The Blues Blog

Bo Diddley

2008-06-03T00:39:00.000-07:00

Bo Diddley dies at 79 years old

In the 1950s, as a founder of rock ’n’ roll, Mr. Diddley — along with Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and a few others — helped to reshape the sound of popular music worldwide, building on the templates of blues, Southern gospel, R&B and postwar black American vernacular culture. - NY Times

2008-05-16T22:37:00.000-07:00

Want to understand chords - how about eastern music - that have different scales - explore music here

Review

2008-01-19T04:52:00.000-08:00

Big Day Out

For the last few years, there was a special gig night but this year it is history, probably due to the excessive venue popularity with the kind of acts you would expect to see at a Big Day Out. Instead it is the music of a modern era retro refried visionary sensibilities of contrast.

The headline act certainly did it when it started after some delay - RAGE against the machine - a sinewy whining rap machine backed by an aggressive line-up and a tightly directed light-show - huge lyrics paranoid and strong, demanding we open our eyes and feel the fear - of the Government - (maybe they had a point - since they live in LA). They were on the money for the legions - the vast huge crowd that sat in the same stadium seat all day to get a good look. RAGE were the headline act for very good reasons. They packed the stadium. And they were extraordinarily polished, performed that dark urban threat variation of hip hop. This was like the brief era when hip hop was fine blues in a modern urban concept. This was when it was cool, before the bling set in and became the thing. This was not just rock music, it was a hammer fisted religion to its legions of fans. It was f*cking convincing. It was also bloody good. But it was pure rock manipulation. They closed with a smashing Killing In The Name of. And here they are - doing the same song in the early 90s.

...

In deep contrast Björk presented a delicious and colourful set touring her latest CD. While the fans that liked both, the headline; and, the obligatory (aimed at older fans, one imagines) - jostled for some position for a late-starting Rage, Björk reemerged and was able to perform to a smaller utterly committed crowd. With Army of Me, she had the entire stadium wild in a sort of peaceful hazy frenzy of waving arms. Up close, her show was both overwhelming and ecstatic. It's bright sunshine light up the senses. Bjöork's extraordinary energy transfixed. But it is her own extraordinary interpretative skills with her own material that is increasingly unique and marvelous - a feat of extraordinary complexity and musical depth. The extraordinary pitch she reaches in our pick of the night - her brand new single Declare Independence is a more subtle and enchanting reflection of rage against the system.

Lo-def version

Hi-def version (slower to load)

This was Big Day Out at its finest moment - its valuable moment. With a ten piece brass band dressed and the set made up Bjöork transformed into a creature of the jungle with tribal rhythms and abandon. Her new material is raw and sexual but subtle as ever and perhaps less mysterious to the deeply committed packed in on the other side of the field. It hit well with the crowd.

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2007-11-13T17:12:00.000-08:00

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bo Diddley's an originator - New Zealand's source for entertainment news, gossip & music, movie & book reviews on Stuff.co.nz

2007-03-21T07:38:00.000-07:00

Bo Diddley's an originator - New Zealand's source for entertainment news, gossip & music, movie & book reviews on Stuff.co.nz

James Brown

2006-12-25T03:54:00.000-08:00

James Brown, "The Godfather of Soul" died early Christmas morning. Brown was aged 73 and was in hospital suffering from pneumonia.

Internationally acclaimed for his passionate stage performances and groundbreaking musical style, he recorded countless hits including (Get Up I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine and Out Of Sight.

Music Mogul

2006-12-10T11:58:00.000-08:00

Ahmet Ertegun died last Thursday at the age of 83. He was a pioneer in the music business - ran Atlantic Records for most of his life and made multi millions sellers of groups such as The Rolling Stones, and started Ruth Brown's career (she also died recently), plus Aretha Franklin,Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Led Zepplin and Ray Charles. One of the greatest Blues record producers, ever. Sadly, he died after being injured in a fall backstage at a Rolling Stones gig on October 29th).

Found item - Billie Holiday

2006-12-04T23:25:00.000-08:00

You will find a YouTube movie about Billie Holliday if you explore the site. And that may not be all you will find. But here is a link to a nice French point of view - with a nice collection of photos. Click here

old review of Brassoles

2006-11-29T04:24:00.000-08:00

Encountered this blog of past reviews by Auckland music guru Gary Steele. Years ago I used to fix computers in The Listener offices and RTR magazine which Gary edited with a 2002 article about Kingsley Melhuish - who also plays trumpet with Rick Bryant and the Jive Bombers.

