Hi folks,
One of my bands is becoming focused on the more pop-oriented blues of Tampa Red, Big Bill Broonzy, and Washboard Sam, which blues musicians would probably refer to as the Bluebird sound. I'm trying to figure out how I would label the band for a more general audience.
Although they were in Chicago and the music is fairly urban-sounding, I wouldn't call it "Chicago blues" -- that brings to mind distorted amplification. These guys had maybe a clean electric guitar but most often a resonator and other acoustic instruments. But I wouldn't call it country blues, either.
I could say "pre-war blues" which is vague enough to cover everything ... although technically we do some post-war music, too. Or "acoustic blues" which is even more vague but at least gets away from the Muddy Waters image. Maybe hokum, which covers the early Tampa Red stuff, but not the later songs. Lately I've just been saying it's a "blues band" and leaving it at that.
I assume that to a -really- general audience, none of these terms means anything, but I'd like to come up with a descriptor that would at least give a general idea to someone who knows something about roots music.
Any thoughts?
-Arlo
One of my bands is becoming focused on the more pop-oriented blues of Tampa Red, Big Bill Broonzy, and Washboard Sam, which blues musicians would probably refer to as the Bluebird sound. I'm trying to figure out how I would label the band for a more general audience.
Although they were in Chicago and the music is fairly urban-sounding, I wouldn't call it "Chicago blues" -- that brings to mind distorted amplification. These guys had maybe a clean electric guitar but most often a resonator and other acoustic instruments. But I wouldn't call it country blues, either.
I could say "pre-war blues" which is vague enough to cover everything ... although technically we do some post-war music, too. Or "acoustic blues" which is even more vague but at least gets away from the Muddy Waters image. Maybe hokum, which covers the early Tampa Red stuff, but not the later songs. Lately I've just been saying it's a "blues band" and leaving it at that.
I assume that to a -really- general audience, none of these terms means anything, but I'd like to come up with a descriptor that would at least give a general idea to someone who knows something about roots music.
Any thoughts?
-Arlo