blues, his voice is THAT good.

I particularly like the funky rhythms of his backing band, Leroux N'awlins funky...kind of swampy, slippery and full of soul. Good, good stuff. I'd love to see him come back to Bend.

[Garth Osborn]

I saw in the paper yesterday that my current favorite musician is going to play at the Brit Festival (Jackson, Oregon) on June 29. I refer to Mark Knopfler, who fronted Dire Straits for many years. I have several of Knopfler's solo releases, and his music just blows me away. He is easily one of the most talented songwriters who ever put pen to paper. Even his mellow stuff is great, and he can write a great country tune as well. And of course, I always admired his guitar playing.

So he's not a "blues" artist. No matter. He's always been one of my favorites and is my current favorite player. I think I'll go see him. There aren't too many artists I'd pay to see. Knopfler is definitely on my short list.

Also, BB King at the Les Schwab amphitheater this summer! I've never seen BB King live, but you know what? I would have liked to see him before he was so old. But I might go just to say I saw BB King. It's a money issue right now.

And Lynyrd Skynyrd at Les Schwab also. I saw them in the Hooker Creek Events Center a couple years ago. Hideous sound. And now, this is more like a Skynyrd tribute band, with only 2 original members. I'll pass on this one.

[BoogieKing Steve]

We saw BB King last October in Eugene. One of the DJs at the station got in line at 7 AM to buy tickets that went on sale at noon. We had 10 tickets in the first two rows! Here comes the EVEN more COOL stuff. One of our party had worked at the venue for the Salgado benefit so she asked if we could get a meet and greet with BB...the answer was yes! OK...that is really COOL!! It gets even better...we watch the show and BB is great and a lot of fun. So...we go to where we are to get the meet and greet and we are taken through the "catacombs" of the Hult center...and taken outside...to stand outside of BB's bus. We wait about 10 minutes and then we (about 10 of us) are ushered on to the bus...and then to the back of the bus where BB is sitting by his computer...and he invites us in to sit down and talk. We were there about 45-60 minutes with BB an arm length away...my lovely wife kisses BB a three times...others get hugs and kisses also. BB talked to us throughout telling us some great stories and asides...a lot of laughter and fun...and listened to us also...looking you in the eye and seeming to be interested in what you had to say. It was totally amazing...BB is as humble and nice...unreal nice...a true superstar musician...but an even greater man. Literally for three days afterward we would look at each other and get a big, huge smile...it was the same with everybody there as we compared notes later. A totally awesome and unexpected event. I will post a few pictures later tonight. One side note...the book he was reading was the Clapton biography.

Steve