Gary Steele is the real thing. A genuine music writer - with ears of experience running a "real" record shop with Vinyl and taste. His prog-rock article about Peter Hammill raised my eyebrow. So did a search on YouTube and found a video by the master of doom filmed at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, London where we spent some time promoting a New Zealand Maori cabaret act in the late 1990s.

YouTube movies

2006-11-26T08:45:00.000-08:00

You can see our YouTube postings related to this site on this page

the album

2006-11-22T20:53:00.000-08:00

Rick Bryant

The great godfather of New Zealand Blues, Rick Bryant has an album in the making. You may have heard parts of it already at gigs last year, but what was 4 or 5 songs is now 40 and some of them are really rather good. Watch for his gigs over the summer.

Ruth Brown dies

2006-11-19T16:12:00.000-08:00

The Mother of R&B

Pioneering American Blues artist Ruth Brown has died, aged 78.

Born Ruth Weston on Jan. 30, 1928, Brown won a Tony and a Grammy and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was a leading advocate for the rights and royalties of recording artists.

Short films

2006-11-19T15:03:00.000-08:00

We are seeking permission of Jubilation to run a series of clips from our filming efforts on this site. If you are interested in this email me info@nzblues.com or leave comments below.

Planning for NZBlues

2006-11-19T14:57:00.000-08:00

Its been a taxing time (doing the books!) and there is a large amount of "stuff" to post - mainly video from November 4th Jubilation's massively successful Town Hall Concert Chamber gig - and we have some fine shots now appearing. Just in time as Jubilation are about to do two more gigs this coming weekend (you will have to attend these ones - we advise the St Paul's gig should be a good bet for tickets early this week!)

myspace posting

2006-10-25T03:54:00.000-07:00

We have started up a myspace posting page so we can bring you short video clips of gigs we cover for the documntary. These may be considered "bootlegs" without boots in that there probably will be no music on any of them. For the music of the Strugglers, go to the nzblues.com page that sells their CDs and click to your wallet's content.

In the meantime, this is our first live action post:

Windy City Strugglers - preshow preps

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Will Dockery

2006-10-24T00:30:00.000-07:00

Will Dockery MYSpace Page

go on, have a listen

Boathouse gig Windy City Strugglers

2006-10-14T17:37:00.000-07:00

The Stugglers have announced their South Island Tour - starting in Nelson
where they play The Boathouse on November 10th, from 8pm.

Here is our flyer design - leave your comments here.

You can upload a large printable version of this (right-click, save-as)

300 x 500 card RGB photocopy, laser - 80k download - for email campaign

Med res version RGB photocopy, laser - 135k download - photocopy

CMYK - hires - lighter - 3MB download - printing

CMYK - hires - darker 3MB download - printing

Windy City Strugglers - Devonport

2006-10-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

The Windy City Strugglers in a Church. The Blues, in a Church, (it was the same venue as used by Jubilation) provided a context that made the show more about the music than the lyrics. Indeed. In one song The 'Strugglers do, Rick Bryant preambled to that effect that this song fit well in the Church, and it was one of those real blue 'Blues numbers. Raunchy is too mild a term*. Rick Bryant provided the guts to this otherwise delicate ensemble, giving a firey magnificence that delivered. The man is a powerhouse in his own right.

Contrast this foreground against a wash of blue that gave guest drummer, Auckland's extraordinary Ross Burge an ethereal appearance, perhaps but his drums and percussion blend perfectly with the feel of the thing. An extremely accurate performance by Bill Lake whose sense of humour and connectivity with his band produced music the audience obviously cared about. Geoff Rashbrooke's wild keyboard excursions sometimes won the crowd but other times had a sense out being out in front of everything; this beatiful madness; this collection of our premium musicians who now approach immortality in their their long slow climb, some say strugglin' for success, but at least now its with some ease.

The audience turned out - not quite a full house, but they came to the Church. If you missed the show, Sunday at the Classic Comedy and Bar is you last chance.

* Talking to the Minister afterward, it seemed perhaps a little strong. But no, this open hearted and welcoming Minister loved the show and asked for more shows to keep St Pauls of Devonport going. Reconnecting the Blues with its roots of freedom and expression seemed more than correct in this Presbytarian building. Recent atrocious right wing rulings biased against gay people have tarred the Presbytarian brand and she was not happy about that. This is the kind of Minister the Church needs.

James Brown

2006-10-06T20:51:00.000-07:00

James Brown home page.

