Am I a Blues Player?

[Garth Osborn]

I've wondered for a long time if I am a blues player. In the past I played in straight country bands, country-rock bands and classic rock bands. Always played a few blues tunes here and there.

Growing up, I cut my teeth on guys and bands that are considered blues players or blues-rock bands. Cream and Clapton. The Allman Brothers Band. Rory Gallagher. Deep Purple. Foghat. Rolling Stones. Johnny Winter. ZZ Top. The Who. Okay, The Who is just a rock band, but I got a lot of my rhythmic sensibilities from Townshend and Entwistle. Dire Straits. Again, not a blues band per se, but Knopfler's playing has had a profound impact on my own.

So I've never really told folks, "Yeah, I'm a blues player." I tell em I'm a guitar player. But it's weird. When I get a guitar in my hands, blues stuff is invariably what comes out. More than once, just noodling in a music store, I've had people comment, "so you're a blues player?"

Maybe it's time to come to terms with it. I still like classic era rock and play some of it. After all, as Muddy Waters said, "The blues had a baby and they named it rock and roll." But I guess when you get right down to it, what I grew up listening to is basically blues. The British Invasion, where the blues was re-packaged and digested by mainstream white America. Hell, all this time, I thought I was listening to rock!

It's all good, though. The music, I mean. Right now, my very favorite musician is the afore-mentioned Mark Knopfler. I've always loved his playing, but listening to his stuff over the years with Dire Straits and his excellent solo work, the man is one of the best songwriters ever. You get a history lesson and good music all wrapped up in one of his songs.

I digress. It's okay. I'm a blues player. I guess.

[Garth Osborn]

The blues is a pretty big umbrella and casts a large musical shadow. It is interesting as I started listening to the guys that inspired my guitar heroes, how the young British players were able to hear something so raw and emotional and create a smoother style that white kids like myself just loved.

The Monday jam at Grover's last night was really fun, although not many players showed up. It was fun for me because I got to play a LOT. My wrist is hurting now, though. But it's getting better.

Another thing about labels. For whatever reason, the blues enjoys acceptance as an "art form" that some rock styles don't. For example, "Blues Festival" and "Rock Festival" conjure up different things. From a civic standpoint, a Blues festival (IMO) is much more likely to be accepted than a Rock festival by officials who might decide whether to allow such an event.

Another thing about last night...it just reconfirmed what I have been pondering all those years...I AM A BLUES PLAYER. It's all good.

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

I too was awed and amazed when I heard the originals that those Led Zeppelin tunes were based on, Garth. And there are as many opinions of what is Blues as there are listeners ... so just do your own thing and leave the labeling to those who feel the need to label things :)