If you looked at jamesbrown.com you will not find him.

the gig

2006-10-06T18:28:00.000-07:00

We hear the first night of the Windy City Strugglers went very well. Tonight is the Devonport St Pauls gig - an old Church hall is a superb place to catch the Strugglers - so I hope you get into the door. Remember - this gig is all ages and the Strugglers are a jug band.

Putting up posters gets a little obsessive - ensuring that you do not go too far - and yet being noticed is altogether difficult.

Now, what to take for the gig. Get ready...

Jubilation Flyer

2006-10-05T14:35:00.000-07:00

Hot from performing BATHE IN THE RIVER, the winning song at this year’s APRA Silver Scroll Awards

JUBILATION IS BACK – BIGGER & BETTER THAN EVER FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY

at The Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall on Saturday November 4 at 8pm

For those of you who missed out on tickets to the sellout Devonport Performance in August, this is your chance to BOOK AHEAD for this exceptional and eclectic 30 piece gospel choir, featuring some of NZ’s most renowned professional musicians and actors. The line-up includes Rick Bryant, Jackie Clark, Jean McAllister, Fiona Samuel, Jennifer Ward-Lealand & Amanda Billing; who come together to celebrate the most soulful music, the world has ever created.

BOOK NOW AND UNTIL October 31 receive a special

EARLYBIRD price of only $18.00 (plus any ticketing charges)

Standard Price tickets of $22.00 (plus any ticketing charges) will be available on the door subject to availability

For more information visit www.jubilation.co.nz

Bookings through Ticketek Ph: (09) 09 307 5000 or

www.ticketek.co.nz

If you would like us to send you out a show flyer please contact publicist Michelle Lafferty with your mailing address at Ph: (09) 3684180 or elephantpublicity@paradise.net.nz

poster for Devonport

2006-09-30T02:28:00.000-07:00

Did a new stripe over for the Devonport gig:

Windy City Strugglers - Auckland Gigs

2006-09-29T15:30:00.000-07:00

Today, its time for the mail out.

We are sending out an ecard using this image and a link back to this site.

Strugglers at the Circa

2006-09-29T15:23:00.000-07:00

The Strugglers took the stage at Circa Theatre on 17 September for a lively set...check the Strugglers site for more on their recent Wellington gig.

Blues death

2006-09-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6137711

Baker, called the world's premiere Piedmont-style blues guitarist, has died at 93. Baker grew up in a family that was proficient in blues, hymns, and rags. She first gained notoriety in 1956 when she appeared on a compilation album called "Instrumental Music of the Southern Appalachians."

The Strugglers Gigs

2006-09-23T03:37:00.000-07:00

Weblogs are a bit like Philosophy. In case you ain't done no philosophy - its the one subject where saying that something is one's own opinion is expected rather than shunned. This blog is not meant to be anything other than my opinion, and I will try and be objective on the site, but here, I can say what occurs.

After 40 years I daresay the Strugglers have learnt their audience grew up and had families so have provided very different venues on what thought was an "Auckland Tour" but is officially tagged "The Concert of the Film of the Concert". Of course, the "Film" is the excellent "STRUGGLE NO MORE" DVD just produced and directed by Costa Botes. We have just a few copies left so get your order in before the first edition sells out.

As good as the DVD is, it ain't no substitute for being there. Costa tells us that he has arranged weekly screenings of the movie which will be at the Academy cinema, under the Auckland City Library, watch for details on the main site once dates are confirmed.

There are three gigs:

1. The sit down dinner venue The Old Sawmill at Leigh is more than worth a visit. The food is terrific and we think this night will book out quite fast. If you are a group of adults or a family and want to make a night of it, this is your night.

You must ring the Old Sawmill, follow the link to their site.

2. The gig at St Pauls is a great choice also for the family or large groups. Yes, it is is a church but Rick could get it because Jubilation have performed there. About as religious it gets may be a couple of gospel numbers.

3. The Comedy and Bar on Queen Street is licenced premises and definitely the best place for those who do not want to bring their entourage. I get the impression this one will be a little louder and later.

Lastly - the Strugglers are sounding better than ever. There are rumours of a European tour next year. Support one of New Zealand's true blues legends.

NZBlues

2006-09-23T02:32:00.000-07:00

Today we created a poster out of the Kingfisher poster and posted about 30 of them in strategic locations around Ponsonby.

We also created this flyer and distributed these around pick up points in Ponsonby. If you got to this site from one of those flyers and read this, be sure to leave your comment below. And join our mailing list.